SoFi Weekly Income ETF

1933 Industries

<ul>
<li>General Motors Co&nbsp;(NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/gm#NYSE">GM</a>) has issued a new recall affecting 50,932 Model Year 2017-2019 Chevrolet Bolt vehicles due to fire risk.</li>
<li>National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said it is aware of one fire with the interim remedy and two fires with the final remedy.</li>
<li>The recall applies to all vehicles covered under the original recall announced in November 2020 and revised in May 2021, even if the owner has had the previous recall repairs completed.</li>
<li>GM had asked Bolt EV owners not to park their vehicles inside or charge them overnight following the fires.</li>
<li>The recall covers about 69,000 cars globally, including the recall in the U.S., the WSJ has reported.</li>
<li>GM has instructed the owners to set their vehicle to the 90% state of charge limitation either using Hilltop Reserve mode or Target Charge Level mode.</li>
<li>It has also asked owners to avoid running down the battery below an estimated remaining 70-mile range where possible.</li>
<li>NHTSA started an investigation in October and continues to evaluate the recall remedies and reported incidents, including fires.</li>
<li>Price action:&nbsp;GM shares are trading lower by 0.86% at $55.16 on the last check Friday.</li>
</ul>

News

Travel

Media

General

General Motors Recalls 2017-2019 Chevrolet Bolt Vehicles Due To Fire Risk Again

https://www.ebs.tga.gov.au/servlet/xmlmillr6?dbid=ebs/PublicHTML/pdfStore.nsf&amp;docid=A45A1D41788FC121CA25871A004226A5&amp;agid=(PrintDetailsPublic)

Legal

NAOV

NanoVibronix Gets Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration Approval For Co's UroShield system

Futures

Commodities

Markets

Baker Hughes Reports Rig Counts For Last Week: U.S. Total Rigs Up 5, U.S. Oil Rigs Up 2

<a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/?utm_source=insights">According to Benzinga Pro</a> following are the gainers and losers in Insurance industry for today's Intraday session. 
<h3>Gainers</h3>
<ul>
<li>Kinsale Capital Gr (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KNSL#NASDAQ">KNSL</a>) stock moved upwards by 2.41% to $168.48 during Friday's regular session. Trading volume for this security as of 12:40 EST is 34.9K, which is 33.19% of its average full-day volume over the last 100 days. The market value of their outstanding shares is at $3.8 billion. </li>
<li>Stewart Information Servs (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/STC#NYSE">STC</a>) stock moved upwards by 2.04% to $58.26. The current volume of 58.3K shares is 39.69% of Stewart Information Servs's average full-day volume over the last 100 days (last updated at 12:40 EST). The company's market cap stands at $1.5 billion. As per the press release, Q2 earnings came out 2 days ago. </li>
<li>Athene Holding (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ATH#NYSE">ATH</a>) stock increased by 1.75% to $65.43. Trading volume for this security as of 12:40 EST is 228.1K, which is 19.16% of its average full-day volume over the last 100 days. The company's market cap stands at $12.5 billion. </li>
<li>Trupanion (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TRUP#NASDAQ">TRUP</a>) stock increased by 1.61% to $114.04. The current volume of 75.8K shares is 22.77% of Trupanion's average full-day volume over the last 100 days (last updated at 12:40 EST). The market value of their outstanding shares is at $4.5 billion. </li>
<li>National Western Life (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NWLI#NASDAQ">NWLI</a>) stock rose 1.6% to $218.52. Trading volume for this security as of 12:40 EST is 1.0K, which is 13.41% of its average full-day volume over the last 100 days. The market value of their outstanding shares is at $794.5 million. </li>
<li>Fidelity National Finl (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FNF#NYSE">FNF</a>) stock moved upwards by 1.59% to $44.72. Fidelity National Finl's stock is trading at a volume of 553.0K shares as of 12:40 EST. This is 40.35% of its average full-day volume over the last 100 days. The company's market cap stands at $12.8 billion. </li>
</ul>
<h3>Losers</h3>
<ul>
<li>Waterdrop (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WDH#NYSE">WDH</a>) shares decreased by 10.29% to $5.58 during Friday's regular session. As of 12:40 EST, this security is trading at a volume of 290.2K shares, making up 33.15% of its average full-day volume over the last 100 days. The company's market cap stands at $2.1 billion. </li>
<li>Oxbridge Re Holdings (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OXBR#NASDAQ">OXBR</a>) shares decreased by 6.29% to $3.73. Trading volume for this security as of 12:40 EST is 249.0K, which is 10.42% of its average full-day volume over the last 100 days. The market value of their outstanding shares is at $21.5 million. </li>
<li>Conifer Holdings (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CNFR#NASDAQ">CNFR</a>) stock declined by 5.0% to $2.66. As of 12:40 EST, this security is trading at a volume of 1.7K shares, making up 12.24% of its average full-day volume over the last 100 days. The market value of their outstanding shares is at $25.7 million. </li>
<li>Heritage Insurance Hldgs (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HRTG#NYSE">HRTG</a>) shares fell 4.35% to $7.35. Heritage Insurance Hldgs's stock is trading at a volume of 46.4K shares as of 12:40 EST. This is 30.06% of its average full-day volume over the last 100 days. The market value of their outstanding shares is at $205.8 million. </li>
<li>Kingstone Companies (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KINS#NASDAQ">KINS</a>) stock decreased by 3.95% to $7.2. Trading volume for Kingstone Companies's stock is 3.2K as of 12:40 EST. This is 23.94% of its average full-day volume over the last 100 days. The company's market cap stands at $77.0 million. </li>
<li>Intl General Insurance (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IGIC#NASDAQ">IGIC</a>) stock fell 3.57% to $9.21. The current volume of 1.2K shares is 2.52% of Intl General Insurance's average full-day volume over the last 100 days (last updated at 12:40 EST). The market value of their outstanding shares is at $449.0 million. </li>
</ul>

