One investor is trying to bottom-fish Alcoa as the stock attempts to hold its lows from last year.
optionMONSTER's tracking systems detected the purchase of more than 20,000 January 9 calls for $0.75 against open interest of 7,223 contracts. Almost all the volume occurred in a single large block.
The investor now has the right to buy shares in the aluminum giant for $9 for the next six months--no matter how high the stock may go. As a result, he or she will enjoy significant leverage in the event of a rally. But the drawback of the strategy is that the trader will also lose the entire investment if the shares don't appreciate. (See our Education section)
AA rose 0.82 percent to $8.62 on Friday and has been weak along with most other metals companies because of the European debt crisis and lackluster growth in China. Quarterly results will come out after the bell on July 9 in what is traditionally considered the beginning of corporate-earnings season.
Overall option volume was almost triple the daily average on Friday. Volume was almost 6 times greater than average in the session.
(A version of this post appeared on InsideOptions Pro on Friday.)
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