Paper bought 4050 LVLT June 27 Calls for $.25 (2.1 times usual volume) when stock was trading $20.12
Paper bought 500 MT Jan 2014 12 Calls for $.20 (3.1 times usual volume) when stock was trading $5.46
Paper bought 2911 LIFE March 65 Calls for $.35 (2.6 times usual volume) when stock was trading $57
Paper bought 477 EPI March 18 Calls for $.75 when stock was trading $18.68
Paper bought 8201 MET April 37 Calls for $.56 (2.9 times usual volume) when stock was trading $34.41

Paper bought 1896 DPM March 40 Puts for $.40 (6.0 times usual volume) when stock was trading $42.76
Paper bought 300 VSI April 55 Puts for $5 (49.1 times usual volume) when stock was trading $51.18
Paper bought 1000 RY July 55 Puts for $.72 (2.7 times usual volume) when stock was trading $61.63
Paper bought 1710 BMRN March 55 Puts for $1.45 (3.6 times usual volume) when stock was trading $55.50
Paper bought 770 WCRX April 13 Puts for $.75 when stock was trading $13.37

Paper bought 9855 VXX April 20 Puts for $.59 when stock was trading $24.76
Paper bought 1388 TOT March 50 Calls for $.55 when stock was trading $49.15
Paper bought 8000 CHK March Weekly 19.5 Calls for $.35 when stock was trading $19.35
Paper bought 3000 EGO March 10 Calls for $.60 when stock was trading $10.31
Paper sold 10,000 RDN Jan 2015 5 Puts for $1.075 (4.2 times usual volume) when stock was trading $8.15

My Trade:  Buying the CHK Weekly 19.5 Calls for $.35

Risk: $35 per 1 lot
Reward: Unlimited
Breakeven: $19.85
Goals:  Offering 1/2 of the Position off at $.60 and will leave the balance until expiration

Greeks of my Trade:
Delta: Long
Gamma: Long
Theta: Short
Vega: Long

KOTM did a simple scan for the largest beta in popular indices. These indices include the DJIA, S&P 500, and the Russell 2000. In the Russell 2000, the largest beta belongs to AUMN.  In the S&P 500, the same crown belongs to AIG and finally in the DJIA, BAC wins. These are three very interesting names that deserve a closer look.

AUMN is Golden Minerals Company. The firm is a precious metals producer, primarily engaged in the operation and further development of its acquired Velardena gold, silver and base metals mines in the State of Durango, Mexico and other geographic areas, but the stock is under $3.00. With that in mind, most folks don’t follow cheap (nominally) stocks, but it has a 9.8 beta.

The other two stocks are BAC (with a 2.4 Beta) and AIG (with a 3.5), both of which are a little more well known than AUMN. The financial firms are increasingly gaining interest from investors as interest rates are expected to increase. Both of these stocks are involved in the financial services industry to a certain extent and, interestingly enough, these stocks are also some of the most popular hedge fund picks too.

From a technical prospective, the BAC and AIG charts are presented below. The financials have been in rage mode of late, but over the last week decided to come into their respective 50 DMA’s, maybe a solid trade point.  The moving averages, for both stocks, are pointing up and looking bullish, but these are risky picks…as measured by beta.

— 
salerno.mark.a@gmail.com

Paper bought 4500 TSN March 23 Puts for $.25 when stock was trading $23.86
Paper bought 3000 ITUB March 21 Puts for $.25 (2.3 times usual volume) when stock was trading $21.97
Paper bought 625 BBG April 15 Puts for $.40 (3.3 times usual volume) when stock was trading $17.87
Paper bought 450 SIMO March 12.5 Puts for $.325 (2.3 times usual volume) when stock was trading $13.21
Paper bought 750 ANSS March 75 Puts for $2.40 (33.6 times usual volume) when stock was trading $76.14

Paper bought 22,446 TXN Jan 2014 35 Calls for $2.50 (2.8 times usual volume) when stock was trading $34.31
Paper bought 2000 ASNA March 18 Calls for $.20 (12.6 times usual volume) when stock was trading $16.81
Paper bought 1300 DUK March 70 Calls for $.75 (2.5 times usual volume) when stock was trading $70.13
Paper bought 7500 RDN Aug 8 Calls for $1.50 (4.7 times usual volume) when stock was trading $8.24
Paper bought 1750 WPZ June 50 Calls for $2.30 (2.8 times usual volume) when stock was trading $50.01