Movers

Trading Ideas

CNFR

HRTG

IGIC

KINS

KNSL

NWLI

OXBR

TRUP

Insurance Stocks Moving In Friday's Intraday Session

On Friday, shares of Microvision (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MVIS#NASDAQ">MVIS</a>) saw unusual options activity. After the option alert, the stock price moved down to $13.7. 
<ul>
<li>Sentiment: BULLISH</li>
<li>Option Type: TRADE</li>
<li>Trade Type: CALL</li>
<li>Expiration Date: 2021-08-06</li>
<li>Strike Price: $13.00</li>
<li>Volume: 200</li>
<li>Open Interest: 13</li>
</ul>
<h2>Three Ways Options Activity Is ‘Unusual'</h2>
Exceptionally large volume (compared to historical averages) is one reason for which options market activity can be considered unusual. The volume of options activity refers to the number of contracts traded over a given time period. The number of contracts that have been traded, but not yet closed by either counterparty, is called open interest. A contract cannot be considered closed until there exists both a buyer and seller for it. 
Another indicator of unusual options activity is the trading of a contract with an expiration date in the distant future. Additional time until a contract expires generally increases the potential for it to grow its time value and reach its strike price. It is important to consider time value because it represents the difference between the strike price and the value of the underlying asset. 
Contracts that are "out of the money" are also indicative of unusual options activity. "Out of the money" contracts occur when the underlying price is under the strike price on a call option, or above the strike price on a put option. These trades are made with the expectation that the value of the underlying asset is going to change dramatically in the future, and buyers and sellers will benefit from a greater profit margin. 
<h2>Understanding Sentiment</h2>
Options are "bullish" when a call is purchased at/near ask price or a put is sold at/near bid price. Options are "bearish" when a call is sold at/near bid price or a put is bought at/near ask price. 
Although the activity is suggestive of these strategies, these observations are made without knowing the investor's true intentions when purchasing these options contracts. An observer cannot be sure if the bettor is playing the contract outright or if they're hedging a large underlying position in a common stock. For the latter case, the exposure a large investor has on their short position in common stock may be more meaningful than bullish options activity. 
<h2>Trading Options With These Strategies</h2>
Unusual options activity is an advantageous strategy that may greatly reward an investor if they are highly skilled, but for the less experienced trader, it should remain as another tool to make an educated investment decision while taking other observations into account.
For more information to understand options alerts, visit <a href="https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts" title="https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts">https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts</a>

Options

MVIS

Analyzing Microvision's Unusual Options Activity

This unusual options alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities. Traders will search for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges heavily from its normal worth. Unusual trading activity could push option prices to exaggerated or underestimated levels. 
Here's the list of some unusual options activity happening in today's session: 
<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>FB</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>07/23/21</td>
<td>$375.00</td>
<td>$25.7K</td>
<td>1.9K</td>
<td>54.6K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SNAP</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>07/30/21</td>
<td>$78.00</td>
<td>$120.1K</td>
<td>697</td>
<td>17.9K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TWTR</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/17/21</td>
<td>$85.00</td>
<td>$33.6K</td>
<td>25.1K</td>
<td>6.4K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>08/20/21</td>
<td>$29.50</td>
<td>$38.7K</td>
<td>1.4K</td>
<td>4.4K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PINS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>07/23/21</td>
<td>$73.50</td>
<td>$60.0K</td>
<td>6.7K</td>
<td>3.7K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AMC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>07/30/21</td>
<td>$44.00</td>
<td>$58.1K</td>
<td>1.8K</td>
<td>3.2K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ROKU</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/17/21</td>
<td>$350.00</td>
<td>$620.0K</td>
<td>1.4K</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BIDU</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>01/21/22</td>
<td>$175.00</td>
<td>$1.5 million</td>
<td>3.3K</td>
<td>790</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>VZ</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/03/21</td>
<td>$56.00</td>
<td>$31.8K</td>
<td>9</td>
<td>316</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These itemized elaborations have been created using the accompanying table. 
• For FB (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FB#NASDAQ">FB</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, is expiring today. Parties traded 253 contract(s) at a $375.00 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 $25.7K, with a price of $103.0 per contract. There were 1999 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 54610 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For SNAP (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SNAP#NYSE">SNAP</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be neutral, expiring in 7 day(s) on July 30, 2021. This event was a transfer of 438 contract(s) at a $78.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 19 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $120.1K, with a price of $275.0 per contract. There were 697 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 17954 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For TWTR (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TWTR#NYSE">TWTR</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 56 day(s) on September 17, 2021. This event was a transfer of 400 contract(s) at a $85.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 4 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $33.6K, with a price of $84.0 per contract. There were 25123 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 6410 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding T (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/T#NYSE">T</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 28 day(s) on August 20, 2021. Parties traded 4300 contract(s) at a $29.50 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 38 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $38.7K, with a price of $9.0 per contract. There were 1425 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 4437 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For PINS (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PINS#NYSE">PINS</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bullish, is expiring today. Parties traded 200 contract(s) at a $73.50 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $60.0K, with a price of $300.0 per contract. There were 6707 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 3756 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding AMC (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMC#NYSE">AMC</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 7 day(s) on July 30, 2021. Parties traded 578 contract(s) at a $44.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 30 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $58.1K, with a price of $100.0 per contract. There were 1813 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 3206 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding ROKU (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ROKU#NASDAQ">ROKU</a>), we observe a put option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 56 day(s) on September 17, 2021. Parties traded 1000 contract(s) at a $350.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 3 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $620.0K, with a price of $620.0 per contract. There were 1491 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1050 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For BIDU (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BIDU#NASDAQ">BIDU</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be neutral, expiring in 182 day(s) on January 21, 2022. This event was a transfer of 750 contract(s) at a $175.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $1.5 million, with a price of $2080.0 per contract. There were 3326 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 790 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding VZ (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VZ#NYSE">VZ</a>), we observe a put option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 42 day(s) on September 3, 2021. Parties traded 300 contract(s) at a $56.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $31.8K, with a price of $106.0 per contract. There were 9 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 316 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>.

