The Bank of America Corp. logo. Photographer: Scott Eells/Bloomberg Signs of caution are emerging around high-flying tech shares. But that’s just making it cheaper to use options to bet on further gains in the stocks, Bank of America’s derivatives strategists say. After scooping up tech shares for months, hedge funds dumped the group last week at the fastest pace since early August while piling into value sectors like banks, according to Goldman Sachs Group Inc.’s trading desk. In options, traders aren’t ...

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the recent significant sell-off in the U.S. tech stock market, highlighting concerns among traders about a potential repeat of the severe sell-off experienced in April. It emphasizes the growing interest in purchasing "disaster puts" as a hedge against further declines in major tech stocks, which have seen substantial gains since April [1][2][4]. Group 1: Market Trends - Major tech stocks in the U.S. experienced a sharp decline, with companies like Micron Technology dropping over 6%, Oracle and AMD falling over 5%, and others like Nvidia and TSMC ADR decreasing over 3% [1]. - The Nasdaq Composite Index fell by 1.46%, while the S&P 500 Index decreased by 0.59% [1]. - Since April 8, the "Big Seven" tech stocks have surged nearly 50%, raising concerns about potential triggers for a downturn [4]. Group 2: Trader Sentiment - Wall Street traders are increasingly purchasing "disaster puts" for the Invesco QQQ Trust Series 1 ETF, indicating heightened anxiety about market declines [2][3]. - The cost of hedging against significant market drops is nearing a three-year high, reflecting traders' fears of a repeat of the April sell-off [2]. Group 3: Economic Indicators - Goldman Sachs economists warn that the slowdown in the U.S. job market is not over and may worsen, with employment growth estimates falling below the necessary levels to maintain full employment [6][7]. - The firm predicts three rate cuts by the Federal Reserve this year, with potential further cuts in 2026 if hiring remains weak [7]. Group 4: Political Context - Former President Trump criticized Goldman Sachs for its pessimistic economic forecasts, particularly regarding tariffs and their impact on consumers [8].