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Crude is being pressured lower after the latest inventory build
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDEXDJX:DJI) is clinging to modest gains in the wake of Tuesday's broad-market bloodbath. However, U.S. stocks still aren't in the clear, as the dollar continues to advance against the euro, and the timing of a Fed interest rate hike remains uncertain. On the economic front, domestic crude stockpiles rose more than expected last week -- pressuring futures lower once again -- while the Treasury budget is due out later this afternoon.
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Among the stocks with notable call volume is Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTWO), with the contracts running at 10 times the expected intraday rate. Digging deeper, the equity is 1.1% higher at $24.59, and one option bull bought to open a sizable sweep of June 24 calls in the hopes of additional upside.
For more midday statistics and stocks on the move, head to page 2.
Recro Pharma Inc (NASDAQ:REPH) is one of the biggest gainers on the Nasdaq, after receiving a price-target hike to $12 from $9 (and reiterated "buy" recommendation) at MLV & Co. At last check, the shares were up nearly 14% at $6.23, and they've now more than doubled in value on a year-to-date basis. Helping REPH earlier this week was news that the drugmaker has acquired $170 million worth of assets from Alkermes Plc (NASDAQ:ALKS).
Electronic payments expert VeriFone Systems Inc (NYSE:PAY) is among the Big Board's major winners, tacking on 6.3% to trade at $35.29. The rally was sparked by a better-than-expected fiscal first-quarter profit -- though the firm's disappointing guidance prompted Topeka Capital to trim its price target to $41 from $43. Historically speaking, today's post-earnings gains are par for the course for PAY.
The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) is 0.1 point, or 0.8%, below breakeven at 16.56, but on track to finish above 16 for a second straight day -- something that hasn't happened in a month.
Today's put/call volume ratio on the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is 2.03, with puts roughly doubling calls. SPY was last seen up 0.1 point, or 0.06%, at $205.10.