Options volume on the Select Sector Financials (XLF) is running two times the usual as the onslaught continues. The fund is down 80 cents to $9.72 per share and 450,000 XLF options contracts have traded today. In fact, the top (register to read more …)

Las Vegas Sands (LVS, news, chart, volatility) calls are active. 22,000 have traded, compared to 6,474 puts. Some of the activity appears to be call writing due to the options expiration and unwinding (register to read more …)

General Electric (GE, news, chart, volatility) fell to $12.58 early after Bloomberg reported that the company is in talks with four Asian sovereign wealth funds. GE responded by saying it is not talk (register to read more …)

Kinross Gold (KGC, news, chart, volatility) shares are up 58 cents to $11.71 after gold gained $16.20 to $752.20 an ounce. KGC options volume is running at three times the average daily (register to read more …)

Gas Below $2.00

U.S. Gypsum (USG, news, chart, volatility) shares are lower today, near $6.00, and a customer appears to be rolling long puts down and out in a bid to maintain a short view in (register to read more …)

The CBOE Volatility Index (.VIX) made a run back above 80 after stocks faltered in morning trading and the S&P 500 made a decisive move below 800. The S&P 500 is down 17.86 to 788.72 and VIX is up 3.11 (register to read more …)

Pulte Homes (PHM, news, chart, volatility) options volume is running three times the usual, with 27,000 contracts traded and 93 percent of the volume on the put side of the options chain. (register to read more …)

Options in the iShares Long-term Bond Fund (TLT) are active, as Treasurys rip higher for a third day. TLT, an exchange-traded fund that holds Treasury bonds that mature in 20+ years, is up $2.02 to $101.32 and up 6 percent (register to read more …)

Cardinal Health (CAH, news, chart, volatility) is down $1.28 to $30.64 and a new 52-week low, but recent changes in open interest suggest that at least one trader seems to be positioning for (register to read more …)