Tech and financial stocks are leading the pack
U.S. stocks are trading significantly higher at midday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) is paring yesterday's trade-war-related losses, as investors further digest this morning's better-than-expected jobs report, which indicated the unemployment rate fell to its lowest in 18 years. Finance and tech stocks are also having a big day, pushing the S&P 500 Index (SPX) and Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) notably higher.
Continue reading for more on today's market, including:
- Analyst: This biotech could rally 50%.
- Red-hot Twitter stock sports bargain-bin options.
- Plus, Lululemon's unusual options volume; a tech name gapping higher on earnings; and the C-Suite resignation shaking up one energy stock.
Yoga apparel retailer Lululemon Athletica Inc. (NASDAQ:LULU) is seeing a surge in options volume today, with roughly 40,000 calls and 29,000 puts traded so far -- roughly 17 times the intraday norm, and on pace for an annual high. Seeing notable action are the weekly 6/1 120-, 122-, and 123-strike calls, all set to expire today. LULU stock is 14.9% higher to trade at $120.67 -- and earlier tapped a fresh record high of $121.93 -- following a first-quarter earnings beat and upwardly revised full-year guidance. Lululemon stock is now up 147% year-over-year.
One of the top performers on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is software concern VMware, Inc. (NYSE:VMW), with the stock gapping higher after the company reported impressive first-quarter earnings and hiked its full-year forecast. VMW stock is up 7.2% at $147.20, and is now 50% higher year-over-year.
One of the NYSE's worst performers today is Brazilian energy issue Petroleo Brasileiro (NYSE:PBR), after the company's CEO resigned in the wake of a nationwide trucker strike that prompted to government to cut diesel prices. PBR shares were last seen 15.3% lower at $10.05 -- a new year-to-date low.