MCP – Molycorp, Inc. – Options volume is up sharply on Molycorp on Tuesday after the rare earth elements producer forecast negative third- and fourth-quarter cash flow, lower than expected sales, and said it will offer approximately $200 million of common stock to finance its capital needs. Shares in the name fell as much as 22% to $5.54, the lowest level since June.
Trading in MCP options is heavier than usual, with overall volume up above 90,000 contracts as of 2:30 p.m. ET versus the stock’s average daily volume of around 18,700 contracts. The most traded options on Molycorp thus far in the session are the Oct $5.5 strike puts, with around 21,000 lots exchanged against zero open interest. Time and sales data suggests most of the volume was purchased at an average premium of $0.19 each. Put buyers may profit at expiration next week if shares in MCP decline another 4.2% to breach the average breakeven point on the downside at $5.31.
FDX – FedEx Corp. – Shares in FedEx are up sharply on Tuesday after the company announced its Board of Directors authorized a new share repurchase program of up to 32 million of outstanding shares of common stock, adding to the 7.4 million shares remaining as part of the company’s existing buyback program. FDX shares increased as much as 6.1% to a new multi-year high of $122.45 during morning trading.
Trading in April 2014 expiry options on FedEx today indicates some traders are positioning for shares in the name to extend gains during the next six months. Upwards of 6,000 of the Apr ’14 $125 strike calls changed hands against open interest of 372 contracts by midday in New York trading, with much of the volume purchased for an average premium of $6.75 each. Traders long the $125 calls stand ready to profit at expiration next year in the event that FedEx shares rally another 7.5% to exceed the average breakeven price of $131.75.
