Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) Stock, Quote.Headers.trade-ideas

Bank of America

Bank of America is one of the largest financial institutions in the United States, with more than $3.0 trillion in assets. It is organized into four major segments: consumer banking, global wealth and investment management, global banking, and global markets. Bank of America's consumer-facing lines of business include its network of branches and deposit-gathering operations, retail lending products, credit and debit cards, and small-business services. The company's Merrill Lynch operations provide brokerage and wealth-management services, as does its private bank. Wholesale lines of business include investment banking, corporate and commercial real estate lending, and capital markets operations. Bank of America has operations in several countries but is primarily US-focused.

Federal Reserve

Equities

Large Cap

Mid Cap

Broad U.S. Equity ETFs

Econ #s

Markets

ETFs

FTNT

NVDA

ORCL

SBUX

SCHW

Investors are anticipating the first cut to the federal funds rate in over four years at the September FOMC meeting. The market is divided on the magnitude of the cut, which could trigger significant reactions. Goldman Sachs data reveals the top S&amp;P 500 stocks to watch during Fed easing cycles.

20 S&amp;P 500 Stocks That Move The Most When The Fed Starts Cutting Interest Rates

News

Real Estate

ADPV

DFNL

TREE

30-year fixed mortgage rate drops to lowest point in 2 years as anticipation of Fed rate decrease grows - refinance applications up 24%.

Mortgage Rates Drop To 2-Year Low, Refinancing Hits &#39;Fastest Pace&#39; Since 2022: Rocket, LendingTree Among Movers

12 Powerful Success Lessons From Warren Buffett, Including The Role Of Love

Government

Regulations

Politics

Media

Vice President Kamala Harris hasn&#39;t struck a chord with the business and investing world, with most perceiving her as anti-business.

Elon Musk Says Warren Buffett Is Positioning For Kamala Harris Win With His $277B Cash Pile As Pro-Trumper John Paulson Warns Of Equity Market Exit

Bank of America Corp

Berenson Acquisition Corp. I Class A Common Stock

Berenson Acquisition Corp I

Berenson Acquisition Corp I Warrants (01/08/2026)

BANK OF CHINA LTD ORD by Bank of China, Ltd.

Bank Of China Ltd

BANK OF CHINA UNSP/ADR by Bank of China, Ltd.

IMAC Holdings Inc

Bleichroeder Acquisition Corp. I

Bleichroeder Acquisition Corp I

BANK OF AMERICA 7.00B PFD by Bank of America Corp.

Bank of America Corporation Depositary Shares, each representing a 1/1,000th interest in a share of 6.000% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series GG

Bank of America Corporation Depositary Sh repstg 1/1000th Perp Pfd Ser E

Bank of America Corporation Depositary Shares, each representing a 1/1,000th interest in a share of 5.875% Non- Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series HH

Bank of America Corporation Non Cumulative Perpetual Conv Pfd Ser L

Bank of America Corporation Depositary Shares, each representing a 1/1,000th interest in a share of 5.375% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series KK

Bank of America Corporation Depositary shares, each representing 1/1,000th interest in a share of 5.000% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series LL

Bank of America Corporation Depositary shares, each representing 1/1,000th interest in a share of 4.375% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series NN

Bank of America Corporation Depositary Shares, each representing a 1/1,000th interest in a share of 4.125% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series PP

Bank of America Corporation Depositary shares, each representing 1/1,000th interest in a share of 4.250% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series QQ

Bank of America Corporation Depositary shares, each representing 1/1,000th interest in a share of 4.750% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series SS

Investors are on edge in the lead-up to the Wednesday Federal Open Market Committee interest rate decision that is expected to deliver the first cut to the federal funds rate <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/09/40921827/fed-decision-is-here-5-things-investors-need-to-know-ahead-of-wednesdays-pivotal-in">in over four years.</a>
The market is divided on the magnitude of the anticipated rate cut. Traders are assigning a 59% probability to a 50-basis-point cut, while a 41% chance is placed on a more modest 25-basis-point reduction. The size of the rate cut is crucial as it could trigger significant market reactions.
Should the Fed opt for a 50-basis-point cut, it may be perceived as an acknowledgment that interest rates are overly restrictive. This could lead to increased expectations for further rate cuts in the coming months, potentially fueling risk sentiment and driving stock prices higher.
Conversely, a 25-basis-point cut might disappoint investors who are betting on a more aggressive measure.
Since the start of 2022, the S&amp;P 500, tracked by the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>), has experienced an average move of plus or minus 1.3% during FOMC events, reflecting the market&#8217;s high sensitivity to Fed policy decisions.
Goldman Sachs equity analysts, including John Marshall, analyzed stock movements during the first rate cuts in the previous three Fed easing cycles (Sept. 18, 2007, July 31, 2019 and March 3, 2020).
The data highlights the average moves of several key S&amp;P 500 stocks with liquid options during these periods.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Rank</th>
<th>Name</th>
<th>Absolute Average Move</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>1</td>
<td>Caesars Entertainment Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CZR#NASDAQ">CZR</a>)</td>
<td>5.9%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2</td>
<td>Nvidia Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>)</td>
<td>5.5%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3</td>
<td>Capital One Financial Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COF#NYSE">COF</a>)</td>
<td>4.6%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>4</td>
<td>Charles Schwab Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SCHW#NYSE">SCHW</a>)</td>
<td>4.6%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>5</td>
<td>Mastercard Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MA#NYSE">MA</a>)</td>
<td>4.5%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>6</td>
<td>Fortinet Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FTNT#NASDAQ">FTNT</a>)</td>
<td>4.3%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>7</td>
<td>Marriott International (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MAR#NASDAQ">MAR</a>)</td>
<td>4.2%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>8</td>
<td>American Express Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AXP#NYSE">AXP</a>)</td>
<td>3.8%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9</td>
<td>Newmont Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NEM#NYSE">NEM</a>)</td>
<td>3.7%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>10</td>
<td>Deere &amp; Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DE#NYSE">DE</a>)</td>
<td>3.6%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>11</td>
<td>BlackRock Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BLK#NYSE">BLK</a>)</td>
<td>3.6%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>12</td>
<td>Texas Instruments Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TXN#NASDAQ">TXN</a>)</td>
<td>3.5%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>13</td>
<td>3M Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MMM#NYSE">MMM</a>)</td>
<td>3.3%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>14</td>
<td>Bank of America Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>)</td>
<td>3.2%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>15</td>
<td>JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>)</td>
<td>3.2%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>16</td>
<td>Oracle Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>)</td>
<td>3.0%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>17</td>
<td>Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ABT#NYSE">ABT</a>)</td>
<td>3.0%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>18</td>
<td>Starbucks Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SBUX#NASDAQ">SBUX</a>)</td>
<td>2.9%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>19</td>
<td>Visa Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/V#NYSE">V</a>)</td>
<td>2.7%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>20</td>
<td>Verizon Communications Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VZ#NYSE">VZ</a>)</td>
<td>2.3%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/24/09/40908202/10-etfs-investors-secretly-bought-before-the-feds-make-or-break-interest-rate-cal">10 ETFs Investors Secretly Bought Before The Fed&#8217;s Make-Or-Break Interest Rate Call</a></li>
</ul>
Federal Reserve illustration created using artificial intelligence via MidJourney.

20 S&P 500 Stocks That Move The Most When The Fed Starts Cutting Interest Rates

The average interest rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage dropped to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/23/11/35920779/us-mortgage-applications-surge-as-rates-dip-is-the-industry-moving-out-of-the-woods">its lowest point</a> in two years as markets anticipate the Federal Reserve lowering its key interest for the first time in four years, perhaps by as much as 50 basis points.
The rate for the most popular home loan fell 14 basis points in the week ended Sept. 13 to 6.15%, marking the lowest rate since September 2022, the Mortgage Bankers Association said on Wednesday.
The rate also fell 14 basis points during the previous week.
&#8220;The 30-year fixed mortgage rate, at 6.15 percent, is now at its lowest since September 2022 and is more than a full percentage point lower than a year ago,&#8221; said Joel Kan, MBA's deputy chief economist.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/top-stories/24/07/39621351/mortgage-applications-fall-as-rates-climb-back-above-7">Mortgage Applications Fall As Rates Climb Back Above 7%</a>
"Refinance applications were up 24 percent – more than double last year's pace, with both conventional and government activity jumping to the fastest pace of refinancing since 2022."
The refinancing share of mortgage activity increased to 51.2% of total applications from 46.7% the previous week. The adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) share of activity increased to 5.9% of total applications.
Price Action: Mortgage lenders saw gains and losses during Wednesday&#8217;s trading session.
<ul>
<li>Rocket Companies Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RKT#NYSE">RKT</a>) was down 1.35% to $20.39.</li>
<li>Bank of America (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>) dropped 0.13% to $39.50.</li>
<li>LendingTree, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TREE#NASDAQ">TREE</a>) was up 0.27% to $58.53</li>
</ul>
Exchange-traded funds that hold these stocks also rose and fell on Wednesday.
<ul>
<li>The Meet Kevin Pricing Power ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PP#NYSE">PP</a>) was down 0.31%.</li>
<li>Adaptiv Select ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ADPV#NYSE">ADPV</a>) rose 0.11%.</li>
<li>Davis Select Financial ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DFNL#BATS">DFNL</a>) was up 0.22%.</li>
</ul>
Read Now:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/08/40485557/30-year-mortgage-rates-hit-15-month-low-but-applications-pull-back-after-recent-spikes-real-esta">30-Year Mortgage Rates Hit 15-Month Low, But Applications Pull Back After Recent Spikes: Real Estate Stocks React Wednesday (CORRECTED)</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Mortgage Rates Drop To 2-Year Low, Refinancing Hits 'Fastest Pace' Since 2022: Rocket, LendingTree Among Movers

