Today’s tickers: CHK, FLS & CBS
CHK – Chesapeake Energy Corp. – Traders positioning for shares in the second-largest U.S. natural gas driller to potentially drop to lows not seen in years are snapping up weekly put options this morning. The stock is down more than 13.2% at $17.00 as of 11:00 am ET after Chesapeake Energy Corp. reported a surprise loss in the first quarter amid continued concern and uncertainty surrounding actions of the Company’s CEO. Bearish interest is notable in the May 04 ’12 $16 strike puts, with more than 5,100 of those contracts purchased earlier in the session for an average premium of $0.10 apiece. Put buyers may turn a quick profit if shares in Chesapeake decline another 6.5% to breach the breakeven price of $15.90 by expiration. Weekly put buyers acting ahead of the earnings report appear to have done well for themselves, with the May 04 ’12 $19 strike puts purchased around 4,800 times on Tuesday for an average premium of $0.33 apiece. Less than 24 hours later, those same $19 strike put options are six times as expensive, trading at $1.97 per contract on Wednesday morning.
FLS – Flowserve Corp. – Shares in the provider of pump systems and control valves are up sharply on Wednesday morning, trading up 4.0% at $118.06 as of 11:15 am in New York. The stock slipped slightly earlier in the week following the Company’s first-quarter earnings report, but have more than made up for that pullback today. Flowserve appeared on our ‘hot by options volume’ market scanner in the first hour of the session after one strategist initiated a sizable put spread in the June expiry. It looks like the trader purchased a 1,500-lot June $95/$105 spread for a net premium of $0.85 apiece. The put…
