Agilent Calls Jump; Nasdaq Rally Continues

Better-than-expected earnings from Ciena boosted stocks Thursday as the
Nasdaq booked a respectable 2.6% gain. Semiconductors were the day’s top sector
while oil services were the weakest.

At mid-day, the VIX has decreased .34 to 23.88.

The OEX February 700 calls lost .05 to .25.

Among bigger movers on heavier-than-average volume:

Agilent
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gained 5.85 to 53.85 as techs enjoyed their second day of solid
gains. The Agilent Febraury 50 calls added 3.80 to 4.30 on heavier-than-average
volume.

Rallying big was JDS Uniphase
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which gained 3 7/8 to 45 1/8. The
JDSU March 45 puts fell 2 1/4 to 5 on more than 9,000 contracts.

Dell Computer
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rose 2 1/16 to 25 while the Dell Febraury 25 calls
rose 11/16 to 15/16 on more than 11,000 contracts.

Qualcomm
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gained 2 1/4 to 85 5/8 while the QCOM February 80 calls
added 1 5/8 to 6 on more than 10,000 contracts.