mrk

Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX - option chain) stock is trading lower today after the company reported some recent insider selling. According to SEC filings, NFLX Director Gregory Strangre sold over 19,000 shares of NFLX on Wednesday for $54.48 per share. He and other insiders have combined to sell more than $2.2M of NFLX stock in the past week, which could be interpreted as a bearish sign for the company. If you think this stock won't be rising too far in the coming months, then it could be a good time to look at a bearish hedged play on NFLX.

This morning, NFLX opened at $54.96. So far today the stock has hit a high of $55.84 and a low of $54.00. As of 11:50, NFLX is trading at $55.26, down $1.13 (-2.0%). The chart for NFLX looks bullish and S&P does not currently have a STARS rating for NFLX.

Yamana Gold (NYSE: AUY) closed at $11.79. Gold is recently up 0.40% to $1093.70 according to Bloomberg. AUY November option implied volatility is at 60; January is at 59; versus its 26-week average of 59, according to Track Data, suggesting non-directional price movement.

Limited (NYSE: LTD) closed at $17.89. LTD reported comparable store sales decreased 2% for Q3. LTD is expected to report Q3 EPS on November 19. LTD November option implied volatility is at 60; December is at 56 above its 26-week average of 53, according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement.

Option Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com.

Aeropostale (NYSE: ARO - option chain) stock is trading lower today after the company reported its same-store sales rose 3.0 percent in October, well below analysts' forecasts of 13.8 percent. If you think this stock won't be rising too far in the coming months, then it could be a good time to look at a bearish hedged play on GE.

This morning, ARO opened at $34.50. So far today the stock has hit a high of $37.27 and a low of $32.05. As of 11:55, ARO is trading at $32.68, down $5.35 (-14.1%). The chart for ARO looks bullish and S&P gives ARO a positive 4 STARS (out of 5) buy ranking.

PowerShares DB US Dollar Index (NYSE: UUP) is a rules-based index composed solely of long USDX® futures contracts. The USDX® futures contract is designed to replicate the performance of being long the U.S. Dollar against the following currencies: Euro, Japanese Yen, British Pound, Canadian Dollar, Swedish Krona and Swiss Franc. UUP closed at $22.51. UUP November option implied volatility is at 15, December is at 13; near its 26-week average of 15 according to Track Data. UUP total option volume on November 4 was 403,534 contracts, according to Track Data. UUP average daily volume is 70,830 contracts according to IVolatility.

Research in Motion (NASDAQ: RIMM) is recently trading at $59 in pre-open trading, above its close of $57.61. RIMM authorized a share repurchase of up to $1.2B. RIMM is expected to report Q3 EPS on December 17. RIMM November option implied volatility is at 48, December is at 57; verses its 26-week average of 51, according to Track Data, suggesting larger December price movement.

Option Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com.

Penn National Gaming (NASDAQ: PENN - option chain) shares are rising today after voters in Ohio approved ballot measures to allow casinos in four cities in the state. PENN lobbied heavily in favor of the measure and will build two of the casinos, in Toledo and Columbus, which are scheduled to open in 2012. If you think that the stock won't fall by too much in the coming months, then now could be a good time to look at a bullish hedged trade on PENN.

PENN opened this morning at $27.49. So far today the stock has hit a low of $27.49 and a high of $28.88. As of 11:40, PENN is trading at $28.32 up $2.12 (8.1%). The chart for PENN looks bearish and S&P does not currently have a STARS rating for PENN.

Sears Holding (NASDAQ: SHLD) closed at $68.09. SHLD is scheduled to report Q3 EPS on November 19. SHLD November call option implied volatility is at 49, puts are at 50; December calls are at 52, puts are at 62; verses its 26-week average of 50, according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement. SHLD puts are more expensive than calls because SHLD is difficult to borrow.

Financial Select Sector - XLF overall volatility at 41; 26-week average is 43.

ISE Sentiment Index-ISEE closed at 154 on 11/3/09. ISEE 10-day moving average is 126.

Option Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com.

Expeditors International of Washington (NASDAQ: EXPD - option chain) stock traded lower Tuesday after the company reported a third-quarter profit of 27 cents per share, missing analysts' forecasts of 29 cents per share. If you think this stock won't be rising too far in the coming months, then it could be a good time to look at a bearish hedged play on EXPD.

