Implied Volatility Mover
Implied volatility in the options on Vical (VICL) is up, despite little movement in the underlying stock. Shares of the San Diego, CA biotechnology company are down 3 cents to $3.89 on relatively light volume of 395K. Yet, options volume is 9.5X the daily average. 4,600 calls and 1,860 puts traded in the biotech. November and December 5 calls are the most actives and implied volatility in the options on the stock jumped 33 percent, now elevated at 127.5.

 

Volume Signals
Murphy Oil (MUR) options volume is running 22.5X the (22-day) average, with 103,000 contracts traded and call volume accounting for 97 percent of the volume.

Phillips 66 (PSX) options volume is 3X, the average daily, with 33,000 contracts traded and call volume representing for 98 percent of the activity.

Juniper Networks (JNPR) options volume is running 5X the average daily, with 33,000 contracts traded and call volume accounting for 72 percent of the activity.

Increasing options activity is also being seen in Hess (HES), NRG, and Marvell Technology (MRVL).

 

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