A flurry of positive developments have the DJIA up triple digits at the halfway point
After
three straight losing sessions, the
Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) is making a strong end-of-week push, erasing its week-to-date deficit. Leading the way is Nike Inc (NYSE:NKE), which has soared to record highs after its
impressive earnings results. Traders are also weighing last night's
relatively hawkish comments from Fed Chair Janet Yellen, as well as an
automaker-led rebound overseas. Meanwhile, the final second-quarter gross domestic product (GDP) reading was
upwardly revised, while short-term bond yields skyrocketed on the surprising news House Speaker John Boehner will resign at the end of October.
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Among the stocks with notable put activity is casino concern Wynn Resorts, Limited (NASDAQ:WYNN). The contracts are changing hands at 1.5 times the average intraday pace. It appears traders are taking a short-term approach, with eight of the stock's 10 most popular options belonging to the weekly 9/25 series, which expires today. At last check, WYNN was down 1% at $59.25 -- which shouldn't be surprising -- and just off a five-year low of $58.18.
One of the top gainers on the Nasdaq is biotech Bellerophon Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:BLPH). Thanks to a shot of positive drug-related news, the shares are 78.1% higher at $6.63, but still roughly 50% south of their all-time high. Today's bull gap has BLPH above its 40-day moving average, which had been acting as stiff resistance for the past few months.
One of the biggest losers on the Big Board is retailer Pier 1 Imports Inc (NYSE:PIR), after the company reported disappointing quarterly numbers and lowered its guidance. The shares earlier hit a five-year low of $6.84, and were last seen down 18.1% at $7.10.
The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) is off 1.6 points, or 6.6%, and is in danger of ending the week in negative territory.
Today's put/call volume ratio on the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is 1.74, with puts nearly doubling calls. SPY was last seen 1.7 points, or 0.9%, higher at $194.60.