The DJIA is down triple digits as the EU contemplates a potential Greek default
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) is down triple digits at midday, as concerns about a possible "Grexit" heat up. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) yesterday abandoned bailout talks with Greece, and projected optimism from Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has done little to ease jitters, as European Union (EU) officials discuss a possible default for the first time. Against this backdrop, Wall Street is taking the latest domestic data with a grain of salt.
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Among the stocks with notable put activity is Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOGL). The contracts are crossing the tape at 1.5 times the average intraday pace, with eleventh-hour bears buying to open weekly 6/12 puts that expire at tonight's close. At last check, GOOGL -- which could see its Android operating system in the next BlackBerry Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) model -- was down 0.7% at $546.19, after a French watchdog called on the firm to expand its "right to be forgotten" rule.
One of the top losers on the Nasdaq is Agios Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ:AGIO). The stock was higher in early action, but has since surrendered 15.4% to sit at $103.36 -- and land on the short-sale restricted list -- as traders digest the firm's latest data on its leukemia drug. AGIO is now lower year-to-date, and a breach of the century mark would be a first since May 8.
One of the top gainers on the Big Board is ITT Educational Services, Inc. (NYSE:ESI). The stock has skyrocketed 29.6% to flirt with $5.38 -- and is now attempting to surmount its formerly supportive 80-day trendline -- after the company unveiled stronger-than-expected first-quarter earnings. However, ESI still has a ways to go before clawing its way to a 2015 gain, with the shares down 43.8% year-to-date.
The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) is 0.8 point, or 6.2% higher, but remains lower on the week.
Today's put/call volume ratio on the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is 1.75, with puts almost doubling calls. At last check, SPY was down 1.4 points, or 0.6%, at $210.28.