optionMONSTER News

Kohl's gains after beating estimates

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:20:03 -0600

The department-store chain says earnings rose 21 percent; Jamba serves up a profitable quarter; Green Mountain falls after reporting gains.

Macy's, J.C. Penney get bearish gifts

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 07:55:55 -0600

Traders use "Christmas tree" spreads in positioning for the department-store companies to experience modest pullbacks by December expiration.

Technicals give bulls slight edge today

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 07:28:04 -0600

The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq 100 pushed to new year-to-date highs yesterday but failed to hold that move. That is not hugely bearish, but not bullish either.

WEBCAST: More M&A coming

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 07:16:20 -0600

Pete says the technology sector will continue to see M&A in the wake of Hewlett-Packard's purchase of 3Com.

Futures, commodities fall as dollar rises

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 07:13:54 -0600

U.S. stock index futures are lower after trading in Asia was mixed to weak, with only mainland China's markets notably stronger.

Big trade bets on drop in volatility

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 06:03:19 -0600

One big trade in the VIX options near the end of yesterday's session is looking for volatility to continue to drop by the December expiration.

Rise of MannKind seen by spring

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 06:02:33 -0600

Shares of the biopharmaceutical firm have seen some wild swings, but one institution-sized trader apparently believes that the stock is back on track to rise by mid-May.

Volatility play in Assured Guaranty

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 06:01:24 -0600

The financial guarantor's volatility readings seem to have bottomed, and now one trader is betting on a rebound in coming months.

Mortgages, jobs, oil numbers on tap

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 06:00:44 -0600

The economic calendar has quite a few items but no particular theme, which may make the trading session more volatile than usual.

'Fast Money': Tech rally tomorrow?

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:57:12 -0600

The CNBC panel says tech stocks could get a lift tomorrow from Hewlett-Packard's takeover of 3Com and a strong after-hours earnings report by Applied Materials.

Calls surged in 3Com before takeover

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:42:06 -0600

Options action took a bullish turn in COMS just hours before Hewlett-Packard said it would acquire the networking company for $2.7 billion.

Trader counts on Alkermes to bounce

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:17:49 -0600

The drugmaker has fallen 23 percent in less than two months, but one large trader apparently believes that the stock will rebound by mid-January.

Strategy tries to time Sun-Oracle deal

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:02:01 -0600

We have seen a number of trades over the last several months that revolve around the Sun Microsystems takeover, and that continues today.

WEBCAST: Arbitrage on EMC

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:50:32 -0600

Chris McKhann discusses a large non-directional trade on EMC.

Bearish play on Nordstom earnings

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:40:18 -0600

Nordstom reports earnings after the bell tomorrow, and one investor is positioning for a move lower by the December expiration.

Cramer: China's industrial tonic

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:16:35 -0600

Why contrast China with America? Because if it weren't for China as world leader, we would be looking at unfathomably bad numbers for pretty much everything machinery.

Where we stand in the S&P rally

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:01:59 -0600

Given the breakout to fresh year-to-date highs today, it seemed like a good moment to revisit the S&P 500 chart we have used for forecasting over the last several months.

Why one trade bets on MetroPCS

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:51:42 -0600

Shares of the communications carrier are hovering just above the low of last week, but large options action is very bullish.

Bulls take the wheel at Oshkosh

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:35:38 -0600

The truckmaker has rallied eightfold since March, and the bulls expect it to keep on trucking through the December contracts.

VIX falling for eighth day in a row

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:20:52 -0600

The VIX is seeing its eighth straight day of losses, at least so far in today's session, reaching the lowest level since it jumped from the yearly lows down near 20 last month.

WEBCAST: Trailing stop on gold

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:43:24 -0600

Guy says HPQ remains attractively priced despite a big run this year.