The Nasdaq and S&P 500 are firmly in the black at midday
Stocks are on a tear midday, as investors shake off delta variant fears and buy the dip in the wake of yesterday's selloff. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) is up more than 500 points, working to recover from its worst day in eight months. A rebound in bank shares and reopening plays, as well as energy and industrial stocks, has the S&P 500 Index (SPX) and the Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) firmly in the black as well.
Elsewhere, investors are still closely monitoring the 10-year Treasury yield, which fell to a five-month low on Monday but was flat earlier today. And after climbing past the 20 level for its highest close since May 13 yesterday, the Cboe Volatility Index (VIX) is on track to snap a three-day winning streak.
Continue reading for more on today's market, including:
- Post-earnings bull notes boost blue-chip tech stock.
- Halliburton stock beats estimates amid service rebound.
- Plus, options bulls hungry for TXRH; drug stock surges on variant-effective antibody cocktail; tech name plummets on organizational shakeup.
One stock seeing an unusual amount of options activity today is Texas Roadhouse Inc (NASDAQ:TXRH), up 3% to trade at $92.17 at last check, despite earlier receiving a price-target cut from Wells Fargo to $99 from $107. So far, 13,000 calls have crossed the tape, which is 63 times the average intraday amount. Most popular is the August 95 call, followed by the September 90 call, with new positions currently being opened at both. While a catalyst for today's positive price action was not immediately clear, the equity is fresh off an April 30, all-time high of $110.75. TXRH is down 3.8% in the last three months, but seems to have found a floor at its 180-day moving average.
Near the top of the Nasdaq today is Immunome Inc(NASDAQ:IMNM), last seen up 36.3% at $22.68. Today's bull gap came after the drugmaker said its antibody cocktail was able to neutralize the Covid-19 Delta variant in pre-clinical testing, in addition to all other variants concerning the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The security is now trading at its highest level since May, though remains far off from its Feb. 18, all-time high of $63.78. Immunome stock has added 126.4% year-to-date.
Meanwhile, Intrusion Inc. (NASDAQ:INTZ) is at the bottom of the Nasdaq, down 46.9% at $4.51 this afternoon, after company announced preliminary second-quarter revenues as well as major organization changes. President and Chief Executive Officer Jack B. Blount has left the company, which has hired an investment banking firm to evaluate its funding sources and long-term strategic options. The equity earlier dropped to an annual low of $4.32, and have shed 81.7% over the past six months.