Today’s tickers: FXI, NUE, BBT & NTAP

FXI – Bearish options activity was observed on the China exchange-traded fund this morning amid a nearly 2.5% decline in shares to $40.78. Investors expecting further declines initiated bearish reversal plays on the ETF in the September contract. Approximately 10,000 calls were shed at the September 44 strike price for 80 cents apiece in order to partially finance the purchase of 10,000 put options at the now in-the-money September 41 strike for an average premium of 1.96 each. The net cost of the reversal amounts to 1.16. Thus, profits will begin to amass to the downside if shares fall beneath the breakeven point at $39.84 by expiration. Additional plain-vanilla put buying in the amount of 5,000 lots was seen at the September 41 strike for 1.96 per contract. Investors who did not fund their purchase of puts by selling calls will not start to profit unless the FXI declines at least 4% from the current price through the lower breakeven point at $39.04. Increase investor uncertainty regarding the future price of the fund is reflected by the 11% rise in option implied volatility today to a high of 41%. – iShares FTSE/Xinhua China 25 Index Fund

NUE – The manufacturer of steel and steel products edged onto our ‘most active by options volume’ market scanner this morning after call activity was observed in the January 2010 contract. Shares of NUE have suffered a 2.5% decline to stand at $46.48. The bullish ratio call spread established by one investor suggests a recovery in the stock up to its current 52-week high of $53.46 or above by expiration. The spread involved the purchase of approximately 5,000 calls at the January 50 strike price for a premium of 3.70 apiece against the sale of 10,000 calls at the higher January 55 strike for 2.07 per contract. The trader receives a net credit on the transaction of about 44 cents and may bank additional gains if NUE rallies 8% higher to surpass the $50.00 level by expiration. Maximum potential profits of 5.00 (excluding the credit received) will be attained by the investor if shares surged to $55.00. The risk undertaken by the trader in this situation is that he is holding a short position in 5,000 calls. Potentially unlimited losses would begin to amass on the call options if the stock blows through the breakeven point to the upside at $60.44 by…
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