Note: The Daily Option Update is provided by Stock Options Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com.

Volatility Index S&P 500 Options-VIX is down 2.88 to 16.75

BISYS-BSG option volume & volatility indicates; Strategic Announcement expected. BSG provides outsourcing services to more than 22,000 financial institutions and corporations. BSG announced on 8/10/06 "it has initiated a process to explore strategic alternatives as part of its continued effort to maximize shareholder value." BSG call option volume of 5,394 contracts compares to put volume of 816 contracts. BSG April option implied volatility of 41 is above its 26-week average of 35 according to Track Data, suggesting larger risk.

New Century Fin'l-NEW option implied volatility is expensive on price Fluctuations. NEW, a real estate investment trust, providing mortgage products to borrowers, is recently trading up $1.44 to $5.98. NEW call option volume of 22,283 contracts compares to put volume of 52,189 contracts. NEW April option implied volatility is near 200 according to Track Data, suggesting large price fluctuations.

Option volume leaders today were: Haliburton (NYSE-HAL), Citigroup (NYSE-C), Altria (NYSE-MO) & Bristol Meyers (NYSE-BMY).