While Vice President Kamala Harris surges ahead in polls against her Republican rival Donald Trump, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40810498/bill-ackman-and-elon-musk-blast-kamala-harris-for-her-social-media-posts-during-debate-with-trump-ev">she hasn&#8217;t found much traction in the business and investing world. </a>Hedge fund manager John Paulson, the founder of New York-based investment firm Paulson &amp; Co. said on Tuesday in a media appearance that he would pull his money off the market in the eventuality of a Harris win, while Tesla CEO Elon Musk flagged something even more ominous.
Chalk &amp; Cheese: The market timing and investor timing will depend on who the president is, <a href="https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/billionaire-hedge-fund-manager-says-he-would-pull-his-money-from-market-harris-wins-election">said </a>Paulson in an interview with conservative media outlet Fox News. Paulson is a pro-Trumper and a Republican donor, and the ex-president reciprocates the sentiment. In March, a Bloomberg report said Trump was considering the hedge fund manager for the role of Treasury Secretary.
&#8220;If Harris was elected [I] would pull my money from the market. I&#8217;d go into cash, and I&#8217;d go into gold because I think the uncertainty regarding the plans they outlined would create a lot of uncertainty in the markets and likely lower markets,&#8221; he told Fox News. 
Paulson is known for his profitable bet against the subprime mortgage in 2007.
 While Trump wants to extend the 2017 tax cuts implemented during his term in office, Harris was planning to allow them to expire, he said, adding that the latter seeks to raise the corporate tax rate from 21% to 28% and the capital gains tax from 20% to 28%.
The vice president has also proposed a 25% tax on unrealized gains for people having a net worth of $100 million or more, Paulson said. If implemented it would cause &#8220;mass selling of almost everything – stocks, bonds, homes, art – I think it would result in a crash in the markets and an immediate, pretty quick recession,&#8221; he added.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-value-stocks">Best Value Stocks</a>
Musk Chimes In: When Mario Nawfal, who hosts shows and Twitter Spaces, shared the Fox News clipping of Paulson&#8217;s interview, Musk said, &#8220;[Warren] Buffett is already preparing for this outcome.&#8221;
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Buffett is already preparing for this outcome <a href="https://t.co/fYT6s9uiHo">https://t.co/fYT6s9uiHo</a>
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1836269587710775528?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 18, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Musk, who has publicly pledged allegiance to Trump after the first assassination attempt against the former president in a Pennsylvania campaign rally, apparently referred to Berkshire Hathaway, the firm led by Buffett, divesting large positions in some of its key holdings.
Berkshire sold 115 million Apple shares in the first quarter and followed up the sales of another 390 million shares in the second quarter. At the end of June, the firm still owned 400 million Apple shares despite the disposals. At Berkshire&#8217;s annual shareholder meeting held in May, the investment guru said the decision to sell the firm&#8217;s biggest holding Apple was to raise cash to foot the federal tax bill and also in line with his intention to hold more cash during times of uncertainty.
The company&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/24/08/40150958/berkshire-hathaways-massive-277m-cash-hoard-rekindles-tesla-investment-chatter-fund-manager-says-two">cash position at the end of the June quarter was a massive $277 billion. </a>
The Buffet-run investment holding company has also been trimming its stake in Bank of America Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>), another of its core portfolio stocks.
The Berkshire chairman and CEO vouches for value investing &#8211; an investment strategy of betting on quality stocks that trade well below their intrinsic value. He rarely invests in techs, which qualify as growth stocks. Musk, for his part, has been sending feelers to Berkshire and Buffett via his social media posts regarding investing in his flagship electric-vehicle company.
Since Buffett is regarded as a model investor known for his risk-averse strategies, any decision to reduce his equity holdings could negatively impact sentiment toward stocks.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40913930/kamala-harris-moves-from-13-point-deficit-to-7-point-lead-over-trump-in-survey-of-fund-managers-stra">Kamala Harris Moves From 13-Point Deficit To 7-Point Lead Over Trump In Survey Of Fund Managers, Strategists And Economists: Here&#8217;s Why Most Favor A Divided Government</a></li>
</ul>
Image via Shutterstock

Offerings

Bank Of America Plans To Redeem On September 25, 2024, All $2B Of Its 0.981% Fixed/Floating Rate Senior Notes, Due September 2025

Stocks held by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/top-stories/24/07/39677935/credit-card-debt-rises-as-consumers-face-higher-costs-of-living">consumer-lending firms</a> fell last week after Wall Street executives warned of lower-income borrowers&#8217; struggling to pay bills.
What Happened: Banking executives at a recent Barclays conference in New York noted how delinquencies are on the rise, the Wall Street Journal <a href="https://www.wsj.com/finance/americans-credit-debt-spending-interest-rates-f3836f23">reported</a>.
The average interest rate on a credit card as of May was 21.51%, up from around 15% in 2019, Federal Reserve data shows.
About 9.1% of credit card balances turned delinquent over the past 12 months to mark the highest rate in over a decade, according to an August report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
"What that tells you is if people do get behind on their payments in this environment, it's tougher to get out of them," TD Cowen analyst Moshe Orenbuch said.
Read Also: &#8216;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/real-estate/24/08/40666981/the-time-has-come-to-adjust-cheaper-mortgage-rates-could-be-just-weeks-away-but-it-all-hinges-on-thi">The Time Has Come to Adjust&#8217; — Cheaper Mortgage Rates Could Be Just Weeks Away, But It All Hinges On This Data</a>
Why It Matters: Bread Financial, a credit card company that serves lower-income borrowers, said it expects higher charge-off rates — balances that banks write off as a result of lack of payments — this year.
Late payments and charge-offs on auto loans were higher than expected in July and August as borrowers grapple with the cost of living and a worsening labor market, Ally Financial Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALLY#NYSE">ALLY</a>) CFO Russ Hutchinson said.
This worried investors because car payments are usually the last bills to go delinquent because cars are needed for transportation.
The average interest rate on a 60-month loan for a new car was 8.2% as of May, according to Fed data, up from 5.3% in 2019.&nbsp;
Over the past year, roughly 8% of auto loans turned delinquent, according to the New York Fed, the highest rate in over a decade. 
Price Action: Consumer-lending companies trended upward into Tuesday&#8217;s early afternoon trading.
<ul>
<li>Enova International Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ENVA#NYSE">ENVA</a>) rose 3.48% to $83.32</li>
<li>Qifu Techhnology, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QFIN#NASDAQ">QFIN</a>) gained 1.02% to $25.17</li>
<li>Regional Management Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RM#NYSE">RM</a>) went up 2.4% to $33.25</li>
</ul>
Car-loan providers also rose on Tuesday.
<ul>
<li>Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>) inched up 0.93% to $39.47</li>
<li>Ally Financial gained 2.42% to $33.83</li>
<li>Capital One Financial Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COF#NYSE">COF</a>) picked up 3.13% to $145.36</li>
</ul>
Read Now: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/23/09/34443643/consumer-confidence-wavers-will-retail-stocks-face-a-reckoning">Consumer Confidence Wavers: Will Retail Stocks Face A Reckoning?</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

Economics

Personal Finance

ALLY

ENVA

QFIN

Not Paying Your Bills? Wall Street Worries That Too Many Credit Card Balances Are Turning Delinquent

Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>) shares are trading higher on Tuesday. The bank appointed two executives to spearhead a new initiative aimed at integrating its investment banking and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/wealth-management">wealth management divisions</a>.
The bank targets increased asset growth and deal opportunities, as <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-09-16/bofa-names-leaders-to-better-align-investment-bank-wealth-units?sref=TBDibEcD" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported </a>Bloomberg.
Jim Rourke and Michael Liu have been appointed to&nbsp;lead the newly named Private Client Partnership Development.
Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/09/40729471/bank-of-america-makes-largest-ever-investments-in-carbon-capture-bets-205m-on-a-cleaner-planet-r" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bank Of America Makes Largest-Ever Investments In Carbon Capture, Bets $205M On A Cleaner Planet</a>
Brendan Hanley&nbsp;and&nbsp;Sam Kumar, co-heads of emerging growth and regional coverage, stated that Rourke and Liu will focus on sell-side M&amp;A opportunities to "increase the quality of actionable mandates and growth of managed assets,".
This month, the bank announced a bold wage hike, driving its minimum hourly rate&nbsp;to $24 and<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/09/40792082/whats-going-on-with-bank-of-america-stock-on-tuesday" rel="noreferrer noopener"> edging closer to a $25 goal by 2025</a>.
This increase will raise the minimum annual salary for full-time U.S. employees to almost $50,000 and applies to all full-time and part-time hourly roles.
Investors can gain access to the stock via&nbsp;First Trust Nasdaq Bank ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FTXO#NASDAQ">FTXO</a>)&nbsp;and&nbsp;Invesco KBW Bank ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KBWB#NASDAQ">KBWB</a>).
Price Action: BAC shares are up 0.30% at $39.22 premarket at the last check Tuesday.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/09/40886945/if-fed-cuts-interest-rates-credit-card-aprs-are-still-going-to-be-high-for-now-econ" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">If Fed Cuts Interest Rates, Credit Card APRs &#8216;Are Still Going To Be High&#8217; For Now, Economist Says</a></li>
</ul>

Management

FTXO

KBWB

Bank Of America Appoints Executives To Lead New Venture: Report

Deep-pocketed investors have adopted a bearish approach towards Bank of America (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>), and it's something market players shouldn't ignore. Our tracking of public options records at Benzinga unveiled this significant move today. The identity of these investors remains unknown, but such a substantial move in BAC usually suggests something big is about to happen.
We gleaned this information from our observations today when Benzinga's options scanner highlighted 11 extraordinary options activities for Bank of America. This level of activity is out of the ordinary.
The general mood among these heavyweight investors is divided, with 18% leaning bullish and 81% bearish. Among these notable options, 7 are puts, totaling $342,835, and 4 are calls, amounting to $315,220.
<h3>Expected Price Movements</h3>
Analyzing the Volume and Open Interest in these contracts, it seems that the big players have been eyeing a price window from $34.0 to $41.0 for Bank of America during the past quarter. 
<h3>Insights into Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
Assessing the volume and open interest is a strategic step in options trading. These metrics shed light on the liquidity and investor interest in Bank of America's options at specified strike prices. The forthcoming data visualizes the fluctuation in volume and open interest for both calls and puts, linked to Bank of America's substantial trades, within a strike price spectrum from $34.0 to $41.0 over the preceding 30 days.
<h3>Bank of America Option Volume And Open Interest Over Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1726581695_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Biggest Options Spotted:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>BAC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$5.85</td>
<td>$5.8</td>
<td>$5.85</td>
<td>$35.00</td>
<td>$151.5K</td>
<td>407</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">300</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BAC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$6.95</td>
<td>$6.85</td>
<td>$6.95</td>
<td>$34.00</td>
<td>$110.5K</td>
<td>1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BAC</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$2.75</td>
<td>$2.7</td>
<td>$2.75</td>
<td>$41.00</td>
<td>$50.3K</td>
<td>1.4K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">195</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BAC</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$2.75</td>
<td>$2.7</td>
<td>$2.74</td>
<td>$41.00</td>
<td>$50.2K</td>
<td>1.4K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">195</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BAC</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>11/15/24</td>
<td>$2.46</td>
<td>$2.43</td>
<td>$2.46</td>
<td>$41.00</td>
<td>$49.2K</td>
<td>3.0K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">200</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Bank of America</h3>
Bank of America is one of the largest financial institutions in the United States, with more than $3.0 trillion in assets. It is organized into four major segments: consumer banking, global wealth and investment management, global banking, and global markets. Bank of America's consumer-facing lines of business include its network of branches and deposit-gathering operations, retail lending products, credit and debit cards, and small-business services. The company's Merrill Lynch operations provide brokerage and wealth-management services, as does its private bank. Wholesale lines of business include investment banking, corporate and commercial real estate lending, and capital markets operations. Bank of America has operations in several countries but is primarily US-focused.
In light of the recent options history for Bank of America, it's now appropriate to focus on the company itself. We aim to explore its current performance.
<h3>Present Market Standing of Bank of America</h3>
<ul>
<li>Trading volume stands at 1,472,951, with BAC's price up by 1.1%, positioned at $39.53.</li>
<li>RSI indicators show the stock to be may be approaching overbought.</li>
<li>Earnings announcement expected in 28 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Expert Opinions on Bank of America</h3>
Over the past month, 1 industry analysts have shared their insights on this stock, proposing an average target price of $45.0.
<ul>
<li>An analyst from Deutsche Bank upgraded its action to Buy with a price target of $45. </li>
</ul>
Options trading presents higher risks and potential rewards. Astute traders manage these risks by continually educating themselves, adapting their strategies, monitoring multiple indicators, and keeping a close eye on market movements. Stay informed about the latest Bank of America options trades with real-time alerts from <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a>.

Options

Unpacking the Latest Options Trading Trends in Bank of America

Consumers&#8217; wallets should get some relief if the<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/09/40882613/builders-first-source-other-homebuilder-stocks-rise-with-catalysts-such-as-mortgage"> Federal Reserve lowers rates</a> this week, but it won&#8217;t be a huge help, according to Benjamin Ayers, senior economist with Nationwide Insurance (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NWFAX#NASDAQ">NWFAX</a>).
&#8220;It should put some downward pressure on auto rates, mortgage rates, loan rates, but on the other side of the coin, it should put upward pressure on CD rates and saving rates that you get out there,&#8221; Ayers told Benzinga.
Lowering the Fed interest rate by only 25 or 50 basis points will not mean much for consumers in the short term, he adds.
&#8220;It&#8217;s nice but if you can&#8217;t afford a mortgage at the current level, that&#8217;s not going to change if it goes down by 25 basis points. It&#8217;s more kind of the start of a process,&#8221; he said.
&#8220;Six months, a year, 18 months from now, you&#8217;re going to see much lower rates, and that&#8217;ll really help to juice things, but in the near term, it&#8217;s going to have a pretty negligible impact for most people,&#8221; Ayers says.
A rate cut of 25 or 50 basis points doesn&#8217;t mean rates that affect consumers&#8217; wallets will drop expectedly, said Matt Schulz, LendingTree, Inc.&#8216;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TREE#NASDAQ">TREE</a>) chief credit analyst.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40763384/federal-reserves-potential-rate-cut-pause-jpmorgans-stock-market-warning-and-more-this-week-in-econo">Federal Reserve&#8217;s Potential Rate Cut Pause, JPMorgan&#8217;s Stock Market Warning, And More: This Week In Economics</a>
&#8220;While lower rates are certainly a good thing for those struggling with debt, the truth is that this one rate cut isn't really going to make much of a difference for most people,&#8221; he said.
&#8220;It doesn't change the fact that the best thing people can do to lower interest rates is to take matters into their own hands.&#8221;
He said the average rate on a new credit card offer should stay at a record high of 24.92% for some time if the Fed lowers rates.
&#8220;While they'll almost certainly fall from record highs in coming months, no one should expect dramatically reduced credit card bills anytime soon,&#8221; he said.
&#8220;Barring the Fed unexpectedly stomping on the gas pedal when it comes to lowering rates, credit card APRs are still going to be high for the foreseeable future.&#8221;
A $5,000 credit card balance would take 27 months and $1,528 in interest to pay off at 24.92% if monthly payments of $250 were made. If the interest rate went down by 0.25% because of a 0.25% Fed rate cut, the interest paid over 27 months would fall by $22, resulting in savings of less than a dollar a month, Schulz noted.
Schulz said auto loan rates will get lower, too, if the Fed reduces rates, but consumers should still shop around for financing from other places besides dealerships because their rates are typically much higher.
Saving rates have already started falling and may keep doing so, but consumers don&#8217;t need to panic, he said.
&#8220;Yields aren't going to fall off a cliff immediately after the Fed cuts rates,&#8221; he said.
Price Action: Mortgage lenders and credit card companies trended upward into Monday&#8217;s late-afternoon trading.
<ul>
<li>Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>) rose 1.31% to $39.15</li>
<li>Rocket Companies, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RKT#NYSE">RKT</a>) gained 3.87% to $20.38</li>
<li>Discover Financial Services (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DFS#NYSE">DFS</a>) went up 1.98% to $133.93</li>
<li>Capital One Financial Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COF#NYSE">COF</a>) went up 1.82% to $141.50</li>
</ul>
Read Now:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/09/40879982/with-fed-rate-cuts-imminent-heres-which-crypto-sector-could-benefit-the-most-according-to-">With Fed Rate Cuts Imminent, Here&#8217;s Which Crypto Sector Could Benefit The Most, According To Bernstein</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

Analyst Color

NWFAX

If Fed Cuts Interest Rates, Credit Card APRs 'Are Still Going To Be High' For Now, Economist Says

Bank of America Corporation announced today that it will redeem on October 1, 2024, all $1,750,000,000 principal amount outstanding of its 3.093% Fixed/Floating Rate Senior Notes, due October 2025 (CUSIP No. 06051GGT0) (the "Notes"), at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date of October 1, 2024. Interest on the Notes will cease to accrue on the redemption date.

