HartFord Financial (HIG) High Volume Option Transaction

HIG – The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. – The roof is on fire at HIG after shares sky-rocketed up by over 23.5% to $8.25. But, one investor appears to have jumped the gun today by initiating the sale of over 17,000 calls at the January 2011 7.5 strike price for a premium of 3.90 at which point the tinder was aflame, but the roaring blaze was yet to come. We believe the sale was part of a covered call in which the underlying shares were purchased simultaneously. The investor appears to have been selling volatility which was 130.3% at the 7.5 strike when shares were at $6.65. It is likely that he was happy with the 3.90 in premium coupled with the hope inherent in this trade of a 13% rally in shares to $7.50. The investor was likely thinking that if shares rose to meet the strike price, the underlying stock would likely get called away from him at expiration. However, in hindsight it seems the timing of his trade was poor as premiums have since soared to 5.20 and shares have exited the building (so to speak).