Goldman Sachs reported strong third-quarter results
Goldman Sachs Group Inc (NYSE:GS) reported strong third-quarter results before the open this morning, with profits jumping 45% to earnings of $8.40 per share. Investment banking and stock trading revenue gave earnings a boost, while CEO David Solomon cited an “improving operating environment."
GS initially soared to a record high of $540.51 after the event this morning, though it's pulled back since then -- last seen down 0.5% at $520.32. Year to date, the equity is up 35.3%, with its two larger pullbacks over the past year captured by the ascending 120-day moving average.
Unsurprisingly, the bank giant is popular in the options pits today. So far, GS has seen 38,000 calls and 28,000 puts exchanged, which is already 4 times its average daily options volume. The October 530 call is the most popular contract, where new positions are being opened.
This sentiment represents a slight shift, as puts have been much more popular than usual of late. At the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX), GS' 10-day put/call volume ratio of 1.19 ranks higher than 94% of readings from the past year.