Expedia CEO Dara Khosrowshahi was reportedly offered Travis Kalanick's old job as CEO of Uber
U.S. stocks are trading mixed this afternoon, as markets weigh the effects of Hurricane Harvey. Among the stocks in the spotlight today are online travel company Expedia Inc (NASDAQ:EXPE), fitness device maker Fitbit Inc (NYSE:FIT), and biotech stock Juno Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:JUNO). Here's a quick look at what's moving shares of EXPE, FIT, and JUNO.
Expedia Stock Sinks After Reports CEO Might Work for Uber
Expedia stock is down 4.6% to trade at $142.49, after reports that the company's CEO, Dara Khosrowshahi, was offered the executive leadership position at Uber, replacing Travis Kalanick. Following the news, EXPE ranks among the most active Nasdaq stocks by volume today, with volume running at three times the intraday average. The online travel stock hit a record high of $161 on July 28, but has since shed 11.5%, and is pacing for its lowest close since May.
Options traders at the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX) were upping the bearish ante before today, as evidenced by EXPE's 10-day put/call volume ratio of 2.15 -- in the 94th percentile of its annual range. Still, 17 of the 22 analysts following EXPE rate it a "buy" or better, leaving room for bearish notes, should Expedia stock continue lower.
Fitbit Stock Gains After Company Launches New Smartwatch
Shares of Fitbit stock are up 5.9% to trade at $6.07, after the company took aim at the Apple Watch and launched its new Iconic smartwatch for presale on its website, which will be available worldwide in October. The company also announced partnerships with Visa and other credit card providers, to enable cardholders to make payments with the device, as well as Adidas, to deliver a special edition device and training programs next year.
Today's jump places FIT among the best stocks on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). After hitting an intraday high of $6.17 -- territory FIT hasn't seen since May -- the stock is poised to close above its 160-day moving average for the first time since October 2016. FIT's Schaeffer's put/call open interest ratio (SOIR) of 0.47 ranks in just the 8th percentile of its annual range, implying near-term option traders have rarely been more call heavy.
JUNO Gets Lift From Kite-Gilead Buyout Deal
Also trading higher at midday are shares of Juno Therapeutics stock -- last seen up 16.8% at $35.91 -- thanks to a halo lift from sector peer Kite Pharma stock, which trading at record highs after Gilead Sciences said it would buy the firm for $11.9 billion. Today's jump ranks JUNO among the best on the Nasdaq, and sent the stock to a new 52-week high of $37.50 earlier. Up 90% year-to-date, JUNO is poised to close above its 20-month moving average for the first time ever.
A short squeeze could help JUNO shares climb even higher, as short interest represents more than a quarter of JUNO's total available float. At the equity's average daily trading volume, it would take more than 13 sessions to buy back the shorted shares.