Here is a list of 15 stocks which traded higher Wednesday on unusually higher volume. I have added all 15 of these stocks to my watch list (and invite you to as well), but chose only a couple to write about in detail in this post. This post requires the knowledge of stock options.[More...]

Today’s tickers: VALE, AMZN, TAP, FDO, SYMC, MON, MFA & TLB

VALE - Option traders set up long-term bullish trades across several contracts on the world’s largest iron-ore producer. Shares edged 0.25% lower this afternoon to $23.82 despite the upgrade to ‘buy’ from ‘neutral’ and the increase in target price to $31.00 from $25.00, at Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. One investor reeled in profits by closing out an existing short put position. He originally sold 6,500 puts at the March 23 strike for a premium of 3.35 apiece. Today he made a closing purchase of all the contracts for 2.40 each. Net profits on the transaction amount to 95 cents each or total gains of $617,500. Next, it seems the same investor initiated a new bullish stance on the stock by employing the same short-put strategy at the January 2011 22.5 strike where he sold 6,500 puts for 4.00 per contract. The next optimistic transaction today was a bullish risk reversal. One investor shed 10,000 puts at the January 2011 20 strike for 2.87 each in order to partially finance the purchase of 10,000 calls at the January 25 strike for 4.00 per contract. The net cost of the reversal amounts to 1.13. Thus, profits are available on the trade if VALE’s shares rally a minimum of 10% by expiration, to surpass the breakeven price of $26.13. – Vale S.A. –

AMZN - Shares of e-tailer, Amazon.com, are up 3% to $93.61. A bullish risk reversal in the November contract today suggests at least one option trader expects to see significant near-term gains in the stock by expiration. The reversal involved the sale of 5,000 puts at the November 80 strike for an average premium of 1.80 apiece. The short sale of the put options partially financed the purchase of 5,000 calls at the November 105 strike for 2.30 each. The net cost of the trade amounts to 50 cents per contract. If the investor is to accumulate profits by expiration, shares of AMZN must add at least 13% to the current price to breach the breakeven point at $105.50. – Amazon.com, Inc. –

TAP - The beer brewing company appeared on our ‘hot by options volume’ market scanner due to bearish options action in the January 2011 contract. Shares edged 0.5% higher during the trading session to $49.52. The investor responsible for the trade sold 5,000 calls at the January 55 strike for 3.50…

Looking at tons of charts this weekend, there is similar patterns on various charts. The majority of stocks have declined the past 3 days and are nearing support of their previous break out highs. The patterns look to SPX as it has the potential to move to test its August highs, but has resistance above it from its breakout highs which it broke below.[More...]

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