The DJIA is in the black, with just a couple hours to go until the FOMC policy decision and a speech from Fed Chair Janet Yellen
The
Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) is sitting solidly higher, as Wall Street gears up for this afternoon's Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) policy decision -- though an
interest rate hike is considered unlikely -- and a subsequent speech by Fed Chair Janet Yellen. Stocks are also reacting favorably to the
Bank of Japan's (BoJ) latest policy changes, as well as a bounce in crude oil prices. At last check, November-dated crude futures are 2.3% higher at $45.07 per barrel, after the Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported a surprise drop in weekly inventories.
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Among the stocks with unusual call volume at midday is Juniper Networks, Inc. (NYSE:JNPR), as the contracts are crossing at 24 times the usual intraday clip. So far, the near-the-money October 24 call is the most active strike, and has seen at least some buy-to-open activity, per data from the International Securities Exchange (ISE). JNPR stock is 5% higher at $23.57.
The biggest loser on the New York Stock Exchange is Skechers USA Inc (NYSE:SKX), down 8.4% at $21.28. Shares of the shoe designer are falling victim to a bearish analyst note, and earlier touched an annual low of $20.90.
One of the worst stocks on the Nasdaq is
Airgain Inc (NASDAQ:AIRG), down 6% at $15.16.
The stock is stumbling after the antenna company's earnings report was met with
mixed analyst attention.
The
CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) is off 1 point, or 6.3%, at 14.92.
Today's put/call volume ratio on the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is 1.20, with puts edging out calls. At last check, the SPY is up 0.6 point, or 0.3%, at $214.06.
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