The CBOE Put/Call Ratio closed at 1.05 today (according to Bloomberg), which is the highest close so far for 2013. Otherwise, relatively quiet day in the options market.
- AAPL – Stock closed lower for the 4th straight day, but call to put ratio was at 1.45 today nonetheless. Weekly 450 and 455 calls were the most active lines.
- LVS – Customer sold 23,125 Mar 52.25/55 call spreads at 1.62. The 55 line looks opening, and 52.25 closing, so likely a roll of long calls from the 52.5 to 55 strike.
- STZ – the Jul 32.5/40 call spread was bought 10K times. Option volume continues to be high with over 57K options trading.
- XLF – looks like a three-way spread, selling the Feb16 17 puts 45,000 times at 0.05, buying the Apr17/15 put spread 7500 times for 0.30, rolling protection out.
- VIX – spot VIX up 10% to 14.30, IV30 up 4 points to 75. Not a heavy volume day in options.
- TLT – Continuation of a trade from last week, with someone selling 22,200 of the Feb 120 puts to buy 26,200 of the Mar 116 puts, rolling protection out and down.
- XOP – SPDR S&P Oil and Gas Exploration and Production – 20K Mar 55 puts traded .74. From the print this looks like a buy. There is sufficient open interest on the line. Only the Jun 45 and 52 puts have similar open interest above 20K. Open interest on every other line significantly smaller.
- APKT – stock is up 22% and iv30 is in 50 points on announcement that ORCL will purchase the company for $29.25 a share. Over 50K options traded, with the Mar 29 and 30 calls most active.
- DGIT – almost 12K options traded today versus an average of 2,600. Largest trade was a purchase of 4350 Feb16 10 calls, tied to stock. IV30 is up almost 13 points, trading almost 102. Earnings are 2/13, but not confirmed.
- DELL – Mar and Feb 14 calls both active, trading about 35k and 25k respectively. Stock remains right in the middle of 12.50 to 14 range since LBO announcement.