Index or ETF-related options dominated volumes on Tuesday, but Wednesday was the smallest intraday range for the S&P 500 in 2014. As a result, single stock options were much more active.
1. BAC – Stock rallied to its highest level since its January 15th high of 17.42, on its highest volume since January 15th. Options volume was about 3x the 1 month average daily volume. The Mar22nd 17 and the Mar7th 17 calls both traded over 50k on the day. XLF, the financials ETF, hit a new 5 year high on the broader strength in financials.
2. GM – Closed at a 1 month high on heavy call volume. The Mar22nd 37 calls were the most active, trading over 30k. The largest prints looked like a roll from long Mar22nd and June 37 calls out to June 40 calls – seller of 12k of the Mar 37 calls at 1.21, seller of 3k of the June 37 calls at 1.85, and buyer of 12k of the June 40 calls for 1.18. Dan posted a Name That Trade post on GM yesterday morning.
3. FB – New all-time high in FB. The Mar22nd 70 calls were the most active line once again, trading over 40k, though most of the volume yesterday was sellers initiating to close. Despite the selling, it’s surprising to FB implied vol in the mid-30’s (near a 6 month low) with the stock hitting a new all-time high.
4. SLV – Closed just above its 200 day moving average, which is at 20.26. Someone bought 18k of the Apr 20.5 calls to sell 18k of the Jan16 22 calls, and collected 1.77 in premium for the call diagonal. There was also a seller of 29k of the Apr 19.5 puts at 0.31 a bit later in the day. We discussed precious metals technicals in yesterday’s CotD.
5. RAI – Customer sold 25k of the May 60/65 call spread at 0.65 to close. That was after the same trader bought that spread for 0.90 10 minutes before the close on Tuesday. That’s a rather quick way to lose $625,000. RAI closed down 3% on Wednesday after the rampant M&A speculation on Tuesday.
6. DHI – Seller of 25k of the Mar22nd 24 calls at 0.80. DHI hit a nine month high last week, but has struggled along with the homebuilders as rates have creeped higher in the past 5 days.
7. BHP – Buyer of 17,500 of the August 60 puts for 1.53, and then a seller of 20k of the August 57.5 puts at an average price of 0.995 about 30 minutes later, likely the same trader. BHP has not traded below 60 since July.
8. WWE – The stock has almost tripled in the past 6 months over enthusiasm about its TV contract that is up for renewal. Buyer of 5k of the Apr 30 calls paying up to 1.33 electronically early in the session. 30 day implied vol is around 75, near 5 year highs.
9. FOXA – Trader rolled up a long call position. Sold 10k of the Apr 33 calls at 1.50, vs. buying 20k of the Apr 34 – 36 call spread paying 0.75. $35.75 is FOXA’s high on the year (and all-time high).
