Options Trading News

Activision Blizzard is running to a new four-month high, and one large trader is betting on a continued rally.

optionMONSTER's Heat Seeker tracking system detected the purchase of 25,587 January 15 calls for $0.50 and the sale of a matching number of January 10 puts for $0.62, resulting in a credit of $0.12. The trade pushed overall option volume in the name to almost nine times greater than average.

ATVI rose 3.14 percent to $12.16 in afternoon trading and is up 11 percent in the last month. The videogame maker gapped higher after reporting better-than-expected results on Feb. 11 and announcing that it would start paying dividends.

The shares have climbed steadily since, gliding through potential resistance levels at $11 and $12 while pausing for only three days at its 200-day moving average.

The gains have been accompanied by bullish news in the game sector from such companies as NetEase and ZongKhong. UBS raised its estimates on ATVI yesterday, and call buyers targeted rival Electronic Arts.

Today's options trade is designed to generate huge gains from a continued move higher. It will make money if ATVI climbs above $15 by expiration and lose money below $10. Because the trader received a credit rather than paying a debit, any profits earned would represent an infinite total return.

The strategy, known as a bullish risk reversal, mimics a long position in the stock.

(Chart courtesy of tradeMONSTER)