The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI - 12,628.29) has managed to partially recover from yesterday's sharp decline, adding 55 points, or 0.4%, so far in the session. Elsewhere, the CBOE Market Volatility Index (VIX - 18.73) is down 1.4 points, or 6.7%.

Here are a few noteworthy stats at midday:

1. The equity put/call volume ratio across all nine options exchanges stands at 1.08, with 2.7 million puts being traded so far today, versus to 2.5 million calls.
   
   
2. Among the equities with heavy put activity is The Progressive Corporation (PGR - 20.61), which remains flat with yesterday's close. Currently, puts make up 98.7% of the insurance issue's current intraday option volume.
   
   
3. The put/call volume ratio on the iPath S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures ETN (VXX) stands at 1.26, with puts comfortably outpacing calls.
   
   
4. The Nasdaq shows an advance/decline ratio of 2.80, signaling that the number of upward movers nearly triples the decliners.
   
   
5. Among the Nasdaq's major advancers is First Solar, Inc. (FSLR - 15.87), which has gained about 9.2% in intraday trading. The alternative energy concern received approval from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works to resume construction on a solar power project -- a move that will create around 400 jobs and ultimately provide electricity to approximately 75,000 homes.