Dow Jones Industrial Average Headed Lower in Last 2015 Session

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) is in the red today, and on track to finish 2015 with a yearly deficit of roughly 1.5%, even as oil regains some ground. It will mark the Dow's first year-over-year drop since 2008. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 Index (SPX) is on pace for its first annual loss since 2011, just a hair's breadth below its year-to-date breakeven level. Exacerbating selling pressure, the Chicago purchasing managers index (PMI) fell to its lowest level in more than six years, while weekly jobless claims increased by the biggest margin since February.

Continue reading for more on today's market -- and don't miss:

• Analysts expect this natural gas stock to soar in 2016.
• One billionaire's vote of confidence is helping this battered drugmaker higher.
• Plus ... Checking in on the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY), and other noteworthy stats at midday.

Among stocks with unusual option volume today is The Coca-Cola Co (NYSE:KO), where puts are trading at five times the average intraday pace. In fact, today's put/call volume ratio on the stock -- which is trading 1.1% lower at $43.11 -- is at 3.98, in the 98th percentile for the past year. January 2016 42-strike puts are dominant, accounting for more than half of today's total put activity. 

Amira Nature Foods Ltd (NYSE:ANFI) is among the top performers on the Big Board today, surging 12.7% to trade at $9.92, after securing a $92 million contract. The stock has been on the mend since hitting a record low of $2.51 in August, but is poised for an annual loss of 33.3%. On the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX), nearly 10 calls have been bought to open for each put over the last 10 trading days -- a ratio higher than about three-quarters of comparable readings in the past year. 

Among the bottom performers so far today is Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) down 1.3% at $55.57. The stock hit a near 15-year high of $56.85 on Tuesday, but is pulling back with the broader market today. Meanwhile, the company announced that it will begin warning email users when it believes the government may be hacking their accounts.
 
The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) is up 1 point, or 5.8%, at 18.30

Today's put/call volume ratio on the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is 1.77, with puts significantly outnumbering calls. SPY was last seen down 1.2 points, or 0.6%, at $204.70.