Today’s tickers: JPM, SLV & PETM
JPM – JPMorgan Chase & Co. – A New York Times report that said JPMorgan’s trading losses could reach $9 billion sent ripples across financial stocks on Thursday morning and pushed shares in the largest bank down as much as 4.1% to $35.26 in the first half of the session. Interest building in the newly issued weekly options contracts on JPM today suggests some strategists are positioning for the price of the underlying to make moves, either to the upside or downside, next week. Out-of-the-money put buying, particularly in the July 06 ’12 $32 and $34 strikes, looks for shares in the financial services provider to extend declines. Traders snapping up around 1,200 of the $34 put options for an average premium of $0.26 each profit at expiration next week should shares slip another 4.3% and settle below the breakeven price of $33.74. Low-probability bearish bets are on the rise at the July 06 ’12 $32 strike, with more than 500 puts purchased for a premium of $0.08 apiece. The value of these contracts could rise rapidly in the days ahead should JPM’s shares continue to come under selling pressure. On the flip side, traders buying far out-of-the-money weekly calls on the stock may see profits if the price of the underlying reverses course. Traders ready to benefit from a rebound in the stock price next week purchased around 850 of the $37 strike call for an average premium of $0.10 each and more than 220 of the $38 strike call for $0.05 apiece. Shares in JPM are hovering around their lows of the session as of midday in New York.
SLV – iShares Silver Trust ETF – Shares in the silver ETF have tanked since last summer, falling more than 40% from a 52-week high of $42.78 in August 2011, down to today’s current price and fresh 52-week low of $25.46. A burst of put buying on SLV…
