The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) continues to hover near breakeven, as the spotlight pivots toward Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL). The tech heavyweight is another 3.5% lower today -- hands-down the worst-performing blue chip -- as bulls abandon ship after a major technical development. Meanwhile, crude -- and energy stocks -- are attempting a modest comeback after yesterday's slide, while factory orders rose 1.8% in June. Also in focus is Dow component Walt Disney Co (NYSE:DIS), with the shares hitting another record high ahead of tonight's earnings release.
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Among the stocks with notable put volume is Coach Inc (NYSE:COH), though the shares are up 2.4% at $31.17 after yesterday's analyst-related drop, thanks to a well-received earnings report. Puts are crossing at seven times the expected pace, and it appears some traders are buying to open the weekly 8/7 30-strike put, expecting a drop below $30 before the week's over.
One of the top gainers on the Nasdaq is Lendingtree Inc (NASDAQ:TREE), which has jumped 34.4% to $111.00, and earlier notched an all-time high of $116.95. The surge was prompted by an impressive showing in the earnings booth last evening. The online loaning concern has now more than tripled during the past 12 months.
Conversely, Cognex Corporation (NASDAQ:CGNX) is one of the Nasdaq's biggest losers, dropping 19.5% to trade at $36.18, after hitting an annual low of $32.35 earlier. The barcode reader manufacturer is now in the red on a year-over-year basis, after lowering its current-quarter revenue outlook.
The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) is up 0.1 point, or 1%, but again met resistance near the 13 level.
Today's put/call volume ratio on the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is 1.1, with put volume and call volume relatively even. The SPY was last seen 0.3 point, or 0.2%, lower at $209.49.