All three major indexes are fractionally lower today
After a strong start to the week, stocks are struggling for direction today as investors unpack the latest batch of earnings reports. Wall Street got a brief scare this morning when several stocks -- including McDonald's (MCD) and Nike (NKE) -- were halted after showing outsized moves due to a technical glitch on the New York Stock Exchange. The volatility halt has since ended, and stocks have resumed trading without any lingering issues. At last check, all three major benchmarks are fractionally lower, while the Cboe Volatility Index (VIX) is pacing for its third-straight loss.
Continue reading for more on today's market, including:
- Defense stock scores much-needed post-earnings pop.
- Playbook of the Week: an oil & gas stock to watch.
- Plus, CZR calls pop; biotech breaks out; and headwinds for HOLO.
Caesars Entertainment Inc (NASDAQ:CZR) is getting blasted in the options pits today, with 46,000 calls across the tape so far -- volume that's 13 times what's typically seen at this point. The most popular contract is the weekly 2/3 54-strike call, followed by the weekly 1/27 52-strike call, with new positions being bought to open at both. Last seen up 2.6% a $51.64, the casino stock is still buzzing from yesterday's quarterly report. CZR is now trading back above formerly resistant 200-day moving average, but still sports a 32.2% year-over-year deficit.
Baudax Bio Inc (NASDAQ:BXRX) is the best-performing stock on the Nasdaq today, after the biotech company announced successful trial results for its neuromuscular blockade in patients undergoing elective surgery, known as BX1000. The shares were last seen 60.3% higher at $5.05, breaking above a short-term ceiling at the $4 level.
U.S.-listed shares of China-based holographic digitalization technology service provider MicroCloud Hologram Inc (NASDAQ:HOLO) are trading near the bottom of the Nasdaq today.HOLO was last seen down 20.3% to trade at $10.21 but year-to-date, is already up more than 400%.