SchaeffersResearch.com Daily Market Blog

Put Activity Accelerates on Alcoa Inc.

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 19:27:00 GMT

The Dow's recent rally was cut short today, as concerns over European banks' stress tests plagued the Steet...(Read More)

Put Shoppers Storm Macy's, Inc.

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 17:50:00 GMT

Cincinnati-based retailer Macy's, Inc. (M) has attracted a deluge of put activity today, with roughly 10,000 of these bearish bets changing hands by midday -- four times the stock's expected single-session put volume of just 2,122 contracts.However, today's put activity has not necessarily been bearish...(Read More)

Put Players Count on Round-Number Resistance for Take Two Interactive Software, Inc.

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 15:59:00 GMT

Last Thursday, Take Two Interactive Software, Inc. (TTWO) reported that it swung to a third-quarter profit of %245.9 million, as sales surged by more than 270% due to strong demand for its "Red Dead Redemption" video game...(Read More)

Puts Popular as DryShips Inc. Obtains Waivers, Files for Stock Offering

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 15:26:00 GMT

DryShips Inc. (DRYS) this morning confessed that it obtained another waiver on its %24230 million loan due Dec...(Read More)

JA Solar Holdings Co., Ltd. Lifts 2010 Shipment Guidance on 'Robust' Customer Orders

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 15:03:00 GMT

At its recent Analyst Day in Valencia, Spain, JA Solar Holdings Co., Ltd. (JASO) said its second-quarter shipment was the highest in company history, thanks to market share increases from new and existing customers...(Read More)

Option Players Continue to Place Bearish Bets on MGM Resorts International

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 18:31:00 GMT

After spending the last several days pinned between beneath the %249.50 level, MGM Resorts International (MGM) today vaulted higher, jumping past short-term resistance at its 10-day and 20-day moving averages, to its current perch at %249.95...(Read More)

Bears Bet on a Fall from Grace for First Solar, Inc.

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 16:09:00 GMT

First Solar, Inc. (FSLR) has been a favorite target of put buyers lately, despite the stock advancing roughly 10% during the past two weeks...(Read More)

Out-of-the-Money Calls Heat Up as China Considers Courting Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 15:53:00 GMT

Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan (POT) is once again the center of buyout buzz today...(Read More)

Call Players Emboldened by Alcoa Inc.'s Positive Price Action

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 15:24:00 GMT

U.S. stocks climbed on Thursday, boosted in part by an unexpected jump in pending home sales...(Read More)

Option Players Have Virtually Ignored Papa John's Int'l, Inc. -- But That Could Soon Change

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 19:12:00 GMT

It's hard to believe, but the NFL's regular season kicks off in just days. However, football fans aren't the only ones cheering the upcoming season, so is the NFL's "official pizza sponsor," Papa John's Int'l, Inc...(Read More)

Option Players React as Hewlett-Packard Company Wins Bidding War for 3PAR Inc.

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:49:00 GMT

And the winner is... Hewlett-Packard Company (HPQ)! This morning the bidding war for 3PAR Inc...(Read More)

Back-Month Traders Buy Out-of-the-Money Calls on Novartis AG

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 16:46:00 GMT

Call speculators have bombarded drug maker Novartis AG (NVS) today, with roughly 6,000 calls exchanged so far - more than 14 times its expected daily volume of fewer than 500 calls...(Read More)

As Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. Continues to Rally, Call Writers Likely Kicking Themselves

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 15:53:00 GMT

Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (CMG) has been on a roll in 2010, adding over 80% year-to-date...(Read More)

Call Traders Take Profits, Place Bets Amid Apple, Inc.'s New Product Hype

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 15:28:00 GMT

If you haven't yet heard the latest news from Apple, Inc. (AAPL), you're obviously not a bona fide "fanboy." During its infamous "September event" on Wednesday, the Silicon Valley bigwig unveiled what Steve Jobs called the "biggest change in the iPod lineup ever," and the latest version of iTunes, which now hosts a social networking feature that allows users to recommend songs...(Read More)

Contract Could Boost 3Q Profits for TASER International, Inc., Analyst Says

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 19:22:00 GMT

After scoring a courtroom victory on Tuesday, TASER International, Inc. (TASR) is capitalizing on another round of positive headlines today...(Read More)

Option Player Targets QUALCOMM, Inc. for a Long Put Spread

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 19:02:00 GMT

QUALCOMM, Inc. (QCOM) has been range-bound lately, hovering in between the %2438 and %2440 levels since the end of July...(Read More)

Calls Heat Up as DryShips Inc. Sails Past Short-Term Resistance

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 18:11:00 GMT

DryShips Inc. (DRYS) has powered higher along with the broader equities market today, attracting the attention of call speculators in the process...(Read More)

Option Players Tune In to Broadcom Corporation

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 17:51:00 GMT

Broadcom Corporation (BRCM) hasn't had the easiest time on the charts lately...(Read More)

Put Writers Count on Technical Support for Yahoo! Inc.

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 16:50:00 GMT

Yahoo! Inc. (YHOO) has attracted a heavy dose of put activity today, with over 6,300 of these bearish bets changing hands so far -- four times the search engine stock's expected single-session put volume.However, a closer look at today's put volume indicates that this activity is not necessarily bearish...(Read More)

Post-Earnings Call Volume Surges on Energy Conversion Devices, Inc.

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 16:00:00 GMT

This morning, Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. (ENER) stepped into the earnings spotlight...(Read More)

Electronic Arts Inc. Muscles Higher on Monthly ?Madden NFL 11' Sales

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 15:42:00 GMT

Late last night, videogame maker Electronic Arts Inc. (ERTS) estimated sales of its Madden NFL 11 jumped 5% in August, making it the top-selling videogame in North America...(Read More)

Strategist Employs LEAPS for a Long-Term Volatility Play on Suntech Power Holdings

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 19:24:00 GMT

It appears alternative-energy issue Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. (STP) may have been the target of a long-term volatility play in the options pits today.Early this morning, a block of 200 January 2011 9-strike calls crossed the tape at the same time as a symmetrical block of January 2011 9-strike puts...(Read More)

The Gap Inc. Targeted for a Long Straddle

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 18:58:00 GMT

Wells Fargo this morning raised its outlook on The Gap Inc. (GPS) from "market perform" to "outperform," explaining that earnings should rise in the next year on occupancy leverage and stock buybacks...(Read More)

Call Volume Soars as Lululemon Athletica inc. Downgraded

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:26:00 GMT

Athletic apparel issue Lululemon Athletica inc. (LULU) saw a surge in call volume on Monday, with 6,680 contracts crossing the tape -- six times the equity's expected single-session call volume of around 1,100 contracts.LULU may have been on traders' radar due to the company's downgrade from Jefferies, which on Monday slashed its rating on the retailer from "hold" to "underperform." Turning to Monday's activity, the September 38 call took the top spot, with roughly 1,800 contracts changing hands at this strike -- the majority of which traded at the ask price, indicating they were likely purchased...(Read More)

Put Players Pounce on China-Biotics Inc.

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 14:58:00 GMT

China-Biotics Inc. (CHBT), which develops, manufactures, and distributes probiotics in China, announced last week that it is ranked 62nd on Fortune Magazine's 2010 "Fastest-Growing Companies" list...(Read More)