Unusual Options Activity: VIX, HAL, SCTY, and AMBA

The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), Halliburton Company (HAL), SolarCity Corp (SCTY), and Ambarella Inc (AMBA) saw accelerated option activity

Josh Selway

Aug 24, 2015 at 4:49 PM

It was a wild session on the Street, with the Dow closing nearly 600 points lower after falling close to 1,100 points at the open to a new annual low. Across all 12 options exchanges, 11.5 million calls crossed, compared to 15.5 million puts. The day's put/call volume ratio closed at 1.34.

The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) again saw heavy option volume, with 1.5 million calls on the tape at the close -- twice the expected pace. Even after some bearish analyst attention, oil giant Halliburton Company (NYSE:HAL) saw calls cross at twice the normal volume, as well.

Amid especially wild price action following a supportive analyst note, SolarCity Corp (NASDAQ:SCTY) puts crossed at four times the daily average. Also, Ambarella Inc (NASDAQ:AMBA) put volume jumped as the shares fought back from a 21% downturn.

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