The Dow was last seen up 161 points
The market rebound is carrying onto Wednesday's trading, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) erasing this morning's losses to eye a 161-point pop. Both the S&P 500 Index (SPX) and Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) are not far behind, sporting comfortable midday gains of their own. Meanwhile, Wall Street's "fear gauge" -- the Cboe Volatility Index (VIX) -- has taken a step back, and is pacing for a close below the 20 threshold for the first time in more than a week, as Wall Street mulls over omicron concerns.
Continue reading for more on today's market, including:
- Bernstein is eyeing more upside for this blue-chip stock.
- What options traders see for BlackBerry stock after earnings.
- Plus, options traders target MT; BVXV hits 5-month high; and why ALLK bottomed out.
ArcelorMittal SA (NYSE:MT) is seeing a surge in options activity today, with 18,000 calls and 15,000 puts across the tape so far, which is eight times the intraday average. The two most popular positions by far are the January 2022 40-strike call and the 40-strike put from the same monthly series, with positions being opened at the latter. MT was last seen up 2.3% at $32.78, and the stock boasts a 42.8% year-to-date lead.
One of the best performers on the Nasdaq today is Biondvax Pharmaceuticals Ltd (NASDAQ:BVXV). The security was last seen up 96.7% at $2.91, following news that the company signed a definitive agreement with the Max Planck Institute of Biophysical Chemistry and the University Medical Center Göttigen for the commercialization of its Covid-19 antibody therapy. BVXV hit a five-month high of $3.49 earlier in the session, toppling recent pressure at multiple trendlines, including its 100-day moving average.
One of the worst stocks on the Nasdaq today is Allakos Inc (NASDAQ:ALLK). The equity is down 88.5% at $9.68 at last check, after two of the company's lead drug failed to meet the goal of two trials, attracting bear notes from three different analysts. Jefferies downgraded ALLK to "hold" from "buy," and lowered its price objective to $61 from $205, while SVB Leerink cut its price target o $17 from $150, and downgraded the equity to "market perform." In response, the security gapped to a record low of $9.61 earlier.