Bank of America Announces Redemption Of $1.75B 3.093% Fixed/Floating Rate Senior Notes, Due October 2025

Homeowners have more <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/real-estate/24/06/39398524/home-sales-suffer-third-worst-month-in-the-last-10-years">real estate equity </a>than ever before, according to data from the federal government and an investment group.
Total homeowner&#8217;s equity in the U.S. reached $35.1 trillion in this year&#8217;s second quarter, data from the Federal Reserve <a href="https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/OEHRENWBSHNO">showed</a>.
It fell as low as $29.8 trillion in the last quarter of 2022, but that is way above a most recent low of $8.22 trillion in the first quarter of 2012, according to the Fed data. 
Homeowner&#8217;s equity has skyrocketed 15,845% over the past seven decades from $219 billion in 1951.
Another indicator of homeowner wealth is that households have the least mortgage debt relative to their property value in almost 70 years as homes appreciate in value and homeowners pay down their mortgages, according to data from Bespoke Investment Group.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/real-estate/24/06/39465243/u-s-home-sales-decline-for-third-month-as-record-prices-pose-persistent-affordability-challenges-dur">U.S. Home Sales Decline For Third Month As Record Prices Pose Persistent Affordability Challenges During Key Selling Season</a>
Household mortgage debt as a percentage of real estate value has halved from 53% in December 2011 to 27.3% in 2021.
&#8220;Consumer balance sheets are rock solid, which is another reason to question the narrative of impending recession,&#8221; Bespoke said.
Mortgage rates fell to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/24/09/40843840/mortgage-rates-fall-to-lowest-level-since-february-2023">their lowest point</a> in more than 18 months last week. That&#8217;s encouraging homebuyers to refinance the amount they have left to pay on their home loans.
The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances ($766,550 or less) decreased to 6.29 percent from 6.43 percent, marking the sixth straight week in declining rates, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA).
Price Action: Mortgage lenders saw losses and gains into Friday&#8217;s early-afternoon trading.
<ul>
<li>Rocket Companies Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RKT#NYSE">RKT</a>) rose 6.11% to $19.90</li>
<li>Bank of America (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>) slipped 0.46% to $38.60</li>
<li>Better Home &amp; Finance Holding Company (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BETR#NASDAQ">BETR</a>) gained 1.04% to $16.50</li>
</ul>
Read Now: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/24/08/40549967/two-things-the-latest-home-sales-numbers-say-about-the-real-estate-market">Two Things The Latest Home Sales Numbers Say About The Real Estate Market</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Pixabay

BETR

Homeowners Have Never Been Richer, Data Shows: 'Another Reason To Question Recession Narrative'

Ajit Jain, a key figure at Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>) (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>) since 1986, has sold more than half of his shares in the company. Jain sold 200 Berkshire Class A shares on Monday for approximately $139 million.
What Happened: This sale represents around 55% of Jain&#8217;s total stake in the conglomerate. He now retains 61 Berkshire shares personally, 55 shares in a family trust, and 50 in the Jain Foundation. The shares were sold at an average price of $695,417.65 each, <a href="https://fortune.com/2024/09/12/berkshire-hathaway-stock-warren-buffetts-insurance-guru-ajit-jain-sells-why/">reported</a> the Fortune.
Jain&#8217;s decision to sell remains unclear, but Steve Check, president and CIO of Check Capital Management speculated it might be due to the stock being fully priced. Berkshire Hathaway&#8217;s stock has surged nearly 23% year to date, surpassing a $1 trillion market cap for the first time.
&#8220;The only reason I can come up with for why he is selling is he thinks the stock is fully priced,&#8221; Check said. 
Tax considerations could also be a factor. Check suggested Jain might be taking advantage of current capital gains tax rates, which could increase if Vice President Kamala Harris&#8216;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40722526/kamala-harris-reveals-28-capital-gains-tax-for-high-earners-toning-down-bidens-proposed-rates-ahead">proposed policies are implemented</a>.
Jain has been instrumental in building Berkshire&#8217;s insurance businesses, which significantly contribute to the conglomerate&#8217;s revenue and earnings.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/09/40811837/how-to-earn-500-a-month-from-nvidia-stock?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">How To Earn $500 A Month From Nvidia Stock</a>
Why It Matters: Jain&#8217;s share sale comes at a time when Warren Buffett is making significant moves in the market. Recently, Buffett&#8217;s $13 billion investment in Occidental Petroleum has faced challenges, with <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/09/40848034/warren-buffett-13b-bet-on-occidental-petroleum-turns-sour-as-shares-plunge-29-since-mid-april-an">shares plunging 29% since mid-April</a>. This has led to speculation that Buffett might buy more shares, although he is unlikely to take over the company.
Additionally, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40805571/bank-of-america-ceo-on-buffetts-share-retreat-i-dont-know-what-exactly-he-is-doing-we-cant-ask">Buffett has been reducing his stake</a> in Bank of America, selling nearly $7 billion worth of shares since mid-July. This has raised questions about his investment strategy, with Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan stating, &#8220;I don&#8217;t know what exactly he is doing because frankly we can&#8217;t ask.&#8221;
Jain&#8217;s sale also follows his recent caution on the profitability of cyber insurance. At the Berkshire Hathaway <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/05/38631112/berkshire-hathaways-ajit-jain-cautions-on-cyber-insurance-amid-risks-each-time-you-write-a-cyber-in">annual shareholder meeting</a> in May, Jain warned that cyber insurance, despite being a $10 billion market, poses significant risks and potential losses.
Buffett has previously praised Jain&#8217;s contributions to Berkshire Hathaway, stating in his <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/content/37328038/warren-buffett-says-his-company-wouldnt-have-been-the-same-without-this-iit-grad">annual letter to shareholders</a> that the company&#8217;s position would not be what it is today without Jain, who joined in 1986. Buffett highlighted Jain&#8217;s role in building the company&#8217;s insurance business, which has been a cornerstone of Berkshire&#8217;s success.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/09/40808758/bitcoin-bull-mike-novogratz-on-trump-harris-debate-she-smoked-him-max-keiser-says-everybod?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bitcoin Bull Mike Novogratz On Trump-Harris Debate: &#8216;She Smoked Him&#8217; — Max Keiser Says &#8216;Everybody Knows The War Is Over&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Image via Shutterstock
This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/Kaustubh-Bagalkote" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kaustubh Bagalkote</a>

Warren Buffett's Top Executive Ajit Jain Sells Over Half His Berkshire Hathaway Stake For $139M Amid Speculation On Stock Valuation And Kamala Harris's Tax Policies

