Note: The Daily Option Update is provided by Options Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com.
Volatility Index S&P 500 Options-VIX down .22 to 10.09.
Cisco Systems Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) -- option volume heavy as February implied volatility bid up on hedges into EPS. Cisco, the largest vendor of data networking equipment and the leading global supplier of internet-working solutions is expected to report EPS on 2/6. Goldman Sachs says "we believe there is a high likelihood of Cisco beating our and the Street's estimates of $8.28 billion/$0.31. We expect management to reaffirm positive longer-term trends in emerging markets, new technologies, and the impact of video networks as key drivers of sustained double-digit top-line growth." Cisco call option volume of 73,135 contracts compares to put volume of 46,830 contracts. Cisco February option implied volatility of 42 is above its 26-week average of 28 according to Track Data, suggesting larger near term price risks.
Nabors Industries Ltd. (NYSE:NBR) -- option implied volatility and volume increases as NBR rallies. Nabors is an owner and operator of almost 600 land drilling, approximately 791 land workover/well-servicing rigs and 43 offshore platform rigs worldwide. Nabors will report EPS on 2/7. Nabors is recently up .80 to $31.02 on unconfirmed LBO chatter. Nabors call option volume of 26,680 contracts compares to put volume of 2,895 contracts. Nabors March option implied volatility is at 38. Nabors February option implied volatility of 53 is above a level of 43 from twenty-minutes ago and above its 26-week average of 33 according to Track Data, suggesting increasing price fluctuations.
Option volume leaders today were: Cisco (CSCO), Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG), Equity Office Properties (NYSE:EOP), NYSE Group Inc. (NYSE: NYX) and Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN).










