Dow Jones Industrial Average Drifts Further Away from 20,000

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) has explored both sides of breakeven amid a mixed round of economic data, and was last seen modestly lower. As a result, the run to Dow 20,000 will likely have to wait another day. Following stocks south are oil prices, after U.S. crude inventories unexpectedly rose last week. At last check, February-dated crude futures were down 0.3% at $53.90 per barrel.

• These 4 Dow stocks could get iced in January.
• Why one drugmaker is down over 50%.
• Checking in on the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY), and other noteworthy stats at midday.
• Plus... A big bet on P&G, options trade sends up red flags, and a beaten-down biotech bouncing back.

Among the stocks with unusual call volume at midday is consumer goods expert Procter & Gamble Co (NYSE:PG). The contracts are running at triple the usual intraday rate, with a block of 3,094 January 2018 95-strike calls sold to open, likely against a stock position, per Trade-Alert. At last check, PG was up 0.4% at $84.40.

Kate Spade & Co (NYSE:KATE) is among the notable losers on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) today, down 2.4% at $17.43. The retail stock is pulling back after yesterday's upside explosion, which was overshadowed by this suspiciously well-timed trade.

Anthera Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ:ANTH) is one of the better performers on the Nasdaq, up 5.3% at $0.78. The stock is shaking off a raft of bearish brokerage notes, just a day after touching a record low.

The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) is up 0.5 point, or 4%, at 13.47.

Today's put/call volume ratio on the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is 2.28, with puts more than doubling calls. Currently, SPY is fractionally lower at $224.29.

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