Today’s tickers: EFA, HAL, VIAB, IR, EXPD, GE, CCL, V, & XRX

EFA – The exchange-traded fund representing stocks from Europe, Australasia, and the Far East attracted more than passing glances by bullish option traders today. The fund is currently higher by 1.5% to stand at $44.75. One optimistic individual appears to have sold 10,000 calls at the near-term July 46 strike price for 12 cents apiece in order to purchase 10,000 calls at the August 48 strike for 40 cents each. Rolling up to a higher strike cost the investor a net 28 cents per contract. Shares of EFA must rally through the breakeven point at $48.28 before the trader can reel in profits on the transaction. Bullish sentiment spread to the September contract where it appears that one trader initiated a covered call. The investor looks to have bought shares of the fund and concurrently shed 2,000 calls at the September 49 strike price for 58 cents per contract. The premium received for writing the calls reduced the price of getting long the stock to about $44.09 (assuming shares were trading at $44.67 at the time of execution). The short call position provides an effective exit strategy for the investor who will have shares of the fund called away from him in the event that the September 49 calls land in-the-money by expiration. Should this occur, the trader will have enjoyed gains of 11% on the rise in the price of the ETF. – iShares MSCI EAFE Index ETF

HAL – The oil and gas company jumped onto our ‘most active by options volume’ market scanner after a large chunk of puts were purchased in the January 2010 contract. Shares of the Houston, Texas-based firm are higher by 2% today to $19.29. Approximately 35,000 in-the-money put options were scooped up at the January 22 strike price for an average premium of 4.45 apiece. Perhaps the investor responsible for the transaction is long the stock and is looking to protect his position from potential downward movement in HAL through expiration in January. In this case the trader is hoping for the value of the stock to appreciate and would be considered bullish. On the other hand, the transaction could represent bearish speculation by an investor aiming to amass profits beneath the breakeven point to the downside at $17.55 by the start of 2010. – Halliburton Company

VIA B – The global entertainment content company has enjoyed…
continue reading