Shares of Occidental Petroleum (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OXY#NYSE">OXY</a>) have plummeted 29% since mid-April, impacting Warren Buffett&#8216;s substantial investment in the company.
What Happened: Chris Bloomstran, fund manager at Semper Augustus, suggested that while Buffett might buy more shares, he is unlikely to take over the company. Bloomstran noted that Buffett prefers Occidental to initiate a stock buyback program, which CEO Vicki Hollub has said will only happen after significant debt reduction, Business Insider <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/warren-buffett-berkshire-hathaway-occidental-petroleum-stock-oil-price-drop-2024-9#:~:text=Occidental%20Petroleum%20shares%20have%20dropped,about%20dema">reported</a> on Friday.
&#8220;I wouldn&#8217;t rule out a purchase of additional shares,&#8221; Bloomstran said, according to the report. 
Further compounding the issue, Buffett holds warrants to buy an additional 83.5 million shares at a strike price of $59.62, nearly 20% above the current market price, according to Bloomstran.
The decline in Occidental&#8217;s stock price aligns with a 23% drop in crude oil prices, driven by concerns over demand and excess supply. Berkshire Hathaway&#8216;s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>) (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>) $13 billion investment in Occidental Petroleum is now potentially underwater.
Buffett&#8217;s conglomerate has been accumulating shares of Occidental since early 2022, with a significant buying spree in June at around $60 per share. Currently, Berkshire owns a 29% stake in the oil producer.
The $55-$60 price range had previously acted as a support level for Occidental&#8217;s stock since Buffett began his purchases, but this floor has now been breached for the first time in over two years.
According to HedgeFollowe, Berkshire Hathaway&#8217;s average purchase price for its stake is estimated at $51.22 per share, slightly above the current trading price.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/09/40825182/anthony-scaramucci-said-last-week-bitcoin-could-touch-up-to-200k-now-hes-thanking-living-l?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Anthony Scaramucci Said Last Week Bitcoin Could Touch Up to $200K, Now He&#8217;s Thanking &#8216;Living Legend&#8217; Mich</a>
Why It Matters: The setback for Buffett comes amid a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40805571/bank-of-america-ceo-on-buffetts-share-retreat-i-dont-know-what-exactly-he-is-doing-we-cant-ask">broader context of strategic shifts</a> and market movements. Recently, Bank of America (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>) CEO Brian Moynihan commented on Buffett&#8217;s reduction of his stake in the bank, noting that Buffett has been a stabilizing force but has sold nearly $7 billion in shares since mid-July.
Buffett has been <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/opinion/24/09/40778693/three-stocks-warren-buffett-is-selling-as-a-recession-nears">selling shares in several companies</a>, including Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) and Bank of America, as economic uncertainties loom.
Despite these challenges, Buffett&#8217;s investment acumen remains highly regarded. On his 94th birthday, Berkshire Hathaway <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/education/24/08/40652464/warren-buffett-celebrates-94th-birthday-with-1-trillion-market-cap-milestone-a-look-back-at-hig">reached a $1 trillion market cap milestone</a>, underscoring his long-term success. 
However, even Buffett has <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/startups/24/09/40693497/warren-buffett-admitted-he-was-too-dumb-and-an-idiot-for-not-investing-in-amazon-early-on-but-finall">admitted to missed opportunities</a>, such as his late investment in Amazon.com Inc.
Back in the mid-1990s, when Amazon was just an online bookstore with big dreams, Buffett had the chance to invest. He also passed on buying shares during Amazon&#8217;s IPO in 1997. 
Reflecting on this now, Buffett doesn&#8217;t shy away from admitting his mistake. &#8220;I was too dumb to realize&#8221; the potential of Amazon and its visionary founder, Jeff Bezos, he&#8217;s said, with his usual blend of humility and humor. 
Action Price: Occidental Petroleum&#8217;s stock is trading at $50.99, up 0.65% on Thursday. However, year to date, the stock has dropped by 15.09%, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">data from Benzinga Pro</a>.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40743718/mark-cuban-says-kamala-harris-is-simply-doing-what-trump-did-in-2016-its-her-party-she-gets-to-set-t?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mark Cuban Says Kamala Harris Is Simply Doing What Trump Did In 2016: &#8216;It&#8217;s Her Party. She Gets To Set The Rules&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Image Via Shutterstock 
This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/Kaustubh-Bagalkote" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kaustubh Bagalkote</a>

AAPL

Warren Buffett $13B Bet On Occidental Petroleum Turns Sour As Shares Plunge 29% Since Mid-April — Analyst Says He Could Buy More

BGC Group Inc., (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BGC#NASDAQ">BGC</a>) a financial services firm led by Cantor Fitzgerald CEO Howard Lutnick, plans to launch an exchange that will start trading <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/08/40423424/donald-trump-names-howard-lutnick-to-lead-transition-team-heres-what-it-means-for-crypto">secured overnight financing rate</a> (SOFR) futures on Sept. 23 on its new FMX Futures Exchange.
The SOFR is a benchmark interest rate for dollar-denominated derivatives and loans that replaced the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) in June 2023.
&#8220;I think we&#8217;re going to bring competition into the market and I&#8217;m jazzed, jazzed, jazzed,&#8221; Lutnick said in announcing the new exchange on Bloomberg Television on Wednesday.
 FMX Futures Exchange is a consortium backed by Bank of America Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>), Barclays (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BCS#NYSE">BCS</a>), Citadel Securities, Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/C#NYSE">C</a>), The Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GS#NYSE">GS</a>), J.P.Morgan Chase &amp; Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>), Morgan Stanley (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MS#NYSE">MS</a>), Jump Trading Group and Tower Research.
On April 25, these financial services companies together bought a 26% stake in FMX for $172 million, which valued the exchange at $667 million. BGC gave the partners an additional 10% stake contingent upon them hitting certain volume targets, Piper Sandler analyst Patrick Moley wrote in a note on Thursday.
Moley noted that FMX&#8217;s intent is to take some of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange&#8217;s (CME) total monopoly SOFR futures, which make up 30% to 40% of CME&#8217;s interest rate derivative volumes.
Read Also: <a href="https://editorial.benzinga.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=545008&amp;action=edit">Will Trump Body-Slam 2024 Election? New Transition Team Co-Chair Led WWE For Decades</a>
&#8220;We&#8217;re going to create a break in the monopoly built by the Chicago Mercantile Exchange,&#8221; Lutnick said Wednesday. &#8220;It&#8217;s so fun and it&#8217;s so exciting.&#8221;
FMX plans to start trading U.S. Treasury futures in next year&#8217;s first quarter.
FMX is not expected to take "meaningful" market share from CME in interest rate futures until the third year after its launch, Moley said.
&#8220;However, CEO Lutnick believes FMX will have record open interest for a new exchange at the end of year 1,&#8221; he wrote.
Moley said that CME CEO Terry Duffy believes that U.S. regulations will not allow FMX to succeed, given that trades will be cleared by LCH Group, a London-based clearing house.
But Lutnick disagrees with Duffy, Moley said. As a Commodity Futures Trading Commission-recognized organization, it will be clearing trades through a U.S. subsidiary on U.S. soil.
&#8220;Bottom line, FMX has all the regulatory approvals / registrations needed to launch on September 23rd,&#8221; Moley wrote.
&#8220;And while CEO Duffy believes the U.S. government / regulators will eventually intervene and possibly block FMX's use of clearing partner LCH (which we believe would ultimately lead to FMX failing to succeed in IR futures), there is no evidence to suggest this will occur at this point in time.&#8221;
BCG Price Action: BCG Group ticked up 0.11% to $9.26 into Thursday&#8217;s early afternoon trading.
Read Now:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/23/05/32120885/cantor-fitzgerald-discontinues-research-coverage-of-the-cannabis-sector">Cantor Fitzgerald Discontinues Research Coverage Of The Cannabis Sector</a></li>
</ul>

Futures

Treasuries

BGC Group To Trade Futures On New Exchange: CEO Lutnick Is 'Jazzed, Jazzed, Jazzed'

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders often look for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges away from its normal worth. Abnormal amounts of trading activity could push option prices to hyperbolic or underperforming levels. 
Below are some instances of options activity happening in the Financials sector: 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>PGR</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/20/24</td>
<td>$255.00</td>
<td>$399.7K</td>
<td>1.6K</td>
<td>2.1K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>HOOD</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$21.00</td>
<td>$37.8K</td>
<td>4.1K</td>
<td>1.6K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>COIN</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$200.00</td>
<td>$37.0K</td>
<td>2.3K</td>
<td>917</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CRBG</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$26.00</td>
<td>$33.5K</td>
<td>619</td>
<td>767</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>IVZ</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$15.00</td>
<td>$47.3K</td>
<td>727</td>
<td>412</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BAC</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$45.00</td>
<td>$122.0K</td>
<td>1.1K</td>
<td>203</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MA</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$500.00</td>
<td>$50.4K</td>
<td>128</td>
<td>64</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BK</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$75.00</td>
<td>$26.7K</td>
<td>45</td>
<td>60</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BX</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$100.00</td>
<td>$242.5K</td>
<td>351</td>
<td>53</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>GS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>12/18/26</td>
<td>$410.00</td>
<td>$34.1K</td>
<td>65</td>
<td>6</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These itemized elaborations have been created using the accompanying table. 
• For PGR (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PGR#NYSE">PGR</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 8 day(s) on September 20, 2024. This event was a transfer of 1950 contract(s) at a $255.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $399.7K, with a price of $205.0 per contract. There were 1673 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 2110 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For HOOD (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HOOD#NASDAQ">HOOD</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 36 day(s) on October 18, 2024. This event was a transfer of 200 contract(s) at a $21.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 9 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $37.8K, with a price of $189.0 per contract. There were 4126 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1655 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For COIN (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COIN#NASDAQ">COIN</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 99 day(s) on December 20, 2024. This event was a transfer of 28 contract(s) at a $200.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $37.0K, with a price of $1324.0 per contract. There were 2314 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 917 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding CRBG (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRBG#NYSE">CRBG</a>), we observe a put option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 36 day(s) on October 18, 2024. Parties traded 479 contract(s) at a $26.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 31 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $33.5K, with a price of $70.0 per contract. There were 619 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 767 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For IVZ (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IVZ#NYSE">IVZ</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be neutral, expiring in 36 day(s) on October 18, 2024. This event was a transfer of 412 contract(s) at a $15.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 3 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $47.3K, with a price of $115.0 per contract. There were 727 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 412 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding BAC (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>), we observe a put option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 127 day(s) on January 17, 2025. Parties traded 200 contract(s) at a $45.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $122.0K, with a price of $610.0 per contract. There were 1151 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 203 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For MA (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MA#NYSE">MA</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be neutral, expiring in 99 day(s) on December 20, 2024. This event was a transfer of 22 contract(s) at a $500.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $50.4K, with a price of $2291.0 per contract. There were 128 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 64 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding BK (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BK#NYSE">BK</a>), we observe a call option trade with neutral sentiment. It expires in 491 day(s) on January 16, 2026. Parties traded 50 contract(s) at a $75.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $26.7K, with a price of $535.0 per contract. There were 45 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 60 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For BX (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BX#NYSE">BX</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 281 day(s) on June 20, 2025. This event was a transfer of 50 contract(s) at a $100.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $242.5K, with a price of $4850.0 per contract. There were 351 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 53 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For GS (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GS#NYSE">GS</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 827 day(s) on December 18, 2026. This event was a transfer of 3 contract(s) at a $410.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $34.1K, with a price of $11370.0 per contract. There were 65 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 6 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more news on unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