Tuesday, EXPD opened at $32.45. In morning trading, the stock hit a high of $32.53 and a low of $31.69. As of 11:30, EXPD was trading at $32.34, down $1.10 (-3.5%). The chart for EXPD looks bullish and S&P gives EXPD a positive 4 STARS (out of 5) buy ranking.

Hartford Financial Services (NYSE: HIG) is scheduled to step into the earnings spotlight right after Tuesday's closing bell, with the insurance issue releasing its final third-quarter figures. Analysts are expecting Hartford to report a profit of $1.11 per share, according to Thomson Reuters, representing a dramatic reversal from its year-ago loss of $1.40 per share.

Hartford has a mixed history on the earnings front, with the company exceeding consensus expectations in two of the previous four reporting periods -- and falling short of Wall Street's predictions during the other two quarters. On the plus side, sector peer Lincoln National (NYSE: LNC) recently released a stronger-than-expected third-quarter report, which could bode well for Hartford.

Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.A) announced the acquisition of Burlington Northern (NYSE: BNI) for $100 per share in cash and stock for a deal worth $34 billion. BRK.A is purchasing the remaining 77.4% of outstanding BNI stock its does not own. BNI November option implied volatility is flat at 36, December is at 35; verses its 26-week average of 37 according to Track Data, suggesting non-directional price fluctuations.

Option Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com

Dean Foods (NYSE: DF - option chain) stock traded lower Monday after the company reported Q3 earnings, posting an adjusted profit of 34 cents per share on revenue of $2.77 billion. While this beat analysts' expectations of 33 cents per share, the revenue targets were $2.94 billion. DF also forecast fourth-quarter EPS of 36 cents, missing analysts' projections of 39 cents. If you think this stock won't be rising too far in the coming months, then it could be a good time to look at a bearish hedged play on DF.

Monday, DF opened at $17.82. In early trading, the stock hit a high of $17.96 and a low of $16.43. As of 11:20, DF was trading at $16.59, down $1.64 (-9.0%). The chart for DF looks neutral and S&P gives DF a neutral 3 STARS (out of 5) hold ranking.

An article in Barron's suggests that Motorola (NYSE: MOT) is on the verge of regaining some of its former mojo. The company recently offered a solid outlook for the remainder of the year, and it could garner new business after debuting two smartphones featuring Google's (NASDAQ: GOOG) Android operating system -- namely, the Droid and the Cliq.

The author cites analyst Ed Snyder of Charter Equity Research, who believes Motorola is on the cusp of "an extended upswing in handsets ... over the next several quarters." Snyder believes that the firm's ailing handset division could achieve break-even results as soon as the second quarter of 2010.

Kraft Foods (NYSE: KFT) is expected to report Q3 EPS on November 3. KFT's $16.7 billion bid for Cadbury PLC (NYSE: CBY) was rejected by CBY in September. KFT faces a November 9 deadline set by the U.K. Takeover Panel to make a formal offer for CBY. KFT November option implied volatility is at 25, December is at 24; versus its 26-week average of 25, according to Track Data, suggesting non-directional price movement.

iShares Trust FTSE/Xinhua China 25 Fund (NYSE: FXI) is recently up $1.30 to $43 in pre-open trading. FXI is an index fund that seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the FTSE/Xinhua China 25 Index. FXI overall option implied volatility of 38 is near its 26-week average according to Track Data, suggesting non-directional price movement.

Option Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com.

Voted MLB's best ballpark in 2008, Cleveland's Progressive Field boasts the name of Ohio-based Progressive Corp. (NYSE: PGR).

Drawn down by the financial crisis and credit freeze of 2008, Progressive fell to $10 per share. With it now trading around $16, I consider the stock a bullish candidate given its fundamental strength and the fact that 82% of the analyst community ranks this stock as a "hold." I think the analysts will wake up and start upgrading the stock, driving buyers back into the insurer.

The Yankees are led by a core of four men -- Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte, Jorge Posada, and Mariano Rivera -- who all came to the club in 1995.

They're no spring chickens, that's for sure. Thankfully, the players are supported by a great organization, which includes top-notch medical care, oftentimes right there in the clubhouse, which is equipped with X-ray and sonogram equipment.

The Pittsburgh Pirates may not be putting much on the field these days, but Pittsburgh-based PNC Financial Services Inc. (NYSE: PNC) has jockeyed itself into a lead position in the financial recovery.

Since hitting its lows in March, at just below $20, PNC is up around 150% at its current price of near $50. I think that the stock will continue to lead the financials higher as its strong balance sheet and diversified revenue fuel a considerable rally.