The dollar reached a record low against the 13 nation Euro in trading Monday. Greenspan, while out promoting his new book, and economic experts have expressed worry over both recession and/or runaway inflation. Also, if you haven’t seen Jim Cramer’s Fed-Rate meltdown from earlier this month on youtube, it is an entertaining (if not somewhat disturbing) commentary on the US prime rate. (cramer)
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As the dollar declines against foreign currencies, it historically has decreased foreign manufacturer’s price competitiveness in the US and increased US manufacturer’s price competitiveness overseas.
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Or as Holgar Schmieding, Bank of America’s chief European economist, put it, “A stronger exchange rate dampens the growth of net [European] exports but augments domestic [European] demand by making imports cheaper.”
According to the Census Bureau’s 2006 annual report, the top US export industries were transportation equipment, computer & electronic products and chemicals.
There is also news today of a United Auto Workers strike. Because negotiators reached a settlement on the most difficult portion of the negotiations between GM and the UAW, experts had reported a strike unlikely. However, there were also AP reports this morning of workers picketing outside GM plants. This might be something to keep in mind when viewing the trades listed below.
Looking at this news from an option trading perspective:
Will the weaker US dollar mean stronger profits and sales in the industries mentioned? It is not likely the faltering dollar will solely have this effect, but it may be a competitive advantage.
Below is a list of the industries we included in the Poweroptions SmartSearchXL search as they correspond to the industry from the US census report.
Auto Manufacturers – Major, Trucks and Other Vehicles, and Boeing (BA) = Transportation
Chemicals – Major Diversified = Chemicals
Personal Computers = Computer & Electronic Products
The scope of the US census industry definition goes beyond the equivalent industries we used in the search.
Potential Trades:
All of the following option trades have 54 days until expiration.
| Covered Call Search – Exporting Companies | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Symbol | Stock Price |
OPTION | Strike Info |
Option Bid |
Net Debit |
% Dnsd. Prot. |
% If Unch. |
% If Asgnd |
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| GM | 35.44 (+0.50) | GMKH | 07 NOV 40.0 (54) | $1.25 | 34.19 | 3.5 | 3.7 | 17 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| GM | 35.44 (+0.50) | GMKU | 07 NOV 37.5 (54) | $2.10 | 33.34 | 5.9 | 6.3 | 12.5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| AAPL | 148.80 (+4.65) | APVKL | 07 NOV 160.0 (54) | 5.9 | 142.9 | 4 | 4.1 | 12 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| GM | 35.44 (+0.50) | GMJU | 07 OCT 37.5 (26) | $1.50 | 33.94 | 4.2 | 4.4 | 10.5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PCAR | 89.19 (-0.78) | PAQKS | 07 NOV 95.0 (54) | 2.85 | 86.34 | 3.2 | 3.3 | 10 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| AAPL | 148.80 (+4.65) | APVKK | 07 NOV 155.0 (54) | 7.6 | 141.2 | 5.1 | 5.4 | 9.8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| GM | 35.44 (+0.50) | GMKG | 07 NOV 35.0 (54) | $3.20 | 32.24 | 9 | 8.6 | 8.6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FRPT | 18.75 (+1.03) | QFZKW | 07 NOV 17.5 (54) | 2.6 | 16.15 | 13.9 | 8.4 | 8.4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| OSK | 57.50 (+1.61) | OSKKL | 07 NOV 60.0 (54) | 2.05 | 55.45 | 3.6 | 3.7 | 8.2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| AAPL | 148.80 (+4.65) | APVKJ | 07 NOV 150.0 (54) | 9.7 | 139.1 | 6.5 | 7 | 7.8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| APD | 93.62 (-0.14) | APDKS | 07 NOV 95.0 (54) | $2.95 | 90.67 | 3.2 | 3.3 | 4.8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| DD | 49.91 (+0.22) | DDKJ | 07 NOV 50.0 (54) | $1.75 | 48.16 | 3.5 | 3.6 | 3.8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| DELL | 28.15 (+0.39) | DLQKY | 07 NOV 27.5 (54) | 1.65 | 26.5 | 5.9 | 3.8 | 3.8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ROH | 55.79 (-0.57) | ROHKK | 07 NOV 55.0 (54) | $2.75 | 53.04 | 4.9 | 3.7 | 3.7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PX | 81.82 (+1.11) | PXKP | 07 NOV 80.0 (54) | $4.40 | 77.42 | 5.4 | 3.3 | 3.3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| BA | 103.00 (+0.41) | BAKT | 07 NOV 100.0 (54) | 6 | 97 | 5.8 | 3.1 | 3.1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Competitors:
Competitors for GM include: Ford Motor Co. (F), Toyota Motor Corp. (TM), Chrysler LLC (private), Daimlerchrysler AG (DAI), Genuine Parts Co. (GPC), Honda Motor Co. Ltd. ADR (HMC), Nissan Motors AD (NSANY), and Tata Motors Ltd. (TTM).
