Options Trading News

One option trader wants leverage in Dish Network, which has been steadily working its way higher all year.

optionMONSTER's tracking programs detected the purchase of 2,000 January 32 calls for $1.74 and the sale of an equal number of January 25 puts for $0.60.

Calls become more valuable when shares climb because they lock in the price where a stock can be bought. Put lose value to when a stock rises because they guarantee a minimum selling price. Buying calls and selling puts provides upside leverage on both sides of the trade because the long calls will appreciate in a rally while the short puts lose value.

The net result of yesterday's trade is that the investor now controls the equivalent of 200,000 shares in the satellite-television company for just $1.14 each. If the stock doesn't move, however, the entire position will become worthless when it expires early next year. (See our Education section)

DISH rose 1.32 percent to $30.69 yesterday and is up 23 percent in the last year. The stock has been trending steadily higher and now seems to be forming support around its 100- and 200-day moving averages just below $30. That could be leading some chart watchers to expect the gains to continue.

Total option volume in the name was twice the daily average, according to our data systems.

(A version of this post appeared on InsideOptions Pro yesterday.)