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studentoptions1 [09:54:21 AM]:
VXX cust
sold 2300 Apr 55c at 1.29
sold 2300 Apr11w 54 c at 1.14 crosses
studentoptions1 [09:58:43 AM]: cust bot 3000 Mar28w 49.5 c 1.13 vs 49.36 crosses
studentoptions1 [10:08:19 AM]: IYR mar 28th 67.5 puts cust paid .51 for 3800 crossed most (AMEX)
studentoptions1 [10:16:40 AM]: SPY ppr sold Mar (31) 160/170/180 Put Fly @ .36 (4000x8000x4000) bought Mar(31) 161/173/185 Put Fly paid 1.24( 5000x10000x5000) ;Crossed
studentoptions1 [10:19:13 AM]: UAL cust bot 3000 Jun 52.5 c 2.10 vs 46.67 stk crosses XFA PRINTS ADJUSTED
studentoptions1 [11:12:26 AM]: SCSS cust sold 5000 Mar 17.5 c at .325 crosses most
studentoptions1 [11:13:12 AM]: NLY cust bot 2100 Jan 8 p .25 crosses
studentoptions1 [11:18:38 AM]:
RAI cust
bot 13616 Mar 57.5 c 1.40
sold 9143 Mar 55 c at 2.41 crosses
studentoptions1 [12:22:29 PM]:
WFT cust
bot 3500 Mar14w 16.5 c .54
sold 3000 Mar14w 17 c at .29 crosses most
studentoptions1 [01:34:34 PM]: KR march 43c paper bought 1900 for 1.40 untied crossed
studentoptions1 [01:53:47 PM]: EXH Mar 40c ppr sold 1500 @ .875 vs 40.24 ;Crossed
studentoptions1 [03:38:36 PM]:
bot 12500 VLO Mar14 52.5 Calls $0.55
sld 17000 VLO Mar14 55.0 Calls $0.16 – Casey xx’d
aaronxfa [09:49:10 AM]: WWE – looks like paper bot. and swept 5,000 Apr 30 calls up to 1.33 and crossed… (elec)
aaronxfa [09:51:15 AM]: NCR – looks like paper bot. 2500 Apr 35 call / 32 put risks for .40 and crossed… (elec, call over)
aaronxfa [09:54:05 AM]: AVNR – looks like paper bot. 5,000 Jun 4 calls for 1.50 and crossed… (elec)
aaronxfa [10:15:25 AM]: NOK – looks like paper bot. and swept a total of 20,000 May 8 calls up to .55 and crossed 12,957… (elec)
aaronxfa [10:21:33 AM]: AVNR – looks like paper bot. another 5,000 Jun 4 calls up to 1.82 and crossed… (elec, 10k total on the day)
aaronxfa [10:48:16 AM]: IYR – paper buys 10,000 Mar 69 puts — sells 15,000 Mar 67 Puts paid .38c 1:1.5
aaronxfa [11:18:10 AM]: CNP – paper sld. 20,000 May 25 calls @ .40, tied to 23.47 on a 31^ and crossed all…
aaronxfa [11:30:16 AM]:
GM
sld. 3,000 Jun 38 calls @ 1.85 and crossed… (elec)
bot. 12,000 Jun 40 calls for 1.18 and crossed… (elec)
sld. 12,000 Mar 37 calls @ 1.21 and crossed… (elec)
3 separate trades seconds apart… (elec)
ddphilly99 [09:24:49 AM]: good morning
ddphilly99 [09:58:39 AM]: BHP – bot 17500 aug 60 puts paid 1.53….crossed all PTR
ddphilly99 [09:59:51 AM]: C apr 52.5 calls cust bot 3400 for .72 X’D ALL
ddphilly99 [10:01:19 AM]: KOG Jun 12/13 call sprd sld 7500 @ .40 crossed most
ddphilly99 [10:04:23 AM]: SWY apr 37 calls int buys 2500 at 2.95 x’d all
ddphilly99 [10:05:53 AM]: SUNE april 21 23 1 x 2 call sprd cust collected .25 6,000/12,000 crossed all
ddphilly99 [10:15:14 AM]: BHP – bot 10k aug 57.5 puts paid 1.02…..crossed all
