The DJIA is modestly lower, weighed down by AAPL and pre-Fed jitters
The
Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) has spent the first half of the session modestly lower, as traders exercise caution ahead of the Federal Open Market Committee's (FOMC)
two-day policy meeting later this week. In addition, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) shareholders are hitting the bricks
ahead of earnings tomorrow night, with the iPhone maker the biggest blue-chip decliner. Outside of earnings, Wall Street is digesting a
slew of M&A activity, on top of sinking oil prices and a 10-month low in new home sales.
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Among the stocks with notable option activity is Apple supplier -- and historic fourth-quarter laggard -- Cirrus Logic, Inc. (NASDAQ:CRUS), which is slated to report earnings after the close on Wednesday. At last check, CRUS has surrendered 10.5% to sit at $30.19, after fellow AAPL supplier Dialog Semiconductor plummeted on ominous earnings. The equity now sits on the short-sale restricted list, and puts are trading at seven times the average intraday pace, with potential buy-to-open action spotted at the November 34 strike.
One of the Nasdaq's top performers is TASER International, Inc. (NASDAQ:TASR), which is up 6.3% at $23.76, after the company announced a partnership with Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT). However, the stock remains more than 10% lower year-to-date.
Among the leading losers on the Big Board is oil-and-gas concern Chesapeake Energy Corporation (NYSE:CHK), which is slumping in step with crude. The shares were last seen 7% lower at $7.28, bringing their 2015 loss to 62.8%. Prior to today, CHK was in the black on a month-to-date basis, but is now sitting back below its 10-week moving average, which -- along with its 20-week cohort -- has stifled rebound attempts for the past year.
The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) is up 0.6 point, or 4.4%, at 15.09.
Today's put/call volume ratio on the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is 1.67, with puts outstripping calls. At last check, SPY was 0.6 point, or 0.3%, lower at $206.92.