Buzz Stocks: Twitter Inc, Bank of America Corp, and Apple Inc.

Today's stocks to watch in the news include Twitter Inc (NYSE:TWTR), Bank of America Corp (NYSE:BAC), and Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)

Josh Selway

Jun 15, 2016 at 9:26 AM

Dow futures are hinting at a positive open, as stocks look to rebound ahead of today's Fed decision. Among the equities in focus today are social media stock Twitter Inc (NYSE:TWTR), bank stock Bank of America Corp (NYSE:BAC), and tech giant Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL).

TWTR and fellow social media stocks have been all the rage recently, as M&A speculation in the sector grows following LinkedIn Corp's (NYSE:LNKD) huge deal. Today, the company is grabbing headlines again, with reports indicating Twitter Inc has invested $70 million in music service SoundCloud. Shares of TWTR have gained 1.8% in electronic trading following the news, after settling at $15.36 on Tuesday -- almost 56% lower year-over-year. The potential gains are great news for options traders, though, as TWTR's Schaeffer's put/call open interest ratio (SOIR) of 0.39 marks a call-skewed annual low.

BAC has picked up 0.7% ahead of the open, amid reports the company is planning to cut up to 8,000 retail jobs. It's been a rough year for the bank stock, which has lost over 21% in 2016 to trade at $13.26. Regardless, options traders have remained upbeat, and so have analysts. In fact, 15 of the 20 brokerage firms covering Bank of America Corp recommend buying it, with not a single "sell" rating on the books.

AAPL is edging higher in pre-market trading, as Japan's Nikkei reported the company is considering music production to help its Apple Music business. The stock closed at $97.46 on Tuesday, falling over 13% since its year-to-date high of $112.39 in mid-April. Options traders are still betting on a breakout, though. More specifically, call buying has outpaced put buying during the past two weeks at the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX).

Sign up now for Schaeffer's Opening View newsletter to get a head start on all the major pre-market news!

Follow @Schaeffers

Which of These SUB-$5 Stocks Could 26x From Here? (AD)

He called a rare 11x on Tesla…

Then he called a 26x on Workhorse…

Then an even rarer 35x on Nio Inc…

Now Tim Bohen says these 5 tiny “America First” stocks are next up in 2025.

They’re trading for less than $5 right now.

But thanks to Elon & Trump’s new alliance…

They could be off to the races in Trump’s first 100 days.

And right now for a limited time…

You can get the names & tickers for just $1 here. (AD)

Featured Articles from Trusted Partners:

🚀 One Stock Pick Could Change Everything in 2025
What if one stock pick could define your success next year? Get 10 expert-vetted stocks set for 2025—plus 5 bonus picks to watch now. Get the Report →

🆕 New Options Need New Trading Strategies
Zero-DTE options are the newest (and hottest) options to trade. Professional traders have rushed into the market and are making a mint. Don’t get left behind - learn all about these options, how to trade them, market setups to profit from, plus much more. Download now →

👀 Revealed: 3 Defensive Stocks for Your Portfolio
Worried about the market? This free report reveals 3 under-the-radar defensive stocks for uncertain times in any kind of economy.