BIDU

PINS

ROKU

SNAP

TWTR

9 Communication Services Stocks With Unusual Options Alerts In Today's Session

This unusual options alert can help traders track potentially big trading opportunities. Traders often look for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges away from its normal worth. Unusual trading activity could push option prices to hyperbolic or underperforming levels. 
Below are some instances of unusual options activity happening in the Information Technology 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>AAPL</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>07/30/21</td>
<td>$155.00</td>
<td>$420.4K</td>
<td>47.5K</td>
<td>20.2K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TSM</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>08/20/21</td>
<td>$70.00</td>
<td>$167.8K</td>
<td>607</td>
<td>19.9K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>RIOT</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>07/30/21</td>
<td>$28.00</td>
<td>$213.1K</td>
<td>967</td>
<td>15.3K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MSFT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>07/30/21</td>
<td>$290.00</td>
<td>$222.5K</td>
<td>7.1K</td>
<td>14.2K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NVDA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>07/30/21</td>
<td>$200.00</td>
<td>$62.7K</td>
<td>16.4K</td>
<td>11.7K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ORCL</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>07/30/21</td>
<td>$89.00</td>
<td>$28.5K</td>
<td>483</td>
<td>3.6K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>INTC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>08/20/21</td>
<td>$52.50</td>
<td>$25.0K</td>
<td>3.4K</td>
<td>3.6K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AMD</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>08/20/21</td>
<td>$90.00</td>
<td>$145.4K</td>
<td>17.9K</td>
<td>3.2K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TTD</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>08/06/21</td>
<td>$90.00</td>
<td>$30.8K</td>
<td>504</td>
<td>2.2K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SPRT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>08/20/21</td>
<td>$8.00</td>
<td>$28.2K</td>
<td>4.8K</td>
<td>2.0K</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These itemized elaborations have been created using the accompanying table. 
• Regarding AAPL (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), we observe a call option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 7 day(s) on July 30, 2021. Parties traded 4380 contract(s) at a $155.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $420.4K, with a price of $96.0 per contract. There were 47594 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 20205 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For TSM (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSM#NYSE">TSM</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 28 day(s) on August 20, 2021. This event was a transfer of 18653 contract(s) at a $70.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $167.8K, with a price of $9.0 per contract. There were 607 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 19970 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For RIOT (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RIOT#NASDAQ">RIOT</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 7 day(s) on July 30, 2021. This event was a transfer of 1284 contract(s) at a $28.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 3 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $213.1K, with a price of $166.0 per contract. There were 967 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 15399 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding MSFT (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 7 day(s) on July 30, 2021. Parties traded 500 contract(s) at a $290.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 36 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $222.5K, with a price of $445.0 per contract. There were 7184 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 14253 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For NVDA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 7 day(s) on July 30, 2021. This event was a transfer of 255 contract(s) at a $200.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 32 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $62.7K, with a price of $247.0 per contract. There were 16468 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 11721 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding ORCL (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>), we observe a call option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 7 day(s) on July 30, 2021. Parties traded 500 contract(s) at a $89.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $28.5K, with a price of $57.0 per contract. There were 483 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 3625 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For INTC (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INTC#NASDAQ">INTC</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 28 day(s) on August 20, 2021. This event was a transfer of 200 contract(s) at a $52.50 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $25.0K, with a price of $125.0 per contract. There were 3433 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 3624 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For AMD (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 28 day(s) on August 20, 2021. This event was a transfer of 277 contract(s) at a $90.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 5 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $145.4K, with a price of $525.0 per contract. There were 17951 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 3212 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For TTD (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TTD#NASDAQ">TTD</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 14 day(s) on August 6, 2021. This event was a transfer of 200 contract(s) at a $90.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $30.8K, with a price of $154.0 per contract. There were 504 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 2215 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding SPRT (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPRT#NASDAQ">SPRT</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 28 day(s) on August 20, 2021. Parties traded 627 contract(s) at a $8.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 24 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $28.2K, with a price of $45.0 per contract. There were 4866 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 2090 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 about unusual options activity</a>.

