Crocs options may be signaling rebound for shoe maker
CROX | Comment
Crocs jumps as some traders bet the downdraft is coming to an end.
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Pre-market looks weaker; Fed chief due to speak today, and Alcoa is due with earnings tonight Stocks look weaker in premarket trade. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke is due to speak today. Alcoa's (AA) earnings are due after the close. Markets are likely to remain volatile as sector rotation continues and investors scramble to protect themselves from downside. Commodity markets are still volatile, too, and investors are still looking to see if financial companies will need to raise capital.
AA XLE OIH GS FNM FRE
Goldman Sachs replaces Sina with Teva Pharma on conviction buy listGoldman Sachs removes Sina (SINA) from its conviction buy list and adds Teva Pharmaceutical (TEVA). Merrill Lynch upgrades Western Digital (WDC). Boone Pickens offers up an energy plan idea.
TEVA SINA WDC
The Fed wants to restrict exotic mortgages; short-covering is likely to spur a rallyThe Fed said today it wanted to issue new lending rules to restrict exotic mortgages. For stocks to rally, either the volatility index (VIX) needs to hit at least 30, crude has to drop to $120 per barrel or short sellers have to cover. Of those, short-covering is the most likely to happen in the near-term.
FNM FRE ALD VIXJuly 8, 2008
American Eagle Outfitters traders turn bearish, possibly on back-to- school nerves
AEO | Comment
American Eagle Outfitters puts are active, possibly on speculation back-to-school sales will be tough in a weakening economy.
InterDigital slides, puts active after company loses first round in ITC case
IDCC | Comment
InterDigital puts surge as underlying shares sink on news the company has lost an early round in its International Trade Commission case against Samsung.
ON Semiconductor traders buck analysts, turning bearish
ONNN | Comment
On Semiconductor sees put buying as shares drop below key support. Wall Street analysts, though, are still bullish.
VIX calls being snatched up
VIX | Comment
The VIX still hasn't moved to the high levels we would expect out of a market bottom, but some option traders are betting that it will in the very near future.
What's news?
MSFT YHOO IMB FNM FRE | Comment
A summary of today's top stories for traders.
Pressure continues Overseas
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Today the markets will have to deal with a tidal wave of bearish sentiment, a swell that began in Asia and spread to Europe just hours later. Icahn supports a Microsoft acquisition of Yahoo's search business for $1 billion.
July 7, 2008
Annaly Capital puts active as bears look for more downside; implied volatility soars
NLY | Comment
Annaly Capital sees put action and implied volatility soars. Options speculators look like they are bracing for more downside action.
Dick's Sporting Goods attracts call buyers as investors bet on recovery
DKS | Comment
Dick's Sporting Goods see call buying as some investors bet on a rebound in the underlying shares. Shares have lost about 35 percent of their value this year but got an upgrade a week ago from Needham & Co.
Deere calls jump as options speculators buck trend and set up for gains in 2H
DE | Comment
Deere calls see some early action as options speculators may be setting up for a 2H rebound. That is in contrast with short sellers who have shown bearishness on the stock.
SPX may have short bounce, but more downside
SPX VIX | Comment
The markets are up this morning, as markets held their ground last Thursday going into the long weekend.
Snapshot:Earnings this week
ARA AA PBG RT SGR LBAI MAR TXI FAST GE | Comment
This week will be active with earnings starting on Tuesday with Alcoa and General Electric reporting on Friday.
Snapshot:Conferences this week
OPY BKC CHKE DB | Comment
Highlights for the conferences this very slow week would be The Deutsche Bank Securities FinTech 2008: Senior Executive Forum and The Standard & Poors Fifth Annual Asset-Backed Commercial Paper Conference.
Snapshot:Economic releases this week
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Monday starts the week with interest rate activity and ends with the Import and Export Prices indices on Friday.
UK Manufacturing slumps in May
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The manufacturing output and industrial production fell in May which puts additional pressure on the Bank of England to cut interest rates again. Quicksilver Resources buys $1.3 billion in Barnett Shale.
July 3, 2008
ValueClick might finally be seen as a value to some options speculators
VCLK MSFT TWX NWS | Comment
ValueClick calls are active, a day after the shares hit a 52-week low, as investors try to bottom-pick.
Options volume rises nearly 36 percent in June; 1H volume sets pace for record year
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June options volume increases from a year ago levels. Overall volume is on pace for a record year.