Looking at options trading activity among components of the S&P 500 index, there is noteworthy activity today in Baxter International Inc. (NYSE: BAX), where a total volume of 142,594 contracts has been traded thus far today, a contract volume which is representative of approximately 14.3 million underlying shares (given that every 1 contract represents 100 underlying shares). That number works out to 177.3% of BAX's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 8.0 million shares. Particularly high volume was seen for the $55 strike call option expiring May 20, 2016, with 65,100 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 6.5 million underlying shares of BAX. Below is a chart showing BAX's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $55 strike highlighted in orange:
Intuitive Surgical Inc (NASD: ISRG) saw options trading volume of 2,271 contracts, representing approximately 227,100 underlying shares or approximately 68.1% of ISRG's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 333,325 shares.
Particularly high volume was seen for the $620 strike put option expiring May 20, 2016, with 450 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 45,000 underlying shares of ISRG. Below is a chart showing ISRG's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $620 strike highlighted in orange:
And Lincoln National Corp. (NYSE: LNC) options are showing a volume of 10,658 contracts thus far today. That number of contracts represents approximately 1.1 million underlying shares, working out to a sizeable 50.4% of LNC's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 2.1 million shares.
Especially high volume was seen for the $42.50 strike put option expiring May 20, 2016, with 6,891 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 689,100 underlying shares of LNC. Below is a chart showing LNC's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $42.50 strike highlighted in orange:
For the various different available expirations for BAX options, ISRG options, or LNC options, visit StockOptionsChannel.com.
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