Midday Unusual Options Activity Update: XOM, YHOO, ALXA, DD, COH, MNST

Implied Volatility Mover
Implied volatility in the options on Exxon Mobile (XOM) is moving higher Tuesday. Shares of the energy giant are down $2 to $90.19 in active trading of 6 million shares and among 28 Dow stocks moving lower after crude oil prices slipped another $2.49 to $86.18 per barrel. Trading in the options on Exxon is busy as well. 28,000 calls and 30,000 puts so far. April 100 calls are the most actives. 4,940 traded. November 90 puts and calls are busy as well. Meanwhile, implied volatility in XOM options is moving up 18 percent to 17 heading into the company's November 1 earnings report.

Volume Signals
Yahoo (YHOO) options volume is running 2X the (22-day) average, with 185,000 contracts traded and call volume accounting for 60 percent of the volume.

Alexa Pharmaceuticals (ALXA) options volume is 32X, the average daily, with 52,000 contracts traded and call volume representing for 99 percent of the activity.

DuPont (DD) options volume is running 6X the average daily, with 46,000 contracts traded and put volume accounting for 67 percent of the activity.

Increasing options activity is also being seen in UPS, Coach (COH), and Monster Beverage (MNST).

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