EMC CallsFall; Nasdaq Sinks

Stocks have started off the new year on a bad note, with the Nasdaq sinking
by more than 5%. Gold and silver is the day’s top sector while Internets are the
weakest.

At mid-day, the VIX is up 2.54 to 32.77.

The OEX January 710 calls are down 2.30 to 4.50.

Among bigger movers on heavier-than-average volume:

Storage giant EMC
(
EMC |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating)
is off 9 7/8 to 56 5/8 following a downgrade. The
EMC January 85 puts have gained 9 3/8 to 28 1/4 on more than 8,000 contracts.

Seibel Systems
(
SEBL |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating)
is another tech getting hit hard, falling 8 1/8 to
59 9/16. The SEBL January 55 calls are down 5 5/8 to 10 1/2 on more than 13,000
contracts.

GE
(
GE |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating)
is down 3 11/16 to 44 1/4 while the GE January 50 puts are up 2
3/4 to 6 on more than 4000 contracts.

Also weak in tech is Cisco
(
CSCO |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating)
which has lost 3 1/2 to 34 3/4. The
Cisco January 40 calls are down 1 3/8 to 1 1/4 on more than 7000 contracts.