Unusual Options Activity

Gold mining company AngloGold Ashanti (AU) has fared well in the past year, with a 20 percent gain. One trader sees a pullback in the coming months. That’s based on the April $20 puts. With 80 days until expiration, 5,002 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 115, for a 44-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the puts paid $0.90 to make the bearish bet. Shares currently trade just under $22, so they’d need to drop ...
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Retail apparel company Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF) have seen shares drop by over 20 percent in the past year. One trader is betting on more long-term pain for the company in the year ahead. That’s based on the January 2024 $15 put options. With 357 days until expiration, 5,000 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 112, for a 44-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the puts paid $0.88 to bet on a further drop ...
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Shares of media giant Paramount Global (PARA) have shed one-third of their value in the past year. One trader sees shares moving higher in the weeks ahead. That’s based on the February 17 $21.50 call. With 22 days until expiration, 3,066 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 114, for a 27-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the calls paid $0.97 to make the trade. Shares recently traded just under $21, so they’d need to rise ...
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Shares of coffee chain Starbucks (SBUX) have bucked the market downtrend with a 7 percent gain over the past year. One trader sees that trend continuing in the coming months. That’s based on the April $115 calls. With 85 days until expiration, 121,998 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 2,448, for a 50-fold jump in volume on the trade. The buyer of the calls paid $2.11 to make the bullish bet. Shares recently traded for about $106, so they ...
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Shares of offshore oil and gas services company Transocean (RIG) are up 83 percent over the past year. One trader sees a pullback in the next two months. That’s based on the March $5 puts. With 51 days until expiration, 13,472 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 108, for a 91-fold jump in volume on the trade. The buyer of the puts paid $0.22 to make the bearish bet. Shares recently traded for $6, so the stock would need ...
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Shares of chipmaker Intel (INTC) are down 44 percent over the past year, about three times worse than the slide in the S&P 500. One trader sees the stock continuing lower over the next two years. That’s based on the January 2025 $13.00 put. With 725 days until expiration, 10,004 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 312, for a 32-fold jump in volume on the trade. The buyer of the puts paid $0.60 to make the bearish bet. Shares ...
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Shares of chipmaker Micron Technology (MU) are down nearly one-third over the last year. One trader sees a further decline ahead for shares in the coming weeks. That’s based on the March 3 $48 puts. With 42 days until expiration, 2,658 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 103, for a 26-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the puts paid $0.52 to make the bearish bet. Shares recently traded for just over $56, so they would ...
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Shares of residential construction company PulteGroup (PHM) are down 7 percent over the past year, about half as much as the S&P 500. One trader sees a further drop ahead for shares. That’s based on the April $50 puts. With 91 days until expiration, 8,437 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 182, for a 46-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the puts paid $2.78 to make the downside bet. Shares recently traded for about $51, ...
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