ETFC - E*TRADE Financial Corp. – Shares in online broker, E*TRADE Financial Corp., fell nearly 6.0% on Wednesday after the firm said regulators may review its historical order handling practices. According to the company’s 10-Q, such an investigation, “could subject it to monetary penalties and cease-and-desist orders, which could also prompt claims by customers of E*TRADE Securities LLC.” The statement went on to note that, “these actions could materially and adversely affect the company’s broker-dealer businesses.” Shares in ETFC fell as much as 5.5% on the news to an intraday low of $14.30. The stock is still in negative territory, but off the lows of the session to trade at $14.56 just after midday in New York. Sizable prints in September expiry put options on E*TRADE suggest some strategists are bracing for the price of the underlying to potentially extend losses in the near term. Upwards of 6,200 of the Sep $14 puts have changed hands thus far in the session against open interest of 623 contracts. It looks like most of the $14 puts were purchased within 30 minutes of the opening bell for an average premium of $0.43 apiece. The puts may be profitable at expiration next month in the event that ETFC shares decline 6.8% from the current level to trade below the average breakeven point on the downside at $13.57.
SUNE - SunEdison, Inc. – Options on the maker of wafers for the semiconductor and solar industries are more active than usual today after the company posted a wider than expected second-quarter loss that sent shares in SunEdison down nearly 30% to $6.90 on Wednesday. The double-digit percentage move to the downside in SunEdison shares today appears to have attracted some contrarian strategists to SUNE options. Fresh interest building in front month…
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