A surge in bullish options bets on NYSE Euronext shares ahead of Thursday\'s announced merger has raised eyebrows among options strategists.
IntercontinentalExchange said on Thursday it planned to buy NYSE Euronext for US$8.2 billion, or US$33.12 per NYSE share. The deal\'s value represents a 37.7 per cent premium over NYSE\'s closing stock price on Dec 19, the companies said. .
NYSE Euronext option trading volume on Wednesday was below average. But in the two-week period before the news, overall volume was about 27 per cent above normal turnover, with a buildup of call options, according to Trade Alert, an options analytics firm in New York. A call option is a contract that gives the right to buy the company\'s stock at a fixed price by a certain date.
A total of 51,000 calls and 8,600 puts changed hands during the period from Dec 6 through Dec 19.
IntercontinentalExchange said on Thursday it planned to buy NYSE Euronext for US$8.2 billion, or US$33.12 per NYSE share. The deal\'s value represents a 37.7 per cent premium over NYSE\'s closing stock price on Dec 19, the companies said. .
NYSE Euronext option trading volume on Wednesday was below average. But in the two-week period before the news, overall volume was about 27 per cent above normal turnover, with a buildup of call options, according to Trade Alert, an options analytics firm in New York. A call option is a contract that gives the right to buy the company\'s stock at a fixed price by a certain date.
A total of 51,000 calls and 8,600 puts changed hands during the period from Dec 6 through Dec 19.