Some options traders appear to be positioning for shares in Ford Motor Co. to extend gains in the near term, snapping up cheap out of the money call options expiring one week from tomorrow. Upwards of 2,900 of the Nov 01 ’13 $18.5 strike calls changed hands during the first hour of the trading session against open interest of 966 contracts. Time and sales data suggests most of the volume was purchased at a premium of $0.05 each. Call buyers stand ready to profit at expiration next week in the event that Ford’s shares rally 3.0% over the morning’s fresh 52-week high of $18.01 to exceed the effective breakeven point at $18.55.
Overall options volume on Ford is running above average today, with roughly 104,000 contracts traded so far today as compared to the stock’s average daily options volume of around 71,500 contracts as of 11:10 a.m. ET.
This article will become free after 48 hours (see below for free content). To read the rest of this article now, along with Phil's live intra-day comments, live trading ideas, Phil's market calls, additional member comments, and other members-only features - Subscribe to Phil's Stock World by clicking here.
