Chicago Merc. bid gets support from CBOT management


Chicago Mercantile Exchange Holdings Inc. (NYSE: CME) opened at $533.30. So far today the stock has hit a low of $533.30 and a high of $539.45. As of 10:55, CME is trading at $535.87, up $2.47 (0.5%).

After hitting a one year high of $596.30 in January, the stock has trended slightly downward over the past six months, bouncing off support at $500 in May. Chicago Board of Trade (NYSE: BOT) management is urging shareholders to vote for a merger with CME rather than the competing offer from Intercontinental Exchange (NYSE: ICE). A vote will be held on July 9. Recent technical indicators for CME have been bullish but deteriorating, while S&P gives the stock a very positive 5 STARS (out of 5) strong buy rating.

For a bullish hedged play on this stock, I would consider a July bull-put credit spread below the $500 range.CME hasn't been below $500 for more than a day since November and has shown support around $508 recently. This trade could be risky if broader markets take a tumble, but CME is not scheduled to report earnings until the week after July expiration.

Brent Archer is an options analyst and writer at Investors Observer.
DISCLOSURE: Mr. Archer owns and/or controls diversified portfolios of long and short stock and option positions that may include holdings in companies he writes about. At publication time, Brent neither owns nor controls positions in CME, BOT, or ICE.

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Last updated: February 13, 2012: 09:38 AM

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