Gold and silver ETFs shine as dollar declines

Today’s tickers: GLD, SLV, SHLD, NTAP & DOW GLD – Shares of the gold ETF have climbed less than 1% to $94.19 amid a rise in oil and metals prices. One trade of interest on the fund was the work of an investor who is likely long shares of GLD. The trader sold 5,000 calls at the July 100 strike price for a premium of 2.15 apiece and also sold 10,000 calls at the higher July 107 strike for a dollar each. Perhaps the transactions represent covered calls. If this is the case, the investor enjoys the premiums granted for writing the options and establishes effective exit positions. About one-third of his shares will be called away from him at expiration if the July 100 calls land in-the-money by expiration with the remaining shares called from him in the event that the July 107 calls land in-the-money. The Gold ETF would need to rally by as much as 14% in order for the July 107 calls to expire in-the-money. – SPDR Gold Trust ETF SLV – The silver ETF took up residence on our ‘most active by options volume’ market scanner this morning after investors targeted the January 2010 contract looking for further bullish movement in the fund. Shares of the SLV are currently higher by more than 1% to $14.53. Yesterday we observed a trader who is expecting either a silver-bonanza or a silver-bust as he established a 20,000 lot bought-strangle in the same January 2010 contract for a net cost of 1.32. In contrast, today’s traders have positioned themselves to benefit solely from gains in the silver-sector. At the January 17 strike price more than 5,200 calls were purchased for an average premium of 1.13 each. These optimists will begin to see profits if shares rally by approximately 25% from the current price to the breakeven point at $18.13 by expiration in eight months. – iShares Silver Trust ETF SHLD – Shares of the largest U.S. department-store chain have surged by more than 16.5% to $58.50 after reporting unexpected first-quarter profits. Earnings of 38 cents per share must have come as quite a surprise to analysts who had previously forecast a loss of 87 cents for the firm. Profits for the quarter were aided by reductions in advertising combined with cuts in payroll expenses. Despite the bullish news, investors could not shake the overall picture of SHLD which is far less rosy. Revenue fell more…