AAPL

INTC

MSFT

NVDA

ORCL

RIOT

SPRT

10 Information Technology Stocks With Unusual Options Alerts In Today's Session

This unusual options alert can help traders track potentially big trading opportunities. Traders often look for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges away from its normal worth. Unusual trading activity could push option prices to hyperbolic or underperforming levels. 
Below are some instances of unusual options activity happening in the Consumer Discretionary 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>EDU</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/17/21</td>
<td>$2.50</td>
<td>$41.5K</td>
<td>10</td>
<td>21.2K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BABA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>07/23/21</td>
<td>$205.00</td>
<td>$61.5K</td>
<td>4.7K</td>
<td>15.9K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TAL</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/17/21</td>
<td>$12.50</td>
<td>$41.6K</td>
<td>6</td>
<td>10.8K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NIO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/21/22</td>
<td>$80.00</td>
<td>$419.6K</td>
<td>18.4K</td>
<td>4.5K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TSLA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>07/30/21</td>
<td>$640.00</td>
<td>$886.2K</td>
<td>4.3K</td>
<td>3.2K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>F</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>10/15/21</td>
<td>$14.00</td>
<td>$137.6K</td>
<td>20.0K</td>
<td>2.3K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>FUV</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>08/20/21</td>
<td>$20.00</td>
<td>$31.0K</td>
<td>5.3K</td>
<td>2.3K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>UAA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>08/20/21</td>
<td>$22.50</td>
<td>$28.1K</td>
<td>7.6K</td>
<td>1.7K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PDD</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/21/22</td>
<td>$95.00</td>
<td>$1.2 million</td>
<td>3.3K</td>
<td>1.1K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CHWY</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>08/20/21</td>
<td>$85.00</td>
<td>$369.0K</td>
<td>423</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These itemized elaborations have been created using the accompanying table. 
• Regarding EDU (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EDU#NYSE">EDU</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 56 day(s) on September 17, 2021. Parties traded 500 contract(s) at a $2.50 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 $41.5K, with a price of $84.0 per contract. There were 10 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 21218 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For BABA (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NYSE">BABA</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bullish, is expiring today. Parties traded 977 contract(s) at a $205.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $61.5K, with a price of $63.0 per contract. There were 4761 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 15921 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding TAL (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TAL#NYSE">TAL</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 56 day(s) on September 17, 2021. Parties traded 555 contract(s) at a $12.50 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 10 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $41.6K, with a price of $75.0 per contract. There were 6 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 10846 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For NIO (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NIO#NYSE">NIO</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 182 day(s) on January 21, 2022. This event was a transfer of 3253 contract(s) at a $80.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $419.6K, with a price of $129.0 per contract. There were 18429 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 4597 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For TSLA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 7 day(s) on July 30, 2021. This event was a transfer of 393 contract(s) at a $640.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $886.2K, with a price of $2255.0 per contract. There were 4348 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 3272 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding F (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/F#NYSE">F</a>), we observe a call option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 84 day(s) on October 15, 2021. Parties traded 1376 contract(s) at a $14.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $137.6K, with a price of $100.0 per contract. There were 20002 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 2342 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding FUV (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FUV#NASDAQ">FUV</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 28 day(s) on August 20, 2021. Parties traded 222 contract(s) at a $20.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 27 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $31.0K, with a price of $140.0 per contract. There were 5301 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 2320 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding UAA (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UAA#NYSE">UAA</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 28 day(s) on August 20, 2021. Parties traded 502 contract(s) at a $22.50 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 6 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $28.1K, with a price of $56.0 per contract. There were 7638 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1740 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For PDD (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PDD#NASDAQ">PDD</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 182 day(s) on January 21, 2022. This event was a transfer of 1000 contract(s) at a $95.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $1.2 million, with a price of $1255.0 per contract. There were 3339 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1129 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For CHWY (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CHWY#NYSE">CHWY</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 28 day(s) on August 20, 2021. This event was a transfer of 1000 contract(s) at a $85.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $369.0K, with a price of $369.0 per contract. There were 423 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1046 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 about unusual options activity</a>.

BABA

CHWY

New Oriental Education & Technology Group

Citigourp Global Markets 2% Protected Notes Linked To The Djia

TSLA

10 Consumer Discretionary Stocks With Unusual Options Alerts In Today's Session

Micron Technology (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MU#NASDAQ">MU</a>) shares experienced unusual options activity on Friday. The stock price moved up to $75.8 following the option alert. 
<ul>
<li>Sentiment: BEARISH</li>
<li>Option Type: SWEEP</li>
<li>Trade Type: PUT</li>
<li>Expiration Date: 2023-01-20</li>
<li>Strike Price: $47.50</li>
<li>Volume: 500</li>
<li>Open Interest: 1723</li>
</ul>
<h2>Three Indications Of Unusual Options Activity</h2>
One way options market activity can be considered unusual is when volume is exceptionally higher than its historical average. The volume of options activity refers to the number of contracts traded over a given time period. Open interest is the number of unsettled contracts that have been traded but not yet closed by either counterparty. In other words, open interest represents the quantity of contracts that individual parties have written but not yet found a counterparty for (i.e. a buyer finding a seller, or a seller finding a buyer).
Another sign of unusual activity is the trading of a contract with an expiration date in the distant future. Usually, additional time until a contract expires allows more opportunity for it to reach its strike price and grow its time value. Time value is important to consider because it represents the difference between the strike price and the value of the underlying asset. 
Contracts that are "out of the money" are also indicative of unusual options activity. "Out of the money" contracts occur when the underlying price is under the strike price on a call option, or above the strike price on a put option. These trades are made with the expectation that the value of the underlying asset is going to change dramatically in the future, and buyers and sellers will benefit from a greater profit margin. 
<h2>Understanding Sentiment</h2>
Options are "bullish" when a call is purchased at/near ask price or a put is sold at/near bid price. Options are "bearish" when a call is sold at/near bid price or a put is bought at/near ask price. 
These observations are made without knowing the investor's true intent by purchasing these options contracts. The activity is suggestive of these strategies, but an observer cannot be sure if a bettor is playing the contract outright or if the options bettor is hedging a large underlying position in common stock. For the latter case, bullish options activity may be less meaningful than the exposure a large investor has on their short position in common stock.
<h2>Using These Options Strategies</h2>
Unusual options activity is an advantageous strategy that may greatly reward an investor if they are highly skilled, but for the less experienced trader, it should remain as another tool to make an educated investment decision while taking other observations into account.
For more information to understand options alerts, visit <a href="https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts" title="https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts">https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts</a>