COIN

CRBG

HOOD

10 Financials Stocks Whale Activity In Today's Session

Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>) (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>) has been steadily trimming its stake in Bank of America Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>), selling off $7.2 billion worth <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/24/09/40750695/warren-buffett-trims-bank-of-america-stake-analysts-speculate-why">of shares since mid-July.</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Warren Buffet Has Been Trimming Stake In BAC</h2>
Following the <a href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/70858/000095017024105263/xslF345X05/ownership.xml">sale</a> of 5.8 million shares for $228.7 million at an average price of $39.45 on Friday, Monday and Tuesday, Berkshire Hathaway's stake in Bank of America has decreased to approximately 11% of the company's total shares. Despite this reduction, Berkshire remains BAC's largest shareholder and trails behind Apple Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) and American Express Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AXP#NYSE">AXP</a>) in Berkshire&#8217;s top holdings.
Despite this aggressive selling spree, which has stretched over 12 consecutive sessions, Bank of America stock has only dipped about 1% since July. Year-to-date, however, the stock has gained 16.7%, slightly outperforming the S&amp;P 500.
While some investors may see Buffett's move as a red flag, others might interpret the pullback as a buying opportunity. After all, Bank of America's fundamentals remain strong, and CEO Brian Moynihan seems unbothered by the Oracle of Omaha's recent sales.
At a recent conference, Moynihan reiterated his admiration for Buffett's savvy 2011 investment, which helped shore up the bank during a time of crisis. 
"He's been a great investor for our company and stabilized it when we needed it," Moynihan said.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40805571/bank-of-america-ceo-on-buffetts-share-retreat-i-dont-know-what-exactly-he-is-doing-we-cant-ask">Bank Of America CEO On Buffett&#8217;s Share Retreat: &#8216;I Don&#8217;t Know What Exactly He Is Doing &#8230; We Can&#8217;t Ask&#8217;</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Technicals: Bearish Now, Bullish Signs Emerging?</h2>
Currently, Bank of America's technicals are flashing mixed signals. The stock is trading at $39.06, below its five-day, 20-day and 50-day moving averages, signaling a bearish short-term outlook. 
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent091224&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="631" height="456" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/12113641/Screenshot-2024-09-12-at-9.05.34-PM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-545084" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/12113641/Screenshot-2024-09-12-at-9.05.34-PM.png 631w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/12113641/Screenshot-2024-09-12-at-9.05.34-PM-300x217.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 631px) 100vw, 631px" /></a></figure>
<a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent091224&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">Chart created using Benzinga Pro</a>
Specifically, the eight-day and the 20-day SMAs at $39.58, point to more potential selling pressure. The stock trading below the 50-day SMA of $40.18 further indicates medium-term bearishness.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent091224&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="631" height="456" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/12113641/Screenshot-2024-09-12-at-9.05.52-PM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-545085" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/12113641/Screenshot-2024-09-12-at-9.05.52-PM.png 631w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/12113641/Screenshot-2024-09-12-at-9.05.52-PM-300x217.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 631px) 100vw, 631px" /></a></figure>
<a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent091224&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">Chart created using Benzinga Pro</a>
Meanwhile, the MACD at a negative 0.10 indicates bearish momentum, and the RSI of 45.08 suggests that BAC stock is neither overbought nor oversold.
However, long-term investors might see a glimmer of hope. With the stock price still above its 200-day moving average of $36.82, there&#8217;s a bullish case to be made for a potential rebound.
As Buffett continues to reduce his stake, the key question remains: Is Bank of America still a &#8220;great investment&#8221; stock, or is it time to move on?
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40760724/warren-buffett-reveals-how-to-increase-your-worth-by-at-least-50-you-can-have-all-the-brainpower-in">Warren Buffett Reveals How To Increase Your Worth By &#8216;At Least&#8217; 50%: &#8216;You Can Have All The Brainpower In The World, But You Have To Be Able To&#8230;&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

Technicals

Trading Ideas

Warren Buffett Sells More Bank Of America Stock: Should You Follow His Lead Or Invest Further?

JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>) and Bank of America Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>) are implementing new measures to monitor and limit junior bankers&#8217; work hours.
What Happened: Both banks are responding to a detailed report on the hazardous overwork culture in investment banking. The Wall Street Journal <a href="https://www.wsj.com/finance/banking/bank-america-jpmorgan-overtime-work-hours-f9f204a7?mod=hp_lead_pos1">investigation</a> revealed that junior bankers at Bank of America were often instructed to falsify their work hours to avoid surpassing limits.
JPMorgan Chase will now impose an 80-hour weekly cap on junior investment bankers&#8217; hours, a first for the bank. Exceptions will be made for certain situations, such as live deals, according to the report. 
Bank of America, on the other hand, is introducing a new timekeeping tool requiring junior bankers to log their hours daily and provide detailed information about their tasks and supervisors, according to the report which cited people familiar with the matter.
The changes come after the tragic death of a 35-year-old Bank of America associate, Leo Lukenas III, who had been working multiple 100-hour weeks. His death, caused by a blood clot, sparked an outcry about the lack of employee protections in the banking industry.
JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon mentioned in May that the bank was examining what could be learned from Lukenas&#8217;s death. The new guidelines have been communicated to staff in recent weeks. Bank of America had already capped hours but found that these guidelines were often violated. The new reporting tool will go live next week, according to the report.
JPMorgan and Bank of America did not immediately respond to&nbsp;<a href="http://pro.benzinga.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga</a>'s request for comment.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40767879/veteran-pollster-weighs-in-on-new-trump-vs-harris-poll-that-shows-ex-president-closing-in-if-you-sup?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Veteran Pollster Weighs In On New Trump Vs. Harris Poll That Shows Ex-President Closing In</a>
Why It Matters: The issue of overwork is not new in the corporate world. Prominent figures like Elon Musk have <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/03/37594114/elon-musk-once-stated-nobody-ever-changed-the-world-on-40-hours-a-week-but-now-the-average-emplo">often emphasized</a> the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/03/37594114/elon-musk-once-stated-nobody-ever-changed-the-world-on-40-hours-a-week-but-now-the-average-emplo">necessity of long hours for success</a>. Musk once stated, &#8220;Nobody ever changed the world on 40 hours a week,&#8221; highlighting the culture of overwork.
Similarly, Amazon.com Inc. founder Jeff Bezos has criticized the term &#8220;work-life balance,&#8221; calling it a &#8220;debilitating phrase.&#8221; Bezos advocates for &#8220;work-life harmony,&#8221; suggesting that the concept of balance implies a strict trade-off that <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/24/06/39383085/for-jeff-bezos-work-life-balance-is-debilitating-but-also-doesnt-want-to-be-the-guy-who-drains-all-t">may not be realistic</a> in high-pressure environments.
However, there are contrasting views. Warren Buffett has argued that anyone <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/07/39817447/warren-buffett-says-anyone-who-works-40-hours-a-week-should-live-a-decent-life-heres-what-he-pro">working a 40-hour week</a> should be able to live a decent life. Buffett&#8217;s stance underscores a growing concern about income inequality and the need for a fairer system where hard work translates into financial stability.
Industry legends like the late Apple Inc. co-founder Steve Jobs have been known for <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/03/31210238/bill-gates-says-steve-jobs-would-to-overwork-people-it-wasnt-a-perfect-thing">overworking their employees</a>. Microsoft Corp. co-founder Bill Gates once noted that Jobs would overwork people, pointing out that while Jobs was a unique and inspiring leader, his approach was not without flaws.
&#8220;He would overwork people, so it wasn&#8217;t a perfect thing, but Steve was amazing, I learned a lot from him,&#8221; Gates said.&nbsp;
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/09/40808813/after-kamala-harris-said-us-steel-should-remain-american-owned-nippon-steels-takahiro-mori-reportedl?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">After Kamala Harris Said US Steel Should Remain &#8216;American-Owned,&#8217; Nippon Steel&#8217;s Takahiro Mori Reportedly Flies To US For Final Attempt At Saving $15B Deal</a></li>
</ul>
Image via Unsplash
This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/Kaustubh-Bagalkote" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kaustubh Bagalkote</a>

