Implied Volatility Movers
Implied volatility is broadly higher across the options market Monday morning. CBOE Volatility Index (.VIX), which tracks the expected volatility priced into S&P 500 Index (SPX) options, added 1.39 points to 12.69. VXGS, which tracks the implied vols in Goldman Sachs (GS) options, is a big mover, gaining 2.6 points to 25.55. VXN, the NASDAQ 100 Volatility Index, rose 1.07 to 13.10, VXD (Dow volatility index) rose 1.04 to 11.12, and RVX (Russell 200 Small Cap IV) is up 1.37 to 15.67.
Volume Signals
iShares EAFE Fund (EFA) options volume is running 2X the (22-day) average, with 154,000 contracts traded and call volume accounting for 94 percent of the volume.
National Oilwell (NOV) options volume is 2X, the average daily, with 29,000 contracts traded and put volume representing 51 percent of the activity.
Starbucks (SBUX) options volume is running 2X the average daily, with 29,000 contracts traded and call volume accounting for 55 percent of the activity.
Increasing options activity is also being seen in International Paper (IP), Juniper Networks (JNPR), and Colgate Palmolive (CL).
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