Options Update: Merck (MRK) & Schering-Plough (SGP)

MRK Volatility Up; Shares Sell Off On Disappointing Cholesterol Study Results
MRK is recently down $7.21 to $37.33.
A panel of cardiologists called on physicians to sharply curtail their use of cholesterol-lowering drugs marketed by MRK and SGP.
Leerink Swann says “We continue to recommend MRK for long-term investors.”
MRK call option volume of 45,342 contracts compares to put volume of 40,672 contracts.
MRK April and May option implied volatility of 44 is above its 26-week average of 31, suggesting larger price movement.
SGP Volatility At 55 After Disappointing Cholesterol Study
SGP is recently down $5.07 to $14.36.
A panel of cardiologists called on physicians to sharply curtail their use of cholesterol-lowering drugs Vytorin (combination of MRK’s Zocor and SGP’s Zetia) and Zetia. This came after a clinical study showed the drugs didn’t work any better than less expensive statin drugs.
SGP call option volume of 68,275 contracts compares to put volume of 27,152 contracts.
SGP April option implied volatility of 55 is above is 26-week average of 36, suggesting larger price movement.

theoptionsinsider.com

Tags: mrk

7 Responses to “Options Update: Merck (MRK) & Schering-Plough (SGP)”

on 01 Apr 2008 at 1:08 am Chelsie

I’d vote for him over Obama any day …
on 01 Apr 2008 at 1:58 am Geordie

might be HP, that would be nice. They already have a linux NAS that they recently released.
on 01 Apr 2008 at 2:49 am Reba

This is old story, but voted up for the photos.
on 01 Apr 2008 at 3:39 am Phillida

Al Gore is orders of magnitude more qualified to be president than Obama (and Clinton and McCain).He’s much more progressive than Clinton and Obama (no one can touch him on Climate Crisis — but, he was against the Iraq war from the beginning, for single-payer, is better on gay rights than Clinton — and far better than Obama).Obama is great, but he can’t touch Gore.
on 01 Apr 2008 at 4:30 am Roz

There’s no love lost between the Clinton’s and Al Gore, so I don’t see how her camp would willingly sign onto a Gore compromise. And I think that Obama supporters (and his campaign apparatus itself) are too invested in his winning to support a Gore compromise. There’s also the “ego” thing for both Clinton and Obama.Finally, who would broker such a deal? Howard Dean? Nancy Pelosi? Rahm Emmanuel? I just don’t see it happening at all - at least, unless (and until) the party is beyond the point of no return.
on 01 Apr 2008 at 5:20 am Jonie

If Obama supporters would not support Clinton or Gore, then I find that to be a failing of Obama — I put the responsibility on his shoulders to get his supporters to help build up the Democratic party (and change it to their liking).Obama is the most likely candidate and although I don’t support him, I will be spending the summer and fall knocking doors, phone-banking and raising money for him.If he loses and he can’t get his supporters to do the same, then he shouldn’t try to run in 2016.

on 01 Apr 2008 at 1:08 am Chelsie

I’d vote for him over Obama any day …

on 01 Apr 2008 at 1:58 am Geordie

might be HP, that would be nice. They already have a linux NAS that they recently released.

on 01 Apr 2008 at 2:49 am Reba

This is old story, but voted up for the photos.

on 01 Apr 2008 at 3:39 am Phillida

Al Gore is orders of magnitude more qualified to be president than Obama (and Clinton and McCain).He’s much more progressive than Clinton and Obama (no one can touch him on Climate Crisis — but, he was against the Iraq war from the beginning, for single-payer, is better on gay rights than Clinton — and far better than Obama).Obama is great, but he can’t touch Gore.

on 01 Apr 2008 at 4:30 am Roz

There’s no love lost between the Clinton’s and Al Gore, so I don’t see how her camp would willingly sign onto a Gore compromise. And I think that Obama supporters (and his campaign apparatus itself) are too invested in his winning to support a Gore compromise. There’s also the “ego” thing for both Clinton and Obama.Finally, who would broker such a deal? Howard Dean? Nancy Pelosi? Rahm Emmanuel? I just don’t see it happening at all - at least, unless (and until) the party is beyond the point of no return.

on 01 Apr 2008 at 5:20 am Jonie

If Obama supporters would not support Clinton or Gore, then I find that to be a failing of Obama — I put the responsibility on his shoulders to get his supporters to help build up the Democratic party (and change it to their liking).Obama is the most likely candidate and although I don’t support him, I will be spending the summer and fall knocking doors, phone-banking and raising money for him.If he loses and he can’t get his supporters to do the same, then he shouldn’t try to run in 2016.

kimblr.com