Wall Street Banks Enforce 80-Hour Weekly Limit For Junior Bankers As JPMorgan And Bank Of America Address Overworking Issues Following Tragic Incident: Report

Deep-pocketed investors have adopted a bullish approach towards Bank of America (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>), and it's something market players shouldn't ignore. Our tracking of public options records at Benzinga unveiled this significant move today. The identity of these investors remains unknown, but such a substantial move in BAC usually suggests something big is about to happen.
We gleaned this information from our observations today when Benzinga's options scanner highlighted 13 extraordinary options activities for Bank of America. This level of activity is out of the ordinary.
The general mood among these heavyweight investors is divided, with 53% leaning bullish and 30% bearish. Among these notable options, 5 are puts, totaling $1,168,683, and 8 are calls, amounting to $1,270,536.
<h3>Predicted Price Range</h3>
Taking into account the Volume and Open Interest on these contracts, it appears that whales have been targeting a price range from $35.0 to $50.0 for Bank of America over the last 3 months. 
<h3>Analyzing Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
Looking at the volume and open interest is a powerful move while trading options. This data can help you track the liquidity and interest for Bank of America's options for a given strike price. Below, we can observe the evolution of the volume and open interest of calls and puts, respectively, for all of Bank of America's whale trades within a strike price range from $35.0 to $50.0 in the last 30 days. 
<h3>Bank of America Option Activity Analysis: Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1726076923_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Significant Options Trades Detected:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>BAC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$1.18</td>
<td>$1.15</td>
<td>$1.16</td>
<td>$42.00</td>
<td>$870.0K</td>
<td>24.8K</td>
<td>7.5K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BAC</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$2.19</td>
<td>$2.16</td>
<td>$2.16</td>
<td>$38.00</td>
<td>$864.0K</td>
<td>23.9K</td>
<td>4.2K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BAC</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$2.39</td>
<td>$2.36</td>
<td>$2.37</td>
<td>$40.00</td>
<td>$118.5K</td>
<td>8.1K</td>
<td>560</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BAC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$1.89</td>
<td>$1.87</td>
<td>$1.89</td>
<td>$40.00</td>
<td>$113.4K</td>
<td>67.3K</td>
<td>2.7K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BAC</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$2.08</td>
<td>$2.06</td>
<td>$2.08</td>
<td>$40.00</td>
<td>$104.0K</td>
<td>8.1K</td>
<td>2.2K</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Bank of America</h3>
Bank of America is one of the largest financial institutions in the United States, with more than $3.0 trillion in assets. It is organized into four major segments: consumer banking, global wealth and investment management, global banking, and global markets. Bank of America's consumer-facing lines of business include its network of branches and deposit-gathering operations, retail lending products, credit and debit cards, and small-business services. The company's Merrill Lynch operations provide brokerage and wealth-management services, as does its private bank. Wholesale lines of business include investment banking, corporate and commercial real estate lending, and capital markets operations. Bank of America has operations in several countries but is primarily US-focused.
Following our analysis of the options activities associated with Bank of America, we pivot to a closer look at the company's own performance.
<h3>Present Market Standing of Bank of America</h3>
<ul>
<li>Trading volume stands at 21,466,776, with BAC's price down by -1.78%, positioned at $38.58.</li>
<li>RSI indicators show the stock to be is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.</li>
<li>Earnings announcement expected in 34 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Professional Analyst Ratings for Bank of America</h3>
1 market experts have recently issued ratings for this stock, with a consensus target price of $45.0.
<ul>
<li>An analyst from Deutsche Bank upgraded its action to Buy with a price target of $45. </li>
</ul>
Trading options involves greater risks but also offers the potential for higher profits. Savvy traders mitigate these risks through ongoing education, strategic trade adjustments, utilizing various indicators, and staying attuned to market dynamics. Keep up with the latest options trades for Bank of America with <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> for real-time alerts.

Looking At Bank of America's Recent Unusual Options Activity

The Nasdaq 100 closed higher by over 150 points during Tuesday's session. Investors, meanwhile, focused on some notable insider trades.
When insiders sell shares, it could be a preplanned sale, or could indicate their concern in the company's prospects or that they view the stock as being overpriced. Insider sales should not be taken as the only indicator for making an investment or trading decision. At best, it can lend conviction to a selling decision.
Below is a look at a few recent notable insider sales. For more, check out <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/sec/insider-trades/">Benzinga&#8217;s insider transactions</a> platform.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Dell</h3>
<ul>
<li>The Trade: Dell Technologies Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DELL#NYSE">DELL</a>) CEO Michael S Dell <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/sec/insider-trades/">sold a total of 3,397,465 shares</a> at an average price of $106.37. The insider received around $361.4 million from selling those shares.</li>
<li>What's Happening: On Sept. 10, Susquehanna analyst Mehdi Hosseini initiated coverage on Dell Technologies with a Neutral rating and announced a price target of $120.</li>
<li>What Dell Does: Dell Technologies is a broad information technology vendor, primarily supplying hardware to enterprises.</li>
<li>Benzinga Pro's real-time newsfeed alerted to<a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent091124&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"> latest Dell news.</a> </li>
</ul>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent091124&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="895" height="826" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/11065707/image-82.png" alt="" class="wp-image-541879" style="width:672px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/11065707/image-82.png 895w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/11065707/image-82-300x277.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/11065707/image-82-768x709.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 895px) 100vw, 895px" /></a></figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Alphabet</h3>
<ul>
<li>The Trade: Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) VP, Chief Accounting Officer Amie Thuener O&#8217;Toole <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/sec/insider-trades/">sold a total of 2,835 shares</a> at an average price of $151.53. The insider received around $429,588 from selling those shares.</li>
<li>What's Happening: On Sept. 10, DA Davidson analyst Gil Luria initiated coverage on Alphabet with a Neutral rating and announced a price target of $170.</li>
<li>What Alphabet Does: Alphabet is a holding company that wholly owns internet giant Google.</li>
<li>Benzinga Pro&#8217;s charting tool helped identify the <a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent091124&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">trend in GOOGL stoc</a>k. </li>
</ul>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent091124&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="917" height="842" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/11065821/image-83.png" alt="" class="wp-image-541884" style="width:688px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/11065821/image-83.png 917w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/11065821/image-83-300x275.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/11065821/image-83-768x705.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 917px) 100vw, 917px" /></a></figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">NVIDIA</h3>
<ul>
<li>The Trade: NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) CEO and President Jen Hsun Huang <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/sec/insider-trades/">sold a total of 240,000 shares</a> at an average price of &nbsp;&nbsp; $104.35. The insider received around $25 million from selling those shares.</li>
<li>What's Happening: U.S. antitrust authorities have reportedly initiated an early-stage investigation into NVIDIA over its potential dominance in the artificial intelligence chip market.</li>
<li>What NVIDIA Does: Nvidia is a leading developer of graphics processing units. Traditionally, GPUs were used to enhance the experience on computing platforms, most notably in gaming applications on PCs. </li>
<li>Benzinga Pro&#8217;s signals feature notified of a potential <a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent091124&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">breakout in NVDA shares.</a> </li>
</ul>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent091124&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="895" height="843" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/11065917/image-84.png" alt="" class="wp-image-541887" style="width:676px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/11065917/image-84.png 895w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/11065917/image-84-300x283.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/11065917/image-84-768x723.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 895px) 100vw, 895px" /></a></figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Bank of America</h3>
<ul>
<li>The Trade: Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>) 10% owner Warren E Buffett s<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/sec/insider-trades/">old a total of 5,797,093 shares</a> at an average price of $39.45. The insider received around $228.7 million from selling those shares.</li>
<li>What's Happening: Bank of America announced that it has increased its U.S. minimum hourly wage to $24 per hour, the latest step in the company&#8217;s commitment to $25 by 2025.</li>
<li>What Bank of America Does: Bank of America is one of the largest financial institutions in the United States, with more than $3.0 trillion in assets. It is organized into four major segments: consumer banking, global wealth and investment management, global banking, and global markets.</li>
<li>Benzinga Pro's Insiders feature was used to track insider<a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent091124&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"> trading in BAC&#8217;s shares</a>. </li>
</ul>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent091124&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="807" height="848" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/11070017/image-1-23.png" alt="" class="wp-image-541892" style="width:592px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/11070017/image-1-23.png 807w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/11070017/image-1-23-285x300.png 285w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/11070017/image-1-23-768x807.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 807px) 100vw, 807px" /></a></figure>
Check This Out: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40792510/jim-cramer-says-aes-is-very-inexpensive-recommends-buying-this-industrial-stock">Jim Cramer Says AES Is &#8216;Very Inexpensive&#8217;, Recommends Buying This Industrial Stock</a></li>
</ul>