Unusual Options Activity Insight: Micron Technology

Shares of ArcelorMittal (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MT#NYSE">MT</a>) saw some unusual options activity on Friday. Following the unusual option alert, the stock price moved up to $32.01. 
<ul>
<li>Sentiment: NEUTRAL</li>
<li>Option Type: TRADE</li>
<li>Trade Type: CALL</li>
<li>Expiration Date: 2022-01-21</li>
<li>Strike Price: $35.00</li>
<li>Volume: 349</li>
<li>Open Interest: 38653</li>
</ul>
<h2>Three Indications Of Unusual Options Activity</h2>
Exceptionally large volume (compared to historical averages) is one reason for which options market activity can be considered unusual. The volume of options activity refers to the number of contracts traded over a given time period. The number of contracts that have been traded, but not yet closed by either counterparty, is called open interest. A contract cannot be considered closed until there exists both a buyer and seller for it. 
Another indicator of unusual options activity is the trading of a contract with an expiration date in the distant future. Additional time until a contract expires generally increases the potential for it to grow its time value and reach its strike price. It is important to consider time value because it represents the difference between the strike price and the value of the underlying asset. 
Contracts that are "out of the money" are also indicative of unusual options activity. "Out of the money" contracts occur when the underlying price is under the strike price on a call option, or above the strike price on a put option. These trades are made with the expectation that the value of the underlying asset is going to change dramatically in the future, and buyers and sellers will benefit from a greater profit margin. 
<h2>Understanding Sentiment</h2>
Options are "bullish" when a call is purchased at/near ask price or a put is sold at/near bid price. Options are "bearish" when a call is sold at/near bid price or a put is bought at/near ask price. 
Although the activity is suggestive of these strategies, these observations are made without knowing the investor's true intentions when purchasing these options contracts. An observer cannot be sure if the bettor is playing the contract outright or if they're hedging a large underlying position in a common stock. For the latter case, the exposure a large investor has on their short position in common stock may be more meaningful than bullish options activity. 
<h2>Using These Options Strategies</h2>
Unusual options activity is an advantageous strategy that may greatly reward an investor if they are highly skilled, but for the less experienced trader, it should remain as another tool to make an educated investment decision while taking other observations into account.
For more information to understand options alerts, visit <a href="https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts" title="https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts">https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts</a>

Analyzing ArcelorMittal's Unusual Options Activity

Shares of Microsoft (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) saw some unusual options activity on Friday. Following the unusual option alert, the stock price moved up to $289.5. 
<ul>
<li>Sentiment: BULLISH</li>
<li>Option Type: SWEEP</li>
<li>Trade Type: CALL</li>
<li>Expiration Date: 2021-07-30</li>
<li>Strike Price: $300.00</li>
<li>Volume: 5039</li>
<li>Open Interest: 2744</li>
</ul>
<h2>Three Ways Options Activity Is ‘Unusual'</h2>
Extraordinarily large volume (compared to historical averages) is one indication of unusual options market activity. Volume refers to the total number of contracts traded over a given time period when discussing options market activity. Open interest is the number of unsettled contracts that have been traded but not yet closed by either counterparty. In other words, open interest represents the quantity of contracts that individual parties have written but not yet found a counterparty for (i.e. a buyer finding a seller, or a seller finding a buyer).
The trading of a contract with an expiration date in the distant future is another sign of unusual activity. Generally, additional time until a contract expires increases the potential for it to reach its strike price and grow its time value. Time value is important in this context because it represents the difference between the strike price and the value of the underlying asset. 
Contracts with a strike price far from the underlying price are also considered unusual because they are defined as being "out of the money". This occurs when the underlying price is under the strike price on a call option, or above the strike price on a put option. These trades are made because the underlying asset value is expected to change dramatically in the future, and the buyer or seller can take advantage of a greater profit margin. 
<h2>Bullish And Bearish Sentiments</h2>
Options are "bullish" when a call is purchased at/near ask price or a put is sold at/near bid price. Options are "bearish" when a call is sold at/near bid price or a put is bought at/near ask price. 
Although the activity is suggestive of these strategies, these observations are made without knowing the investor's true intentions when purchasing these options contracts. An observer cannot be sure if the bettor is playing the contract outright or if they're hedging a large underlying position in a common stock. For the latter case, the exposure a large investor has on their short position in common stock may be more meaningful than bullish options activity. 
<h2>Using These Strategies To Trade Options</h2>
Unusual options activity is an advantageous strategy that may greatly reward an investor if they are highly skilled, but for the less experienced trader, it should remain as another tool to make an educated investment decision while taking other observations into account.
For more information to understand options alerts, visit <a href="https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts" title="https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts">https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts</a>

