The SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production Fund is on pace for its highest close since May 3, but a huge put spread tops today's option action in the name.
The XOP is up 2.5 percent to $52.87. Resistance around $52 has been tested four times in the last month as the stock was range-bound between that level and support at $48. Shares were trading at 2012 lows around $45 in late June.
optionMONSTER's Depth Charge system shows that a trader sold 51,767 September 45 puts for $0.51 against open interest of 55,194 contracts. At the same time, the trader bought the same number of September 49 puts for the ask price of $1.16 in volume that was about 10 times the open interest and clearly a new position.
The trader could be a vertical spread if the activity at the lower strike was opening a new position. That would spend $0.65 to potentially make $3.35 if shares are below that $45 price at expiration.
It is also possible that the trader is rolling the lower-strike put position higher as the stock rises, gaining more delta , or price sensitivity. That could be a directly bearish position or a hedge on long shares of the fund. (See our Education section)
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