Unusual Options Activity Review: MDR, NTGR, XLNX, MTG, WMB, FMCN, JNY, EQIX, .VIX, SPY
Unusual Options Activity Review For Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Bullish Trading
Bullish traders appear to be thinking that McDermott (MDR) may post strong earnings. Shares of the Houston, TX heavy construction company closed up 30 cents to finish $11.94. The options volume was 3X the daily average, with 21,000 calls and 2,000 puts traded. December 16 calls, which are 33.6 percent out-of-the-money and expire in 38 days, were the most actives with 10,300 contracts traded. November 12, November 13, December 14 and December 15 calls on MDR were actively traded as well. While the activity seems to include a mix of buying and selling, the heavy call activity also seems to reflect some bullish sentiment in the stock ahead of an earnings release ñ which is due out after the closing bell Tuesday.
Bullish trading was also seen in Netgear (NTGR), Xilinx (XLNX), and MGIC (MTG).
Bearish Trading
A sizeable four-way spread traded in Williams Companies (WMB) Tuesday. Shares of the natural gas producer closed down 3 cents to finish $31.29. Earlier one strategist sold 15500 November 23 puts on the stock at 3 cents and bought 15500 November 27 calls on WMB for $4.05. The same player sold 15,500 January 28 calls on WMB and bought 15,500 January 22.5 puts for 35 cents. 52 cents was paid for the four-way and the activity probably rolls out a Nov 23 ñ 27 combo to the Jan 22.5 ñ 28 bearish risk-reversal. A shareholder might have initiated the trade to hedge or "collar" a stock position in WMB.
Bearish trading was also seen in Focus Media (FMCN), Jones Group (JNY), and Equinix (EQIX).
Index Recap
CBOE Volatility Index (.VIX), which tracks the implied volatility priced into S&P 500 Index options, closed down 2.37 points to 27.48 on a day of relatively quiet trading Tuesday. The market's "fear gauge" is on a five-day 19 percent losing skid as relatively orderly trading has returned to the US equity market. In contrast to the action three months ago, when VIX hit a high of 45.45 on August 8, overall trading has been choppy, but much less turbulent than the very volatile months of August and September. Consequently, VIX is under pressure and now down around 40 percent from the extremes seen three months ago. Volume has slowed during that time as well. 117,000 calls and 111,000 puts traded in the VIX so far Tuesday, which compares to 272,000 calls and 672,000 calls traded in the VIX pit on August 8. Anxiety levels appear to be easing at this point.
Analyzing the ETF Market
A large four-way spread traded in the SPDR 500 Trust (SPY) Tuesday. The so-called "SPYders" have vacillated in an out of positive territory and closed up $1.62 to finish $127.88. In morning options action, one investor sold November 111 ñ 118 put spreads on the fund at 23 cents, 104,000X and bought the 85 cents, 50,000X. The activity looks like rolling action ñ i.e. closing out a massive spread in November puts while opening a new one in December options, but down one strike. The investor might have a portfolio of stocks and might also be concerned about a market decline in the weeks ahead. With the November expiration looming in 10 days, they're probably buying another month of downside portfolio protection.
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