JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) – Options traders positioning for shares in JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) to rally during the first week of the New Year snapped up weekly calls on the largest U.S. bank by total assets this morning. Shares in JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) are down 1.8% this morning at $43.17, moving lower along with the broader market on disappointing consumer confidence data and concern the U.S. may go over the fiscal cliff. Traders anticipating a strong start to the New Year for shares in JPMorgan appear to have purchased more than 1,000 calls at the Jan. 04 ’13 $44 strike for an average premium of $0.52 apiece during the first 20 minutes of the trading session today. Call buyers stand ready to profit at expiration next week should shares in JPM reverse course and gain 3.1% to surpass the average breakeven price of $44.52. JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) is scheduled to report fourth-quarter earnings ahead of the opening bell on January 16th.
Nordstrom, Inc. (NYSE:JWN) – Shares in the department store operator fell as much as 2.9% the day after Christmas after data showed holiday sales were the worst since 2008, and as investors brace for the U.S. to potentially go over the fiscal cliff. Nordstrom, Inc. (NYSE:JWN)’s shares reversed some of those losses on Thursday morning, but have since returned to negative territory, down 0.30% at $51.25 as of midday in New York trading. The stock has dropped 7.5% during the past four weeks, but some options traders are positioning for the price of the underlying to kick of 2013 in rally mode. Bullish players picked up in-the-money calls on the name this morning, buying some 1,150 calls at the Jan. $49 strike for an average premium of $3.06 apiece, and purchasing roughly 1,500 calls at the higher Jan. $50 strike for an average premium of $2.39 each. Call buyers stand ready to profit at January expiration should shares in Nordstrom, Inc. (NYSE:JWN) climb 1.6% and 2.2% over the current price of $51.25 to top average breakeven points at $52.06 and $52.39, respectively.
Equity Options Analyst
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