Unusual Options Activity

Shares of pharmaceutical giant Merck (MRK) recently jumped higher on news of a Covid drug that could substantially reduce hospitalizations. One trader sees the trend continuing. That’s based on the November $100 calls. With 44 days on the trade, over 9,850 contracts traded against a prior open interest of 249, for a 40-fold rise in volume. The buyer of the calls paid $0.29 to make the trade. Even with the recent jump in price, shares are now only up about 5 percent ...
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Shares of tech giant Microsoft (MSFT) have traded down over the past few weeks, in line with the broader market. One trader sees a possibility for a rebound back to the company’s old all-time highs in the next month. That’s based on the November 5th $310 calls. With 31 days left on the clock, over 3,800 contracts traded, a 33-fold rise in volume from the prior open interest of 116 contracts. The buyer of the calls paid $2.01 for the trade. The ...
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Shares of cosmetics firm Coty (COTY) have been range-bound over the past few months, with a few periodic jumps higher. One trader sees the possibility for a move higher in the coming months. That’s based on the February $9 calls. With 137 days left until expiration, over 32,025 contracts traded, a 52-fold jump in volume from the prior open interest of 615. The buyer of the calls paid $0.76 for the contracts. Shares are just under $8, so they would need to ...
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Shares of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba (BABA) have sold off in recent weeks on increased regulations out of China as well as a slowing economy there. One trader sees the possibility for a rebound in the next few months. That’s based on the March $130 calls. With 138 days until expiration, over 4,400 contracts traded, a 33-fold rise in volume from the prior open interest of 134. The buyer of the calls paid $29.70 to make the trade. With shares around $150, ...
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Shares of megabank Bank of America (BAC) hit a new 52-week high this week, even amid the latest market volatility. One trader sees the move higher, just a hair above the price the stock hit in June, as a sign that shares may be due for a drop. That’s based on the October 1 $43 puts. Expiring tomorrow, over 8,300 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 309, for a 27-fold jump in volume. The buyer of the puts ...
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Shares of mattress firm Tempur Sealy International (TPX) have more than doubled in the past year. One trader sees the potential for shares to move far higher in the coming months. That’s based on the January $60 calls. With 114 days until expiration, over 10,050 contracts traded against an open interest of 2020, a 50-fold rise in volume. The buyer of the calls paid $0.93 to make the trade. Shares are currently just under $50, so they would need to rise $10, ...
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Shares of megabank UBS Group AG (UBS) have been trending higher the past year, with a few sizeable drops during periods of market fears. One trader sees the possibility for another such drop in the next few months. That’s based on the February $12.50 puts. With 143 days left on the trade, over 6,025 contracts traded, a 54-fold jump in volume from the prior open interest of 112. The buyer of the puts paid $0.25 to make the trade. With shares currently ...
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Shares of engineering and construction materials firm Johnson Controls International (JCI) have been in a steady uptrend for more than a year. One trader is betting that steady progress higher will continue. That’s based on the April 2022 $75 calls. With 199 days until expiration, over 5,200 contracts traded against a prior open interest of 134, for a 39-fold rise in volume. The buyer of the calls paid $4.60 to make the trade. Shares of JCI are already up 78 percent over ...
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