Competitors for AAPL include: Dell Inc. (DELL), Hewlett-Packard Co. (HPQ), Microsoft Corporation (MSFT), Adobe Systems Inc. (ADBE), Avid Technology Inc. (AVID), Creative Technology Limited (CREAF), DivX Inc. (DIVX), Napster Inc. (NAPS), RealNetworks Inc. (RNWK), and Sonic Solutions (SNIC).
Competitors for PCAR include: Daimlerchrysler AG (DAI), and Volvo AB (VOLV).
Competitors for FRPT include: Textron Inc. (TXT), BAE Systems Land and Armaments (private), and General Dynamics Land Systems Inc. (private).
Competitors for OSK include: Federal Signal Corp. (FSS), AM General, LLC (private), and BAE Systems Land and Armaments (private).
Competitors for APD include: Praxair Inc. (PX), Airgas Inc. (ARG), ATMI Inc. (ATMI), and Cabot Microelectronics (CCMP).
Competitors for DD include: Bayer AG (BAY), Dow Chemical Co. (DOW), ATMI Inc. (ATMI), Cytec Industries Inc. (CYT), FMC Corp. (FMC), Huntsman Corp. (HUN), Metabolix Inc. (MBLX), 3M Co. (MMM), Occidental Petroleum Corp. (OXY), Rohm and Haas Co. (ROH), and Tronox Inc. (TRX).
Competitors for DELL include: Hewlett-Packard Co. (HPQ), International Business Machines Corp. (IBM), Acer Inc. (private), Apple Computer Inc. (AAPL), Best Buy Co. Inc. (BBY), Circuit City Stores Inc. (CC), Gateway 2000 Inc. (GTW), Insight Enterprises Inc. (NSIT), Neoware Systems Inc. (NWRE), Rackable Systems Inc. (RACK), SuperMicro Computer Inc. (SMCI), and Systemax Inc. (SYX).
Competitors for ROH include: Dow Chemical Co. (DOW), EI DuPont de Nemours & Co. (DD), Compass Minerals Intl. Inc. (CMP), and II VI Inc. (IIVI).
Competitors for PX include: Air Products & Chemicals Inc. (APD), and NuCo2 Inc. (NUCO).
Competitors for BA include: Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT), Northrop Grumman Corp. (NOC), Airbus S.A.S. (private), Applied Signal Tech. Inc. (APSG), Orbital Sciences Corp. (ORB), Raytheon Co. (RTN), and United Techs. Corp. (UTX).
For more information about how to identify and research great option trades, visit the PowerOptions website. There you will find the data you need to make quick, clear, and informed decisions. You can trade knowing you have found the best investment. Also, PowerOptions will allow you, with a few quick clicks, to quickly and accurately compare trades. PowerOptions‘ premium customer support is second to none in the industry. They can be easily contacted when you need them at their toll-free number to answer customer questions. Call them now toll free at 877-992-7971.
PowerOptions provides a free 14-day trial of its service. So join PowerOptions today, and you too can start reaping the benefits of the covered call investment strategy. [tags] Chrysler LLC, BAE Systems Land and Armaments, General Dynamics Land Systems Inc., AM General, LLC, Acer Inc., Airbus S.A.S., AAPL, Apple Computer Inc., ADBE, Adobe Systems Inc., APD, Air Products & Chemicals Inc., APSG, Applied Signal Tech. Inc., ARG, Airgas Inc., ATMI, ATMI Inc., AVID, Avid Technology Inc., BA, Boeing Co., BAY, Bayer AG, BBY, Best Buy Co. Inc., CC, Circuit City Stores Inc., CCMP, Cabot Microelectronics, CMP, Compass Minerals Intl. Inc., CREAF, Creative Technology Limited, CYT, Cytec Industries Inc., DAI, Daimlerchrysler AG, DD, du Pont (E.I.) de Nemours & Co., DELL, Dell Computer Corp., DIVX, DivX Inc., DOW, Dow Chemical Co., F, Ford Motor Co., FMC, FMC Corp., FSS, Federal Signal Corp., GPC, Genuine Parts Co., GTW, Gateway 2000 Inc., HMC, Honda Motor Co. Ltd. ADR, HPQ, Hewlett Packard, HUN, Huntsman Corp., IBM, Intl. Business Machines, IIVI, II VI Inc., LMT, Lockheed Martin Corp., MBLX, Metabolix Inc., MMM, 3M Co., MSFT, Microsoft Corp., NAPS, Napster Inc., NOC, Northrop Grumman Corp., NSANY, Nissan Motors AD, NSIT, Insight Enterprises Inc., NUCO, NuCo2 Inc., NWRE, Neoware Systems Inc., ORB, Orbital Sciences Corp., OXY, Occidental Petroleum Corp., PX, Praxair Inc., RACK, Rackable Systems Inc., RNWK, RealNetworks Inc., ROH, Rohm and Haas Co., RTN, Raytheon Co., SMCI, SuperMicro Computer Inc., SNIC, Sonic Solutions, SYX, Systemax Inc., TM, Toyota Motor Corp., TRX, Tronox Inc., TTM, Tata Motors Ltd., TXT, Textron Inc., UTX, United Techs. Corp., VOLV, Volvo Group AB ADR, covered call investment strategy, investment strategy, poweroptions [/tags]