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Valeant Pharmaceuticals (VRX - option chain) stock is trading lower today after an article in Barron's (subscription required) over the weekend said the company could see trouble ahead if its experimental epilepsy drug, which is undergoing the regulatory review process, is not profitable enough to offset declining royalties from its hepatitis C treatment. 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 VRX.

This morning, VRX opened at $32.15. So far today the stock has hit a high of $32.95 and a low of $31.88. As of 11:30, VRX is trading at $32.07, down $1.21 (-3.6%). The chart for VRX looks bullish.

A report in The New York Post suggests that Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase (JPM), could be the logical replacement for current U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner. The paper's sources indicate that "a number of policy makers have begun mentioning Dimon as a successor to Geithner, whose standing in Washington has suffered because of the country's high unemployment rate, the weakness of the dollar, the slow pace of the recovery and the government's mounting deficit."

Meanwhile, reports the Post, Dimon has emerged as one of the heroes of the financial crisis, "having navigated JPMorgan through the recession and being a go-to guy when Uncle Sam last year needed Wall Street's help during the collapses of Bear Stearns and Washington Mutual."

It's Monday morning and it's the same old, same old: gold surges to a new high; commodities rally; stocks rally; and the dollar is weaker. Traders see this as a no brainer.

Spot gold is strong today, reaching a new high of $1165.45 per ounce, up from Friday's close of $1148.20. On the COMEX, gold traded at $1,165.90, up $19.10 per ounce (each $1.00 equals $100.00). Gold has been spurred higher by central bank and fund buying.

Options traders are betting on gold rising to $1,200 per ounce. That's only $35 away. We could see that in another day of two if current trend continues.

JP Morgan (NYSE: JPM) closed at $42.46. December option implied volatility is at 39; December is at 37; below its 26-week average of 44, according to Track Data, suggesting decreasing price movement.

UltraShort Financials ProShares (NYSE: SKF) is an exchange-traded fund seeking daily investment results that correspond to twice (200%) the inverse (opposite) of the daily performance of the Dow Jones U.S. Financials Index. SKF is recently down 59 cents to $24.12 in pre-open trading. Overall option implied volatility of 62 is below its 26-week average of 73, according to Track Data, suggesting decreasing price movement.

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

Look before you leap! All year long rumors have been swirling around that E*TRADE (ETFC) was on the auction block being prepared for an acquisition by a bigger fish interested in its customers and superior trading platform. I have not used E-TRADE so I do not have first hand experience. However, this has been acknowledged broadly and I have received very positive comments from regular users when I have written about it.

The leading suitor seems to be TD AmeriTrade Holding (AMTD), with Charles Schwab Corp (SCHW) mentioned as perhaps having similar but less conspicuous interest. For Schwab it may be as much about keeping E-TRADE out of a competitors hands as chasing the business.

ADC Telecommunications (ADCT - option chain) stock is trading lower today after the company posted a fourth-quarter loss last night of $19.8 million, or 20 cents per share, on revenue of $183.9 million. ADCT also forecast a first-quarter adjusted loss of 10 to 0 cents per share on revenue of $250 million to $275 million. Analysts are forecasting a profit of 11 cents per share on revenue of $274 million. 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 ADCT.

This morning, ADCT opened at $5.46. So far today the stock has hit a high of $5.93 and a low of $5.35. As of 12:05, ADCT is trading at $5.71, down 93 cents (-14.0%). The chart for ADCT looks bullish and S&P gives ADCT a positive 5 STARS (out of 5) strong buy ranking.

Thursday, The Gap Inc. (GPS) reported that its third-quarter net profit totaled $307 million, or 44 cents per share, up 25% from the year-ago period. Revenue for the quarter added 1% to $3.59 billion, while gross margin surged 380 basis points to 42.5%. Operating margin escalated from 11.1% to 13.9%, marking its highest level in 10 years.

The retail issue also announced a new stock buyback plan worth $500 million. About $20 million of that amount will be repurchased from the family of founder Donald Fisher, who passed away in September.

J.M. Smucker (SJM) closed at $53.48. SJM report Q2 EPS of $1.22 and revenue of $1.2 billion. December option implied volatility of 27 is near its 26-week average according to Track Data, suggesting non-directional movement after EPS.

