Hartford Financial (NYSE: HIG) closed at $62.06 Thursday. HIG October option implied volatility of 52 is above its 26-week average of 40 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement.

Travelers (NYSE: TRV), a leading property casualty insurer, closed at $44.61 Thursday. TRV October option implied volatility of 37 is above its 26-week average of 32 according to Track Data, indicating larger price movement.

Genworth Financial (NYSE: GNW) closed at $15.02 Thursday. GNW October option implied volatility of 71 is above its 26-week average of 52 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement.

XL Capital (NYSE: XL), provider of global reinsurance coverage, closed at $18.63 Thursday. XL October option implied volatility of 78 is above its 26-week average of 73 according to Track Data, suggesting larger movement.

Option Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com

XL Capital (NYSE: XL), provider of global reinsurance coverage, closed at $67.84.

Bear Stearns says: "XL shares have been weak recently as investors have been concerned with its exposure to SCA. XL has exposure to SCA through two areas: 1) its 46% ownership and 2) five reinsurance contracts."

XL November option implied volatility of 51 is above its 26-week average of 27 according to Track Data, suggesting larger risk.

Security Capital Assurance (NYSE: SCA), a holding company whose subsidiaries provide credit enhancement and protection products, closed at $10.12.

SCA over all option implied volatility is at 163 according to Track Data, suggesting larger risk.

Daily options Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Starbucks Corp (SBUX), Southwest Airlines Co (LUV), Pacific Sunwear (PSUN) and Molson Coors Brewing Co (TAP) were just some of today's notable upgrades:

• Goldman Sachs added Starbucks Corp (NASDAQ: SBUX) to its Conviction Buy List citing valuation and expectations for margin improvement.

• Southwest Airlines Co (NYSE: LUV) was upgraded to Outperform from Neutral at Raymond James.

• Roth Capital upgraded Pacific Sunwear (NASDAQ: PSUN) to Buy from Hold as they believe positive momentum is beginning to build.

• Molson Coors Brewing (NYSE: TAP) was upgraded to Peer Perform from Underperform at Bear Stearns.

OTHER UPGRADES:

• ThinkEquity upgraded WebEx Communications (NASDAQ: WEBX) to Source of Funds from Sell following the acquisition by Cisco Systems (NASDAQ: CSCO).

• XL Capital Ltd (NYSE: XL) was upgraded to Strong Buy from Strong Sell as the firm believes an unusually low number of natural disasters is causing a sharply positive reversal in fundamental trends.

• Soleil upgraded shares of Doral Financial Corp (NYSE: DRL) to Hold from Sell to reflect the recent sale of the company's New York branches and an improved outlook for the Puerto Rican economy.

• Bear Stearns upgraded Roche Holding Ltd (OTC: RHHBY) to Outperform from Peer Perform and Anheuser-Busch Cos (NYSE: BUD) to Outperform from Peer Perform.

• Countrywide Financial (NYSE: CFC) was upgraded to Market Perform from Underperform at Keefe Bruyette.

Analyst summaries provided by TheFlyOnTheWall.com (subscription required).