Understanding Microsoft's Unusual Options Activity

Morgan Stanley (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MS#NYSE">MS</a>) shares experienced unusual options activity on Friday. The stock price moved down to $94.82 following the option alert. 
<ul>
<li>Sentiment: BULLISH</li>
<li>Option Type: SWEEP</li>
<li>Trade Type: CALL</li>
<li>Expiration Date: 2021-07-23</li>
<li>Strike Price: $93.00</li>
<li>Volume: 395</li>
<li>Open Interest: 1107</li>
</ul>
<h2>Three Indications Of Unusual Options Activity</h2>
One way options market activity can be considered unusual is when volume is exceptionally higher than its historical average. The volume of options activity refers to the number of contracts traded over a given time period. The number of contracts that have been traded, but not yet closed by either counterparty, is called open interest. A contract cannot be considered closed until there exists both a buyer and seller for it. 
Another indicator of unusual options activity is the trading of a contract with an expiration date in the distant future. Additional time until a contract expires generally increases the potential for it to grow its time value and reach its strike price. It is important to consider time value because it represents the difference between the strike price and the value of the underlying asset. 
"Out of the money" contracts are unusual because they are purchased with a strike price far from the underlying asset price. "Out of the money" occurs when the underlying price is under the strike price on a call option, or above the strike price on a put option. Buyers and sellers try to take advantage of a large profit margin in these instances because they are expecting the value of the underlying asset to change dramatically in the future. 
<h2>Understanding Sentiment</h2>
Options are "bullish" when a call is purchased at/near ask price or a put is sold at/near bid price. Options are "bearish" when a call is sold at/near bid price or a put is bought at/near ask price. 
Although the activity is suggestive of these strategies, these observations are made without knowing the investor's true intentions when purchasing these options contracts. An observer cannot be sure if the bettor is playing the contract outright or if they're hedging a large underlying position in a common stock. For the latter case, the exposure a large investor has on their short position in common stock may be more meaningful than bullish options activity. 
<h2>Trading Options With These Strategies</h2>
Unusual options activity is an advantageous strategy that may greatly reward an investor if they are highly skilled, but for the less experienced trader, it should remain as another tool to make an educated investment decision while taking other observations into account.
For more information to understand options alerts, visit <a href="https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts" title="https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts">https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts</a>

Understanding Morgan Stanley's Unusual Options Activity

Marvell Technology (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRVL#NASDAQ">MRVL</a>) shares experienced unusual options activity on Friday. The stock price moved up to $58.96 following the option alert. 
<ul>
<li>Sentiment: BEARISH</li>
<li>Option Type: TRADE</li>
<li>Trade Type: CALL</li>
<li>Expiration Date: 2022-01-21</li>
<li>Strike Price: $65.00</li>
<li>Volume: 376</li>
<li>Open Interest: 5206</li>
</ul>
<h2>Three Ways Options Activity Is ‘Unusual'</h2>
One way options market activity can be considered unusual is when volume is exceptionally higher than its historical average. The volume of options activity refers to the number of contracts traded over a given time period. The number of unsettled contracts that have been traded, but not yet closed, is called open interest. These contracts are not yet closed because a buyer has not purchased the contract, or a seller has not sold it.
The trading of a contract with an expiration date in the distant future is another sign of unusual activity. Generally, additional time until a contract expires increases the potential for it to reach its strike price and grow its time value. Time value is important in this context because it represents the difference between the strike price and the value of the underlying asset. 
Contracts that are "out of the money" are also indicative of unusual options activity. "Out of the money" contracts occur when the underlying price is under the strike price on a call option, or above the strike price on a put option. These trades are made with the expectation that the value of the underlying asset is going to change dramatically in the future, and buyers and sellers will benefit from a greater profit margin. 
<h2>Understanding Sentiment</h2>
Options are "bullish" when a call is purchased at/near ask price or a put is sold at/near bid price. Options are "bearish" when a call is sold at/near bid price or a put is bought at/near ask price. 
These observations are made without knowing the investor's true intent by purchasing these options contracts. The activity is suggestive of these strategies, but an observer cannot be sure if a bettor is playing the contract outright or if the options bettor is hedging a large underlying position in common stock. For the latter case, bullish options activity may be less meaningful than the exposure a large investor has on their short position in common stock.
<h2>Using These Strategies To Trade Options</h2>
Unusual options activity is an advantageous strategy that may greatly reward an investor if they are highly skilled, but for the less experienced trader, it should remain as another tool to make an educated investment decision while taking other observations into account.
For more information to understand options alerts, visit <a href="https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts" title="https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts">https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts</a>

MRVL

Unusual Options Activity Insight: Marvell Technology

On Friday, shares of Moderna (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRNA#NASDAQ">MRNA</a>) saw unusual options activity. After the option alert, the stock price moved up to $337.8. 
<ul>
<li>Sentiment: BULLISH</li>
<li>Option Type: SWEEP</li>
<li>Trade Type: CALL</li>
<li>Expiration Date: 2021-07-23</li>
<li>Strike Price: $340.00</li>
<li>Volume: 18378</li>
<li>Open Interest: 4786</li>
</ul>
<h2>Three Ways Options Activity Is ‘Unusual'</h2>
Extraordinarily large volume (compared to historical averages) is one indication of unusual options market activity. Volume refers to the total number of contracts traded over a given time period when discussing options market activity. The number of unsettled contracts that have been traded, but not yet closed, is called open interest. These contracts are not yet closed because a buyer has not purchased the contract, or a seller has not sold it.
Another sign of unusual activity is the trading of a contract with an expiration date in the distant future. Usually, additional time until a contract expires allows more opportunity for it to reach its strike price and grow its time value. Time value is important to consider because it represents the difference between the strike price and the value of the underlying asset. 
Contracts that are "out of the money" are also indicative of unusual options activity. "Out of the money" contracts occur when the underlying price is under the strike price on a call option, or above the strike price on a put option. These trades are made with the expectation that the value of the underlying asset is going to change dramatically in the future, and buyers and sellers will benefit from a greater profit margin. 
<h2>Understanding Sentiment</h2>
Options are "bullish" when a call is purchased at/near ask price or a put is sold at/near bid price. Options are "bearish" when a call is sold at/near bid price or a put is bought at/near ask price. 
Although the activity is suggestive of these strategies, these observations are made without knowing the investor's true intentions when purchasing these options contracts. An observer cannot be sure if the bettor is playing the contract outright or if they're hedging a large underlying position in a common stock. For the latter case, the exposure a large investor has on their short position in common stock may be more meaningful than bullish options activity. 
<h2>Trading Options With These Strategies</h2>
Unusual options activity is an advantageous strategy that may greatly reward an investor if they are highly skilled, but for the less experienced trader, it should remain as another tool to make an educated investment decision while taking other observations into account.
For more information to understand options alerts, visit <a href="https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts" title="https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts">https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts</a>

