Unusual Options Activity: VIX, AAPL, TSLA, and BABA

The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), Apple Inc. (AAPL), Tesla Motors Inc (TSLA), and Alibaba Group Holding Ltd (BABA) saw accelerated put activity

Aug 21, 2015 at 5:43 PM

It was another brutal day on Wall Street, with the major market indexes wrapping up their worst day and week in years. Across all 12 options exchanges, a whopping 13.8 million calls crossed, compared to 20.1 million puts -- marking the second biggest options day ever. The day's put/call volume ratio closed at 1.45.

The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) just notched its biggest weekly percentage move of the modern VIX era -- more than 100%! -- jumping to a year-to-date high. Overall option volume ran at twice the normal rate, though VIX calls roughly doubled their put counterparts.

Also seeing noteworthy action amid a horrible day on the Street: Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) fell into correction territory and led the Dow decliners, prompting the biggest run on AAPL puts in more than a year; Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) puts crossed at nearly two times the daily average; and Alibaba Group Holding Ltd (NYSE:BABA) put volume jumped as the stock tried to avoid sub-IPO lows.

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