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The EIA said crude stockpiles increased by less than economists' had forecast
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) is poised to notch a second straight day of gains, as well-received earnings from another blue chip help buoy the 30-stock index. Traders are also digesting a round of mixed economic data, which includes drops in industrial production and the Empire State manufacturing index, and a rise in sentiment surrounding the housing market. Meanwhile, crude is lingering near its highest levels of 2015, after the Energy Information Administration (EIA) said domestic inventories rose by a smaller-than-expected margin last week.
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Among the stocks with notable put activity is Mobileye NV (NYSE:MBLY), with the contracts crossing at six times the average intraday pace. Most active is the equity's September 36 put, which appears to be seeing a mix of buy- and sell-to-open activity. The Israel-based camera maker has jumped 8% today to trade at $45.26, amid a pair of bullish brokerage notes.
For more midday statistics and stocks on the move, head to page 2.
Firearms specialist Sturm, Ruger & Company (NYSE:RGR) is one of the leading advancers on the Big Board, thanks to halo lift from its surging sector peer. At last check, the stock was up 10% at $53.88, extending its year-to-date advance to 55.6%. However, today's upside is stalling out near RGR's 320-day moving average, a trendline not conquered on a daily closing basis since June 19.
Australia-based biotech Novogen Limited (ADR) (NASDAQ:NVGN) is one of the biggest gainers on the Nasdaq. The shares have tacked on 16.8% to linger near $8.46, after earlier topping out at a two-year high of $8.75. Year-to-date, NVGN has more than tripled in value -- thanks in part to some well-received drug data in early March. In spite of this, short interest surged 31% in the latest reporting period, and now accounts for a healthy 7.5% of the stock's available float.
The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) off 0.4 point, or 3.2%, at $13.23 -- and on track to notch an eight consecutive close south of its 10-day moving average.
Today's put/call volume ratio on the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is 1.78, meaning puts nearly double calls. SPY was last seen up 0.8 point, or 0.4%, to trade at $210.32.