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Energy
WTI Crude Oil: Futures Contract of the Week

WTI Crude Oil: Futures Contract of the Week

When people think about "commodities," few items spring to mind faster than crude oil. Let's consider a major way to trade it: Nymex WTI crude oil futures. These contracts track the oil most commonly produced in the U.S. and fluctuate with global energy markets....

Energy Bulls Target Obscure Canadian Firm: Options Recap

Energy Bulls Target Obscure Canadian Firm: Options Recap

Energy stocks are rallying this week, and one big investor is targeting an obscure Canadian producer. Roughly 83,000 March 9 calls were bought this morning in Cenovus Energy (CVE), which extracts oil from Alberta's tar sands. The big blocks priced for $0.27 and...

Stocks Keep Climbing as Negativity Lifts

Stocks Keep Climbing as Negativity Lifts

Stocks keep rising as the fourth quarter's gloom continues to lift. The S&P 500 rose 1.6 percent between Friday, January 25, and Friday, February 1. It was the fifth gain in the last six weeks, with every major sector and index moving higher. Good economic news...

Big Trade Sees Bottom in Energy Giant: Options Recap

Big Trade Sees Bottom in Energy Giant: Options Recap

Energy stocks are bouncing from long-term lows this year, and one big investor has called a bottom in a key servicing name. Schlumberger (SLB) touched a 13-year low under $35 last month. Today, a large block of puts got sold at that level as a trader looked for the...

Bulls See More Bounce in Energy Space: Options Recap

Bulls See More Bounce in Energy Space: Options Recap

Energy stocks have gone from bad to good in the New Year, and one options trader is looking for the bounce to continue. Check out the activity yesterday in Oklahoma City-based driller Devon Energy (DVN): A block of 20,000 April 28 calls was bought for $1.48 in a new...

Bearishness Reigns in Energy Giant: Options Recap

Bearishness Reigns in Energy Giant: Options Recap

Energy's the weakest sector over the long run, and options traders are sticking with that trend. Check out this giant bearish trade in oil-field servicing company Halliburton (HAL): A block of 58,000 22-February 27.50 puts was bought for $1.45. A block of 58,000...

Suddenly Vultures Circle in the Credit Market

Suddenly Vultures Circle in the Credit Market

The Federal Reserve has everyone talking about hawks and doves this week. But another kind of bird may be swooping in: vultures. Recent headlines suggest credit markets are getting squeezed. This could create bearish opportunities for traders willing to play buzzard...

How Low Can Oil Go?

How Low Can Oil Go?

Energy just had its worst month in decades, and the bears are still in control. Crude oil futures (@CL) dropped 7.2 percent yesterday, their biggest decline in over three weeks. Not only did they break under the psychologically key $50 level, @CL also closed at the...

Bearish Leverage at Work In Energy Space: Options Recap

Bearish Leverage at Work In Energy Space: Options Recap

Give me leverage, or give me death. That was the message from a big options trade yesterday. Transocean (RIG) has plenty of leverage on its own. Over $9 billion of debt and $2.3 billion of cash plants it firmly in the junkyard of bond ratings. ("B3" at Moody's.) As an...