Oracle Puts Rise; Nasdaq Plunges

The selling continues again Monday as election uncertainty and earnings
worries reign. Forest and paper products are the day’s top-performing sector
while biotechnology is the weakest.

At mid-day, the VIX is up 1.33 to 33.83.

The OEX 720 calls are down 6 5/8 to 5 3/8.

Among bigger-movers on heavier-than-average volume:

Oracle
(
ORCL |
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is down 1 5/8 to 23 13/16 to help power the Nasdaq
decline. The Oracle June 01 25 puts are up 1 to 4 3/4 on more than 26,000
contracts.

Internets are weak, with AOL
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AOL |
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PowerRating)
falling 2.12 to 51 5/16. The AOL
November 50 puts are up 1.20 to 2.70 on more than 6000 contracts.

General Electric
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GE |
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PowerRating)
is down 2 9/16 to 51 5/16 while the GE November 50
puts are up 9/16 to 15/16 on more than 8000 contracts.

In the biotech arena, Human Genome Sciences
(
HGSI |
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PowerRating)
is down 14 5/16 to 69
while the HGSI November 75 puts are up 4 1/16 to 5 1/8 on heavier-than-average
volume.