Today’s tickers: RIMM, PIR, BKS & TWC
RIMM - Research in Motion, Ltd. – Renewed takeover speculation lifted shares in beaten-down Blackberry-maker Research in Motion this morning, spurring fresh bullish activity in weekly call options and driving options implied volatility on the stock higher. RIMM’s shares earlier rallied as much as 5.1% to $18.77, but have cooled somewhat as of 11:50 AM ET to stand a lesser 2.5% higher on the day at $18.30. Investors placing immediate-term bullish trades targeted the Dec. ’02 $18 and $19 strike calls, which have one full day of trading left to expiration. Traders paid an average premium of $0.45 apiece to pick up more than 1,100 in-the-money calls at the Dec. ’02 $18 strike, and shelled out an average of $0.16 in premium per contract for some 3,500 calls at the higher $19 strike. Meanwhile, the newly available weekly options that expire next Friday attracted the attention of speculators as well. Options traders purchased calls at the Dec. ’11 $19, $20, $21 and $22 strikes to position for RIMM’s shares to extend gains. Investors purchased roughly 850 calls at the Dec. ’11 $19 strike for an average premium of $0.53 each, and snapped up nearly 700 of the Dec. ’11 $20 strike calls at an average premium of $0.39 apiece. Call buyers at these strikes may profit at expiration next week in the event that shares in Research in Motion surge 6.7% and 11.4% over the current price of $18.30 to surpass the average breakeven prices of $19.53 and $20.39, respectively. Roughly 88,000 option contracts have changed hands on RIMM as of midday on the East Coast, with calls trading more than 2.3 times for each single put option in play.
PIR - Pier 1 Imports, Inc. – The home furnishings retailer popped up on our ‘hot by options…
