Today’s tickers: GS, NLC, TEX & MMR
GS – Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. – A large-volume credit put spread enacted on Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. in the first half of the trading session indicates one big options player expects the investment banking firm’s shares to rebound sharply ahead of May expiration. Goldman’s shares are up 3.25% to $149.92 as of 12:35 pm (ET). The investor responsible for the credit spread sold 18,250 deeply in-the-money puts at the May $170 strike for a premium of $21.95 apiece, and purchased the same number of puts at the May $120 strike for $0.63 each. The bullish options player keeps the hefty net credit of $21.32 per contract if shares of the underlying stock surge 13.33% from the current price to exceed $170.00 by expiration day. The short stance taken in May $170 strike put options implies the investor is willing to bear the risk that GS shares settle below $170.00 at expiration, and is therefore prepared to have shares of the underlying stock put to him at an effective price of $148.68 each in the event the put contracts land in-the-money at expiration. The overall reading of options implied volatility on the stock is down 13% to 44.45% as of 12:45 pm (ET).
NLC – Nalco Holding Co. – Shares of the global provider of integrated water treatment and process improvement services, chemicals and equipment programs jumped 18.27% earlier in the trading day to a new 52-week – and intraday – high of $29.25 on news the firm is ramping up production of a chemical to manage the spreading oil slick in the Gulf of Mexico. Bullish options investors rejoiced in Nalco’s share price rally by purchasing call options on the stock. Near-term optimists picked up 1,300 calls at the May $30 strike for an average premium of $1.00 apiece. Bullish sentiment spread to the June $30 strike where 1,400 call options were purchased for an average premium of $1.29 each. June contract call-buyers stand prepared to amass profits should shares of the underlying stock rally 14.75% over the current price ($27.27 as of 12:55 pm (ET)) to surpass the average breakeven point at $31.29 by June expiration day. The surge in investor demand for options on the stock combined with the massive rally in the price of the underlying shares lifted Nalco’s overall reading of options implied volatility 116.1% to 61.73% just ahead of 1:00 pm…