MRNA

Unusual Options Activity Insight: Moderna

Monolithic Power Systems (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MPWR#NASDAQ">MPWR</a>) shares experienced unusual options activity on Friday. The stock price moved up to $413.25 following the option alert. 
<ul>
<li>Sentiment: BEARISH</li>
<li>Option Type: TRADE</li>
<li>Trade Type: CALL</li>
<li>Expiration Date: 2021-09-17</li>
<li>Strike Price: $440.00</li>
<li>Volume: 300</li>
<li>Open Interest: 18</li>
</ul>
<h2>Three Ways Options Activity Is ‘Unusual'</h2>
Extraordinarily large volume (compared to historical averages) is one indication of unusual options market activity. Volume refers to the total number of contracts traded over a given time period when discussing options market activity. The number of contracts that have been traded, but not yet closed by either counterparty, is called open interest. A contract cannot be considered closed until there exists both a buyer and seller for it. 
The trading of a contract with an expiration date in the distant future is another sign of unusual activity. Generally, additional time until a contract expires increases the potential for it to reach its strike price and grow its time value. Time value is important in this context because it represents the difference between the strike price and the value of the underlying asset. 
"Out of the money" contracts are unusual because they are purchased with a strike price far from the underlying asset price. "Out of the money" occurs when the underlying price is under the strike price on a call option, or above the strike price on a put option. Buyers and sellers try to take advantage of a large profit margin in these instances because they are expecting the value of the underlying asset to change dramatically in the future. 
<h2>Understanding Sentiment</h2>
Options are "bullish" when a call is purchased at/near ask price or a put is sold at/near bid price. Options are "bearish" when a call is sold at/near bid price or a put is bought at/near ask price. 
These observations are made without knowing the investor's true intent by purchasing these options contracts. The activity is suggestive of these strategies, but an observer cannot be sure if a bettor is playing the contract outright or if the options bettor is hedging a large underlying position in common stock. For the latter case, bullish options activity may be less meaningful than the exposure a large investor has on their short position in common stock.
<h2>Using These Options Strategies</h2>
Unusual options activity is an advantageous strategy that may greatly reward an investor if they are highly skilled, but for the less experienced trader, it should remain as another tool to make an educated investment decision while taking other observations into account.
For more information to understand options alerts, visit <a href="https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts" title="https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts">https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts</a>

MPWR

Analyzing Monolithic Power Systems's Unusual Options Activity

Shares of Mogo (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MOGO#NASDAQ">MOGO</a>) saw some unusual options activity on Friday. Following the unusual option alert, the stock price moved down to $5.68. 
<ul>
<li>Sentiment: BEARISH</li>
<li>Option Type: SWEEP</li>
<li>Trade Type: CALL</li>
<li>Expiration Date: 2021-08-20</li>
<li>Strike Price: $5.00</li>
<li>Volume: 1300</li>
<li>Open Interest: 224</li>
</ul>
<h2>Three Indications Of Unusual Options Activity</h2>
One way options market activity can be considered unusual is when volume is exceptionally higher than its historical average. The volume of options activity refers to the number of contracts traded over a given time period. The number of unsettled contracts that have been traded, but not yet closed, is called open interest. These contracts are not yet closed because a buyer has not purchased the contract, or a seller has not sold it.
Another sign of unusual activity is the trading of a contract with an expiration date in the distant future. Usually, additional time until a contract expires allows more opportunity for it to reach its strike price and grow its time value. Time value is important to consider because it represents the difference between the strike price and the value of the underlying asset. 
Contracts that are "out of the money" are also indicative of unusual options activity. "Out of the money" contracts occur when the underlying price is under the strike price on a call option, or above the strike price on a put option. These trades are made with the expectation that the value of the underlying asset is going to change dramatically in the future, and buyers and sellers will benefit from a greater profit margin. 
<h2>Understanding Sentiment</h2>
Options are "bullish" when a call is purchased at/near ask price or a put is sold at/near bid price. Options are "bearish" when a call is sold at/near bid price or a put is bought at/near ask price. 
Although the activity is suggestive of these strategies, these observations are made without knowing the investor's true intentions when purchasing these options contracts. An observer cannot be sure if the bettor is playing the contract outright or if they're hedging a large underlying position in a common stock. For the latter case, the exposure a large investor has on their short position in common stock may be more meaningful than bullish options activity. 
<h2>Trading Options With These Strategies</h2>
Unusual options activity is an advantageous strategy that may greatly reward an investor if they are highly skilled, but for the less experienced trader, it should remain as another tool to make an educated investment decision while taking other observations into account.
For more information to understand options alerts, visit <a href="https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts" title="https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts">https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts</a>

