A large trader apparently thinks that it's a great time to get long gold.
optionMONSTER's Heat Seeker tracking program detected the purchase of 11,000 May 172 calls in the SPDR Gold Shares fund for $0.79 and the sale of an equal number of May 188 calls for $0.14. Volume was more than 29 times the previous open interest at each strike, indicating that new money was at work.
Known as a bullish call spread , the trade is a highly leveraged strategy that will earn huge profits--but only if the fund retraces its selloff of the last six months and rallies back to new 52-week highs. With the GLD now at support levels from last summer, the transaction reflects a belief that bullion is getting ready to rally. (See our Education section)
It cost $0.65 to open the trade, which will expand to $16 if the fund closes at or above $188 on expiration--a profit of 2,362 percent. (See our Education section for more on how options can be used to amplify moves in shares prices.)
The GLD fell 0.53 percent to $159.05 yesterday and has been consolidating in its current range for the last 18 months. If the current level holds, it would represent a higher low from 2012's trough, which some chart watchers may consider evidence that the long-term uptrend remains in effect.
More From optionMONSTER
Dish Network said on Tuesday that it would not make a new offer to buy No. 3 U.S. wireless provider Sprint Nextel …