The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI - 12,855.41) is up 44 points, or 0.3%, as anxieties over the euro zone and the ominous "fiscal cliff" have been slightly tempered by some positive economic data. Specifically, the preliminary November reading for the Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan consumer sentiment index rose to 84.9 from 82.6 in October, marking its highest level in over five years. Economists, on the other hand, had forecast a decline to 81.5. Concurrently, the Commerce Department said wholesale inventories climbed by 1.1% in September to a seasonally adjusted $494.15 billion, while U.S. import prices increased 0.5% in October, notching a third consecutive monthly gain. Elsewhere, the CBOE Market Volatility Index (VIX - 18.07) is 0.4 point, or 2.3%, lower.

Here are a few noteworthy stats at midday:

1. The equity put/call volume ratio across all 10 options exchanges sits at 1.00, with both calls and puts seeing 3.5 million contracts exchanged so far today.
   
   
2. Among the equities with heavy call activity is Metlife Inc (NYSE:MET - 32.44), which has tacked on 1.4% today. Presently, calls make up 88.5% of the insurance company's intraday option volume. Meanwhile, US Airways Group, Inc. (NYSE:LCC - 12.81) is seeing 97.7% of its intraday option volume trading on the put side of the aisle. At last check, the airliner is off 1.6%.
   
   
3. The put/call volume ratio on the iPath S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures ETN (NYSEARCA:VXX - 36.59) checks in at 0.74, with calls outnumbering puts.
   
   
4. The Nasdaq shows an advance/decline ratio of 1.31, with the number of upward movers outstripping the decliners.
   
   
5. Among the Nasdaq's major advancers is Zipcar Inc (NASDAQ:ZIP - 7.53), which has jumped around 24.7% in intraday action after revealing stronger-than-expected third-quarter earnings post-close yesterday.