Today’s tickers: M, VALE & APD
M - Macy’s, Inc. – Shares in the operator of department stores, Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s, are on the rise today, up 1.75% at present to stand at $39.37 as of 11:35 a.m. in New York, after Redbook reported U.S. weekly same-store sales increased 1.6% year-over-year in the prior week. Bullish positioning in Macy’s options this morning suggests some traders are preparing for shares in the name to extend gains this week and perhaps through the end of the calendar year. The bulk of the volume in Macy’s options today is in the front month calls, with more than 6,400 contracts in play at the Nov. $40 strike against open interest of 2,295 positions. Most of the $40 strike calls appear to have been purchased this morning for an average premium of $0.18 apiece, thus positioning buyers to profit should shares rally another 2% to exceed the average breakeven price of $40.18 by expiration at the end of the week. Traders establishing bullish positions on the stock in December expiry calls may be looking for Black Friday and the frenzied holiday shopping season to drive up traffic in stores across the country and the price of the retailer’s shares. The Dec. $41 and $42 strikes are humming with activity today, with upwards of 2,800 calls changing hands at the $41 strike against open interest of 422 contracts.
VALE - Vale S.A. – Options activity on Brazilian metals and mining company, Vale, this morning indicates one or more traders are bulking up on upside calls to position for the price of the underlying to rebound during the next couple of months. Shares in Vale are off their lowest level of the day; down 0.70% at $17.86 as of 12:10 p.m. ET. The Jan. 2013 $18 strike calls are seeing the most action today, with volume topping 27,000 contracts in the first half of the trading session. Traders appear to be purchasing most of the…
