The DJIA has shaken off early morning losses to trade higher, as traders prepare for tonight's election results
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) has spanned a 170-point range, and was last seen comfortably higher, as stocks recover early losses ahead of tonight's U.S. presidential election results. The S&P 500 Index (SPX) and Nasdaq Composite (COMP) are mirroring the Dow's reversal, as the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) continues to retreat. The Labor Department's Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) showed a rise in job openings for the month of September, with traders also digesting comments on inflation from Chicago Fed President Charles Evans.
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Among the stocks with unusual options volume at midday is pharmacy chain CVS Health Corp (NYSE:CVS), which is down 12.8% at $72.75 -- and just off a two-year low of $69.30 -- after cutting its full-year forecast. CVS options are currently trading at nine times their average daily pace, with puts leading calls 26,000 to 22,000, and with option volume is set to notch an annual high.
Biotech stock ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:ACAD) is among the top performers on the Nasdaq today, currently trading up 16.6% at $26.80, after delivering earnings that beat expectations last night. This is a much needed boost for ACAD, which is set to topple its 30-day moving average for the first time since late September, but is still down by over 23% since the beginning of 2016.
Car rental stock HTZ is among the worst performers on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) today, currently down 50.1% at $17.87, earlier notching a new seven-year low of $17.20, and on the short-sale restricted list, following last night's disappointing earnings and guidance. HTZ shares have now surrendered about two-thirds of their value since the beginning of 2016, and are well below the $28-$31 region that contained pullback attempts since February.
The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) is down 0.5 point, or 2.9%, at $18.17.
Today's put/call volume ratio on the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is 2.01, with puts doubling calls. At last check, SPY was up 0.2%, or 0.5 point, at $213.67.
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