Yesterday, Pfizer (PFE) delivered something you’ll rarely see: Its March 20 $29 put had the highest unusual options activity on the day with a Vol/OI (volume-to-open-interest) ratio of 210.16, 35% higher than the Alphabet (GOOG) option in second place. Pfizer is one of the most frustrating stocks for bulls. Once upon a time, it was printing money thanks to COVID-19. Now, it can’t get out of the $20s. Its shares are down 59% since the 2021 all-time high of $61.71. For those who don’t own PFE, it’s hard to ...

Volatility is back towards the lowest levels we have seen in 2025 with the VIX Index closing at 14.91 on Friday. When volatility is low, options become cheaper, so today we’re looking for stocks with a low IV Percentile which could be good candidates for a Long Straddle trade. More News from Barchart First, let’s find stock with a low IV Percentile using the Stock Screener and the following parameters: A screenshot of a computer AI-generated content may be incorrect. This gives us the following result ...

Market Volatility - Recent market volatility has decreased as the potential for more rate cuts is being digested, with the VIX Index closing at 17.24 after reaching a high of 28 earlier in November and briefly dropping below 16 this month [1] Long Straddle Strategy - A long straddle is an advanced options strategy aimed at profiting from significant price movements in either direction or an increase in implied volatility, requiring the purchase of both a call and a put option [2][6] - The maximum loss for this strategy is the total premiums paid for the call and put options, while the potential profit is theoretically unlimited, although daily losses may occur due to time decay if no significant price movement happens [3] Long Straddle Example - An example of a long straddle on KO involves buying a $72.50-strike call and a $72.50-strike put with a premium of $323, which represents a maximum loss, while the maximum profit remains theoretically unlimited [7] - The lower breakeven price for this trade is $69.27 and the upper breakeven price is $75.73, with the premium paid being 4.49% of the stock price and an estimated probability of profit at 44.2% [7]

Core Viewpoint - The stock market is experiencing increased volatility, with the Cboe Volatility Index rising above 20 for the first time since June, indicating a shift in market dynamics [1] Bond Market Insights - Bond volatility has also increased but remains relatively low; investors may consider a long straddle strategy in the iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (TLT) to capitalize on potential price movements [1][2] - The iShares ETF is sensitive to yield changes and long-term credit conditions, making it a strategic choice for investors anticipating volatility [2] Options Strategy - Investors can establish a long straddle by purchasing both 90 call and 90 put options expiring on November 21, with the cost of this position being approximately $3.15 per contract, leading to a maximum loss of $315 if the fund closes at 90 on expiration [3] - Significant price movements in long-term bond yields could lead to substantial gains, with break-even prices at approximately 86.85 on the downside and 93.15 on the upside [4] Market Conditions - Long-term bond investors have faced challenges due to high inflation and rising global debt levels, which have led to a decline in the iShares fund's value by about 50% from 2020 to mid-2025 [5] - Recent fears of recession and early signs of labor market weakness have attracted buyers back to long-term bonds, with the ETF's shares rebounding from a low of 83.30 in late May and surpassing both 50-day and 200-day moving averages [6]

Group 1 - The VIX Index has closed at 16.28, indicating a return to low volatility levels not seen since 2025, which makes options cheaper and presents opportunities for Long Straddle trades [1] - Arm Holdings (ARM) is identified as a stock with potential for significant movement in either direction due to its current negative Gamma [2] - A Long Straddle is an advanced options strategy that profits from large price movements or increased implied volatility, requiring the purchase of both a call and a put option [4] Group 2 - The Long Straddle trade on ARM involves buying a $140-strike call and a $140-strike put, with a total premium of $2,810, which represents the maximum loss [6] - The theoretical maximum profit from the Long Straddle is unlimited, but the position incurs daily losses due to time decay if no significant price movement occurs [5] - The lower and upper breakeven prices for the trade are $111.90 and $168.10, respectively, with estimated breakeven prices at the end of October around $122 and $157 [6]