ISE Sentiment Index-ISEE closed at 130 on 11/19/09. ISEE 10-day moving average is 136.

Two stocks with IV rise on November 19; E-Trade (ETFC) +31%, Monster Worldwide (MWW) +11%, according to IVolatility.

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

CF Industries (CF - option chain) stock is trading lower today after the situation surrounding two takeover deals continues to get murkier. Agrium (AGU) announced this morning that CF's stockholders tendered 62% of their shares into a hostile takeover offer launched by AGU. AGU extended the offer, which originally was to expire yesterday, to December 18. Meanwhile, CF's board said that it does not believe that the tender results reflect stockholder support for Agrium's offer. At the same time, Terra Industries (TRA) is fending off a hostile bid made by CF. The uncertainty surrounding this situation is holding back CF shares and 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 the stock.

This morning, CF opened at $83.60. So far today the stock has hit a high of $82.50 and a low of $84.48. As of 11:50, TRA is trading at $82.71, down $3.58 (-4.2%). The chart for CF looks neutral and S&P gives CF a neutral 3 STARS (out of 5) hold ranking.

Hecla Mining (HL) closed at $6.28. Gold is recently down 0.66% to 1133.70 according to Bloomberg. Hecla Mining December and January option implied volatility of 80 is near its 26-week average of 82 according to Track Data, suggesting non-directional price movement.

Monster Worldwide (MWW) closed at $16.29. MWW December option implied volatility is at 60, January is at 57; versus its 26-week average of 57. Options were active on November 18 on volume of 56,606 contracts according to Track Data. Average daily volume is 12,750 contracts according to IVolatility.

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

Fourteen stocks have been reviewed so far with eight of them potential contenders for 2010. These include some picks from 2009, some old dependables and a few more on the speculative side.

During the year I have written on occasion about selling put options (naked puts) because the premiums offered were very generous and from my perspective assumed market collapse. This was reflected in my July post Serious Money: The world's dumbest market

Today I am considering four naked puts and two more stocks. The options are all based on stocks now in review.

Nokia (NOK - option chain) shares are rising today after the company announced that its Nokia N900 is now on sale in the United States. The phone retails for $649. 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 NOK.

NOK opened this morning at $13.95. So far today the stock has hit a low of $13.85 and a high of $14.04. As of 11:45, NOK is trading at $13.95 up 27 cents(2.0%). The chart for NOK looks neutral and S&P gives NOK a neutral 3 STARS (out of 5) hold ranking.

Barnes & Noble (BKS) closed at $22.50. BKS is expected to report Q2 EPS on November 24. Ron Burkle, the private equity investor, doubled his stake in Barnes & Noble to 17% from 8%. BKS is expected to give its outlook of its digital book reader, Nook, during EPS conference call. December option implied volatility is at 54, January is at 51; versus its 26-week average of 48, according to Track Data, suggesting larger near term price movement.

Ford (F) closed at $8.98. Ford December option implied volatility is at 42, January is at 43; below its 26-week average of 63, according to Track Data, suggesting decreasing price movement.

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

Barnes & Noble (BKS - option chain) shares have been moving sharply higher for the past few days and are continuing that trend today. Company insider and billionaire investor Ronald Burkle reported purchasing more than 4.4 million shares of BKS in the past week alone, valued at $90.2M. When a major holder makes a big purchase like that, it is often a sign of good things to come for that stock, if only because other investors may follow his lead. 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 BKS.

BKS opened this morning at $21.00. So far today the stock has hit a low of $20.86 and a high of $21.55. As of 12:30, BKS is trading at $21.43 up 93 cents (4.5%). The chart for BKS looks bearish and S&P gives BKS a negative 2 STARS (out of 5) sell ranking.

Exxon Mobil (XOM) closed at $74.43. Crude oil futures are recently down 0.67% to $78.37, according to Bloomberg. Barron's says, "The stock could hit 90 in the next year." December option implied volatility is at 21, January is at 23; below its 26-week average of 26, according to Track Data, suggesting decreasing price fluctuations.

Lorillard (LO) closed at $79.77. Lorillard will be presenting at Morgan Stanley's Global Consumer Conference on Nov. 19. December and January option implied volatility of 27 is near its 26-week average of 29. Options were active on Nov. 16 with 23,488 contracts trading according to Track Data. Average daily volume is 970 contracts, according to IVolatility.

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