Today’s tickers: SVNT, WFC, EEM, MCO, XHB, EXEL, GDX & HIG

SVNT– The specialty biopharmaceutical company’s shares have slipped 2% throughout the trading day to $5.78. The slight decline has not deterred some investors from establishing covered calls in anticipation of the potential approval of Savient’s novel biological drug treatment for failure gout patients. The firm’s biologics license application is set for review before the Arthritis Advisory Committee appointed by the FDA on June 16, 2009. Option traders were seen making some interesting plays on the stock ahead of judgment day. One investor purchased 5,000 calls at the near-term June 7.5 strike price for a premium of 1.05 apiece spread against the sale of 5,000 calls at the July 10 strike for a premium of 50 cents each. The spread cost the investor 55 cents. Such a strategy has a number of possible outcomes contingent upon the decision of the advisory committee. We note that the committee is scheduled to convene just a couple of days before the June 19th expiration of the June 7.5 calls. In the event that the drug, KRYSTEXXA ™, is approved the investor is likely expecting the June 7.5 calls to land in-the-money allowing him to take delivery of the underlying shares. Once long the stock, he has an effective exit strategy in place because of writing the calls today. He will have amassed gains of 44% on the stock if shares rise through $10.00 by expiration. Pure covered call writers also targeted the July 10 strike price where another 7,000 calls were sold and likely tied to a long stock position. The sky-high implied volatility reading of 272% for the near-term June 7.5 strike calls will likely compress after the review has yielded a decision on the gout drug. Thus, traders will be singing a more melancholy tune in the event that the drug does not receive approval and the call premium plummets. – Savient Pharmaceuticals, Inc

WFC– Shares have reversed direction this afternoon to rise more than 1.5% to $24.50 after spending the majority of the day in the red. We noticed some traders stocking up on protective put options in the July contract at multiple strike prices. The most bearish of investors picked up 15,500 put options at the July 15 strike price for an average premium of 30 cents each. Higher up at the July 19 strike, some 20,000 puts were coveted…
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