ddphilly99 [10:17:56 AM]: AIG – bot 9k apr 52.5 calls paid .60 – sold 5k mar 50 calls @ 1.34….crossed all
ddphilly99 [10:30:36 AM]: MNKD april 10 line interest bot 1000 x paid .15 crossed
ddphilly99 [10:38:56 AM]: AAL may 40 call int bght 3000 for 1.475 x’ed all
ddphilly99 [10:59:50 AM]: TEVA jun 47.5 55 cs sld 5k 3.13 x’d 4900
ddphilly99 [11:00:05 AM]: XLI mar 52/jun 55 call spd cust sld 3k @ .42 x’d all
ddphilly99 [11:05:41 AM]: HYG apr 97 puts 94.69 96del int bght 5250 at 2.975 x’d 5k
ddphilly99 [11:08:04 AM]: IGT jul 17 calls cust paid .65 for 8k x’d 7500
ddphilly99 [11:08:20 AM]: EWZ cust sld 2k sept 40 str at 6.35 vs 40.62 9 delta crossed all
ddphilly99 [11:23:06 AM]: END – jan 5put cust sld 3000 @ 1.95 crossed all
ddphilly99 [11:37:31 AM]: SLV apr 20 1/2 – jan16 22 call sprd int sold 18,000 @ 1.77 x’ed all
ddphilly99 [11:37:54 AM]: EEM june 38 puts interest sold 4000 at 1.36 vs 39.37 on a 37 delta crossed all
ddphilly99 [11:49:59 AM]: BBRY apr 10 calls cust sld 5k @ 1.05 x’d all
ddphilly99 [11:54:19 AM]: EEM jun 37.5 puts cust sold 10,000 at 1.20 vs 39.35 on 33^ LINK x’ed all
ddphilly99 [11:54:56 AM]: END jan 5 p tied 4.08 55^ cust sld 4500 @ 2.00 crossed all
ddphilly99 [12:04:03 PM]: KSS apr 57.5 calls cust sld 10,550 @ .55 x’d all
ddphilly99 [12:06:08 PM]: NRG – bot 4k sep 23put for .60 / sld 4k sep 20put @ .30 / sld 4k sep 35call @ .425 ….crossed all
ddphilly99 [12:07:25 PM]: ABX jan 15-23 calls cust sold 2500 at 1.80 vs 20.56 stk 43dlta x’d all
ddphilly99 [12:09:02 PM]: MU jan 25-27 strg vs 24.90 stk int sold 4500 @ 6.675 stk x’ed all
ddphilly99 [01:33:05 PM]: ZNGA – mar 5 – may 6 call spread paid .28 for 7600….crossed 7500
ddphilly99 [01:40:41 PM]: BAC jan 22 line trades for .02 11k sld stock x’d all
ddphilly99 [01:43:23 PM]: AA – may 11 calls cust pd 1.40 for 10k…….. crossed all
ddphilly99 [02:52:27 PM]: TEVA mar 52.5 calls cust sld 3500 at .33 x’d all
ddphilly99 [02:53:28 PM]: FOXA – sold 10k apr 33 calls @ 1.50 – bot 20k apr 34 – 36 call spreads paid .75….crossed most
ddphilly99 [03:28:59 PM]: GDXJ jan15 36-50 risk int sold 5500 for .50 x’ed all
ddphilly99 [03:35:03 PM]: NRF bought mar 15 calls sold apr 16 calls paid .55 for 10k x’d all
ckoufomihalis [09:48:36 AM]:
XLF mar 21 calls untied .. cust sells 14500 @ 1.05 ..AMEX
ckoufomihalis [09:51:42 AM]: LOW Apr 46 / 50 call spread cust paid 3.16 for 1043 — Crossed
ckoufomihalis [09:57:52 AM]: CX jan 2016 15 cust bot 1500 for 1.73 crossed…phlx
ckoufomihalis [10:00:22 AM]: C apr 52.5 calls cust bot 3400 for .72…phlx
ckoufomihalis [10:19:27 AM]: AIG – bot 9k apr 52.5 calls paid .60 – sold 5k mar 50 calls @ 1.34….crossed -PHLX
ckoufomihalis [10:27:03 AM]: BHP aug57.5 puts paid 0.97 for 10,000 xx’d
