The DJIA is up triple digits following strong earnings from a few blue chips
A strong round of earnings and an extended bounce in oil futures have the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) comfortably higher at the halfway point. Oil dated for March delivery was up 2.6% at $31.12 per barrel, at last check, while on the earnings front, Dow components 3M Co (NYSE:MMM), Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ), and Procter & Gamble Co (NYSE:PG) are paving the way with promising results. Traders are also likely encouraged by the fact that a major sell-off in China has been largely ignored by domestic markets, and rising home prices and consumer confidence have added fuel to the fire. Looking ahead, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is scheduled to report earnings after the bell.
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Among the stocks with unusual put volume is electric car producer
Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA). With the shares last seen 2.6% lower at $191.20, the stock is on pace to close at its lowest point since April 1. Traders are betting on extended losses through week's end by buying to open positions in the weekly 1/29 series. Specifically, the 185- and 190-strike puts are the most popular options today.
On the Nasdaq, one of the biggest losers is Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX), which is again missing out on a broad-market rally. Shares of the streaming giant are off by 2% today at $97.13. Despite its recent struggles, though, NFLX maintains a roughly 48% 12-month lead.
One of the noteworthy winners on the Big Board is financial firm BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE:BLK). The stock is up 1.4% today at $293.79, following some upbeat analyst attention. However, the shares have still lost 19.5% since their November high of $364.87.
The
CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) is off 1.1 point, or 4.6%, at 23.03.
Today's put/call volume ratio on the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is 1.24, with puts outpacing calls. At last check, the SPY was 2.1 points, or 1.1%, higher to trade at $189.77 -- but it still sits below a crucial level.