Short Ideas

Insider Trades

Pre-Market Outlook

DELL

GOOG

GOOGL

Nvidia, Alphabet And 2 Other Stocks Executives Are Selling

Bank of America Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>)&nbsp;CEO Brian Moynihan <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/09/40792082/whats-going-on-with-bank-of-america-stock-on-tuesday">praised Warren Buffett</a> on Tuesday as an investor in the company, but said he has not asked the legendary investor why he has lowered his position in Bank of America.
&#8220;He has been a great investor for our company, stabilized our company,&#8221; Moynihan said about Buffett during an investor conference in New York, Reuters reported. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know what exactly he is doing because frankly we can&#8217;t ask.&#8221;
Buffett&#8217;s Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>) the biggest shareholder in BofA,&nbsp;has been reducing its stake in the U.S. bank, making total share sales since mid-July of nearly $7 billion.
Berkshire&#8217;s stake in Bank of America stands at about 11.1%, according to LSEG data.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/education/24/09/40795866/warren-buffetts-sister-lost-every-game-of-monopoly-all-my-money-was-gone-but-she-says-she-train">Warren Buffett&#8217;s Sister Lost Every Game Of Monopoly — &#8216;All My Money Was Gone,&#8217; But She Says She &#8216;Trained Him To Be A Winner&#8217;</a>
Moynihan also discussed the proposed changes in capital rules after the Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell laid out a plan on Tuesday to raise big bank capital by 9%, significantly reducing an earlier proposal after intense Wall Street pushback.
Moynihan said the proposed changes are manageable for Bank of America, and it will keep buying back stock, but warned that higher capital requirements for large banks could reduce lending.
&#8220;If our capital goes up by 10%, it stops us from making $160 billion (in) loans we would otherwise make. Those loans would go to small businesses and middle-market companies at competitive rates,&#8221; he said.
Speaking about performance in the third quarter, he said investment banking revenue could be around $1.2 billion, a slight uptick from $1.18 billion in revenue posted in the same quarter a year earlier.
BAC Price Action: Bank of America fell 0.48% to close at $39.28 on Tuesday.
Exchange-traded funds that hold the stock also trended downward.
<ul>
<li>First Trust Nasdaq Bank ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FTXO#NASDAQ">FTXO</a>) fell 1.71%</li>
<li>Invesco KBW Bank ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KBWB#NASDAQ">KBWB</a>) slipped 1.83%</li>
<li>IShares U.S. Financial Services ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IYG#NYSE">IYG</a>) declined 1.11%</li>
</ul>
Read Now:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/24/09/40750695/warren-buffett-trims-bank-of-america-stake-analysts-speculate-why">Warren Buffett Trims Bank Of America Stake, Analysts Speculate Why</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Brian Moynihan, Bank of America at World Economic Forum (WEF), Courtesy WEF via <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/worldeconomicforum/52095722888/in/photolist-2nnwcqL-RdLSNL-RdLSFm-2nnw5nq-SrPEcd-RgrMo6-7z8ezp-E4BHQD-RdLSMU-RdLSyN-2nnwcc4-SrPEbw-RdLSKE-SrPEd5-2nnV7BY-RgrMka-brGbFG-Svu93D-2nnwcb2-SrPEbb-SrPE9h-2nnNBgZ-SrPEau-RdLSPC-nAFmrs-aZcfDv-R8p38P-2nnV7AL-2bXeSgX-2nnwc1h-brHePm-2nnwbW9-2bXeW4g-2nnxi6n-2bXeZA6-2kwL7x3-2nxZQGK-brKH3j-2nsCzDU-JLFmTp-2jF3WQC-aUGnoR-22CQiXy-6JF8ms-2nsDn2n-E4vGw8-2nWZRuR-bDD5W1-bDD6uo-2nX1NAZ">Flickr</a> Creative Commons

iShares Trust Dow Jones US Financial Services Index Fund

Bank Of America CEO On Buffett's Share Retreat: 'I Don't Know What Exactly He Is Doing ... We Can't Ask'

- Barclays 22nd Annual Global Financial Services Conference

BRK/A

BRK/B

Bank Of America CEO Says "We Can't Ask, We Wouldn't Ask" When Questioned If He Has Asked Buffett Why He Is Selling Bank's Shares

Bank of America: Why Valuation Matters

Bank of America announces redemption of $1.75B senior notes

3 Clear Signs Of A Market Bubble

Bank of America ($BAC) released a report today suggesting that investors are "nervous bulls" after the sentiment among global fund managers improve...

BofA: Investors Are Nervous despite Soft Landing Expectations

Unexpected news arose today for banking giant JPMorgan ($JPM), as it revealed a concern about junior bankers and their overall workload. It reveale...

JPMorgan (NYSE:JPM) Is Concerned About Junior Bankers' Workloads

Unexpected news arose from banking giant JPMorgan ($JPM) today, as it revealed a concern about junior bankers and their overall workload. As a refl...

JPMorgan (NYSE:JPM) Is Concerned About Junior Bankers' Workloads; CEO Comments On Rate Cuts

Citadel Securities decides against pursuing Fed dealer status - report

JPMorgan assigns banker to lead junior program amid work condition concerns - report

Bank of America Pfd Shs Series L declares $18.12 dividend

Bank of America Corp Depositary Shs Repr Non-Cum Perp Red Pfd Registered Shs Ser -HH- declares $0.3672 dividend

Screenshot 2024-06-24 at 9.48.04 PM

Commodities

Gold Prices Continue On An Uptrend – Is It The Right Time To Buy The Metal Now For Profits In 2024?

Press Releases

Bank of America Announces Redemption of €1.5 Billion of Floating Rate Senior Notes, Due August 24, 2025

Inaugural U.S. Latina GDP Report Finds Latinas Contribute $1.3 Trillion in GDP

Bank of America Forecasts Gold's Price Will Reach $3,000 In 2025

Peter K. Scaturro, Former Partner at Goldman Sachs Global Private Client and Former CEO of Citigroup Global Private Bank, joins Star Mountain Capital as Senior Advisor

BofA Raises U.S. Minimum Hourly Wage to $24, Increasing Starting Salary to Nearly $50K

Analysts Lower Oil Forecasts Amid Demand Slowdown

Bank of America Announces Redemption of $1,750,000,000 3.093% Fixed/Floating Rate Senior Notes, Due October 2025

The Masters Tournament Welcomes Bank of America as Champion Partner

Bank of America Announces Redemption of $2,000,000,000 0.981% Fixed/Floating Rate Senior Notes, Due September 2025

Dividends

Bank of America Declares Preferred Stock Dividends for Fourth Quarter 2024

Banco Bradesco Sa American Depositary Shares

Bank Bradesco

Banco Bradesco Sa American Depositary Shares (each representing one Common Share)

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. Common Stock

BBVA

Barclays

Banco Santander Brasil SA American Depositary Shares, each representing one unit

Banco Santander

Citigroup

First Citizens BancShares, Inc. - Class A Common Stock

First Citizens BancShares

Fifth Third Bancorp

HDFC Bank

HSBC Holdings

ICICI Bank

ING Groep

Itau Unibanco Banco Holding SA American Depositary Shares (Each repstg 500 Preferred shares)

Itau Unibanco Holding

JPMorgan Chase

KB Financial Group

Lloyds Banking Group Plc American Depositary Shares

Lloyds Banking Group

Mizuho Financial Group, Inc. Sponosred ADR (Japan)

Mizuho Financial Gr

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. Common Stock

Mitsubishi UFJ Finl Gr

Nu Holdings

NatWest Group plc American Depositary Shares, (each representing two (2) Ordinary Shares)

NatWest Group

PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (The) Common Stock

PNC Finl Servs Gr

Banco Santander, S.A. Sponsored ADR (Spain)

Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc Unsponsored American Depositary Shares (Japan)

Get Our Top Trade Ideas Delivered Daily - 65% Off Now

Get Our Top Trade Ideas Delivered Daily - 65% Off Now

Comments

Bank of America

Bank of America (BAC) Forecast

Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) Stock, Quote.Headers.trade-ideas