Today’s tickers: AIG, MU, F, POT, CLF, PAYX, ERIC, SVU, LFC & CA
AIG – American International Group, Inc. – The insurer’s shares experienced a fantastic 56.7% run up from its low point in the current month of $24.54 on March 3, 2010, up to yesterday’s intraday high of $38.45. During the current session, AIG surrendered a small portion of its recent share price gains, slipping slightly lower by 1.40% to stand at $34.62 in afternoon trading. Extreme-bullish positioning in long-dated options caught our attention today as one investor established a call spread in the January 2011 contract. The optimistic trader purchased 5,500 calls at the January 2011 $50 strike for a premium of $3.65 apiece, and sold the same number of calls at the higher January 2011 $75 strike for $1.30 each. The net cost of the transaction, and maximum loss potential faced by the investor, amounts to $2.35 per contract. American International Group’s shares must surge 51.2% from the current price of $34.62 in order for the trader to break even on the spread at $52.35 per share. Perhaps the individual responsible for the trade expects AIG’s shares to rebound up to the current 52-week high on the stock of $55.90 (attained back on August 28, 2009), or above within the next ten months to expiration. Maximum available profits of $22.65 per contract – total gains of $12.4575 million – accumulate for the bullish player if AIG’s shares jump 116.6% from today’s price to $75.00 by January expiration day. Shares last traded above $75.00 back in October of 2008.
MU – Micron Technology, Inc. – A large-volume long-term bullish transaction on the manufacturer of semiconductor devices indicates one big options player anticipates continued upward movement in the price of Micron’s shares by expiration in January 2011. Shares rallied 2.55% to $10.05 this afternoon, but earlier increased more than 4% to reach an intraday high of $10.25. The optimistic investor purchased a debit call spread in by picking up 20,000 in-the-money call options at the January 2011 $10 strike for a premium of $2.07 apiece, marked against the sale of 20,000 calls at the higher January 2011 $15 strike for $0.58 each. The net cost of the spread amounts to $1.49 per contract, positioning the investor to amass profits if Micron’s shares exceed the breakeven price of $11.49 by expiration next year. Maximum potential profits of $3.51 per contract – total gains of…