ckoufomihalis [10:27:52 AM]: AIG Jan 2016 57 1/2 calls cust paid 4.60 for 5,000 crossed
ckoufomihalis [10:30:39 AM]: EWJ Jun / Sep 12 call spread cust paid .66 for 5k — Crossed
ckoufomihalis [10:31:22 AM]: Correction…EWJ..was call stupid
ckoufomihalis [10:38:44 AM]: MSFT Jun 36 puts sold 5k @ .985 — Crossed…ONPOINT
ckoufomihalis [10:39:40 AM]: DHI march 24 calls paper sold 25,000 @ .80 vs 24.19
ckoufomihalis [11:03:55 AM]:
MBI…mar 14 calls cust sold 5000 at .96…phlx
ckoufomihalis [11:07:22 AM]: FXI — mar / jun 36 call spread int bot 10k for .975 vs 34.87 stk 14delta , crossed -PHLX
ckoufomihalis [11:10:28 AM]: EWZ – cust sld 2k sept 40 straddle at 6.35 vs 40.62 9 delta … crossed -PHLX
ckoufomihalis [11:12:43 AM]: RSH Jan16 2 calls paid 1.00 for 10k vs 2.30 66d crossed…phlx
ckoufomihalis [11:15:52 AM]: HYG apr 97 puts 94.69 stk 96^ int bot 12k total at 2.975…PHLX
ckoufomihalis [11:34:23 AM]: HK April 7 line cust paid .10 for 3,000 conversions
ckoufomihalis [11:37:44 AM]: EFA Jun14 67 Puts vs 67.37 ….cust bot and crossed 5000 for 1.98
ckoufomihalis [11:54:50 AM]: eem jun 37.5 puts cust sold 10,000 at 1.20 vs 39.35 on 33^ x’ed all…phlx
ckoufomihalis [11:55:56 AM]: END jan 5 p tied 4.08 55^ cust sld 4500 @ 2.00 crossed…phlx
ckoufomihalis [12:07:45 PM]: NRG – bot 4k sep 23put for .60 / sld 4k sep 20put @ .30 / sld 4k sep 35call @ .425 ….crossed..phlx
ckoufomihalis [12:34:28 PM]: LAMR…Apr 46/Jul 40ps…IZZY sld 5k @ .05..live
ckoufomihalis [01:14:05 PM]: TLT Mar 104 puts cust paid .10 for 10,600 — Crossed
ckoufomihalis [01:24:09 PM]: XLF mar 22 calls .. paper buys and crosses 15000 for .325 ..AMEX
ckoufomihalis [01:32:25 PM]: ZNGA – mar 5 – may 6 call spread paid .28 for 7600….crossed 7500 -PHLX
ckoufomihalis [02:13:12 PM]: TRQ Sep 5 calls, cust paid .55� for 3596, crossed, no stk
ckoufomihalis [02:36:00 PM]: RAI May 60 / 65 call spread cust sold 25k @ .65 — Crossed..Onpoint
ckoufomihalis [02:53:52 PM]: FOXA – sold 10k apr 33 calls @ 1.50 – bot 20k apr 34 – 36 call spreads paid .75….crossed most…phlx
ckoufomihalis [03:39:04 PM]: NRF bought mar 15 calls sold apr 16 calls paid .55 for 10k – PHLX
cdattolo@x-fa.com [08:54:19 AM]: gm
cdattolo@x-fa.com [09:59:45 AM]: BHP – bot 17500 aug 60 puts paid 1.53….crossed phlx
cdattolo@x-fa.com [10:01:29 AM]: KOG Jun 12/13 call sprd sld 7500 @ .40 crossed most phlx
cdattolo@x-fa.com [10:48:36 AM]: EBAY sld 1250 Jul 55 puts @ 2.01 vs buying 1500 Jul 50 puts for .86 — Crossed
cdattolo@x-fa.com [11:07:19 AM]: CMCSA Jan 52.5 puts paper bt 4500 paid 4.925 vs 51.60 crossed
cdattolo@x-fa.com [11:09:02 AM]: IGT jul 17 calls cust paid .65 for 8k phlx
cdattolo@x-fa.com [01:07:33 PM]: SLV april 19.5 puts cust sold 19000 down to .31 no stk phlx
cdattolo@x-fa.com [01:12:05 PM]: EEM jun–jan 38 p/sprd vs 39.35 cust bot 9100 paid 1.59 & xx most