MOGO

Unusual Options Activity Insight: Mogo

Shares of Meta Materials (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MMAT#NASDAQ">MMAT</a>) saw some unusual options activity on Friday. Following the unusual option alert, the stock price moved down to $3.42. 
<ul>
<li>Sentiment: BULLISH</li>
<li>Option Type: SWEEP</li>
<li>Trade Type: PUT</li>
<li>Expiration Date: 2021-08-20</li>
<li>Strike Price: $3.00</li>
<li>Volume: 837</li>
<li>Open Interest: 6546</li>
</ul>
<h2>Three Indications Of Unusual Options Activity</h2>
One way options market activity can be considered unusual is when volume is exceptionally higher than its historical average. The volume of options activity refers to the number of contracts traded over a given time period. Open interest is the number of unsettled contracts that have been traded but not yet closed by either counterparty. In other words, open interest represents the quantity of contracts that individual parties have written but not yet found a counterparty for (i.e. a buyer finding a seller, or a seller finding a buyer).
The trading of a contract with an expiration date in the distant future is another sign of unusual activity. Generally, additional time until a contract expires increases the potential for it to reach its strike price and grow its time value. Time value is important in this context because it represents the difference between the strike price and the value of the underlying asset. 
"Out of the money" contracts are unusual because they are purchased with a strike price far from the underlying asset price. "Out of the money" occurs when the underlying price is under the strike price on a call option, or above the strike price on a put option. Buyers and sellers try to take advantage of a large profit margin in these instances because they are expecting the value of the underlying asset to change dramatically in the future. 
<h2>Understanding Sentiment</h2>
Options are "bullish" when a call is purchased at/near ask price or a put is sold at/near bid price. Options are "bearish" when a call is sold at/near bid price or a put is bought at/near ask price. 
These observations are made without knowing the investor's true intent by purchasing these options contracts. The activity is suggestive of these strategies, but an observer cannot be sure if a bettor is playing the contract outright or if the options bettor is hedging a large underlying position in common stock. For the latter case, bullish options activity may be less meaningful than the exposure a large investor has on their short position in common stock.
<h2>Using These Options Strategies</h2>
Unusual options activity is an advantageous strategy that may greatly reward an investor if they are highly skilled, but for the less experienced trader, it should remain as another tool to make an educated investment decision while taking other observations into account.
For more information to understand options alerts, visit <a href="https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts" title="https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts">https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts</a>

MMAT

Understanding Meta Materials's Unusual Options Activity

MGM Resorts Intl (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MGM#NYSE">MGM</a>) shares experienced unusual options activity on Friday. The stock price moved down to $38.86 following the option alert. 
<ul>
<li>Sentiment: BULLISH</li>
<li>Option Type: SWEEP</li>
<li>Trade Type: PUT</li>
<li>Expiration Date: 2021-07-23</li>
<li>Strike Price: $40.00</li>
<li>Volume: 615</li>
<li>Open Interest: 5815</li>
</ul>
<h2>Three Indications Of Unusual Options Activity</h2>
Exceptionally large volume (compared to historical averages) is one reason for which options market activity can be considered unusual. The volume of options activity refers to the number of contracts traded over a given time period. Open interest is the number of unsettled contracts that have been traded but not yet closed by either counterparty. In other words, open interest represents the quantity of contracts that individual parties have written but not yet found a counterparty for (i.e. a buyer finding a seller, or a seller finding a buyer).
Another sign of unusual activity is the trading of a contract with an expiration date in the distant future. Usually, additional time until a contract expires allows more opportunity for it to reach its strike price and grow its time value. Time value is important to consider because it represents the difference between the strike price and the value of the underlying asset. 
Contracts with a strike price far from the underlying price are also considered unusual because they are defined as being "out of the money". This occurs when the underlying price is under the strike price on a call option, or above the strike price on a put option. These trades are made because the underlying asset value is expected to change dramatically in the future, and the buyer or seller can take advantage of a greater profit margin. 
<h2>Understanding Sentiment</h2>
Options are "bullish" when a call is purchased at/near ask price or a put is sold at/near bid price. Options are "bearish" when a call is sold at/near bid price or a put is bought at/near ask price. 
These observations are made without knowing the investor's true intent by purchasing these options contracts. The activity is suggestive of these strategies, but an observer cannot be sure if a bettor is playing the contract outright or if the options bettor is hedging a large underlying position in common stock. For the latter case, bullish options activity may be less meaningful than the exposure a large investor has on their short position in common stock.
<h2>Using These Options Strategies</h2>
Unusual options activity is an advantageous strategy that may greatly reward an investor if they are highly skilled, but for the less experienced trader, it should remain as another tool to make an educated investment decision while taking other observations into account.
For more information to understand options alerts, visit <a href="https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts" title="https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts">https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts</a>

Analyzing MGM Resorts Intl's Unusual Options Activity

MoneyGram (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MGI#NASDAQ">MGI</a>) shares experienced unusual options activity on Friday. The stock price moved up to $12.13 following the option alert. 
<ul>
<li>Sentiment: BULLISH</li>
<li>Option Type: TRADE</li>
<li>Trade Type: CALL</li>
<li>Expiration Date: 2021-09-17</li>
<li>Strike Price: $8.00</li>
<li>Volume: 400</li>
<li>Open Interest: 2102</li>
</ul>
<h2>Three Signs Of Unusual Options Activity</h2>
One way options market activity can be considered unusual is when volume is exceptionally higher than its historical average. The volume of options activity refers to the number of contracts traded over a given time period. The number of contracts that have been traded, but not yet closed by either counterparty, is called open interest. A contract cannot be considered closed until there exists both a buyer and seller for it. 
Another sign of unusual activity is the trading of a contract with an expiration date in the distant future. Usually, additional time until a contract expires allows more opportunity for it to reach its strike price and grow its time value. Time value is important to consider because it represents the difference between the strike price and the value of the underlying asset. 
Contracts that are "out of the money" are also indicative of unusual options activity. "Out of the money" contracts occur when the underlying price is under the strike price on a call option, or above the strike price on a put option. These trades are made with the expectation that the value of the underlying asset is going to change dramatically in the future, and buyers and sellers will benefit from a greater profit margin. 
<h2>Understanding Sentiment</h2>
Options are "bullish" when a call is purchased at/near ask price or a put is sold at/near bid price. Options are "bearish" when a call is sold at/near bid price or a put is bought at/near ask price. 
These observations are made without knowing the investor's true intent by purchasing these options contracts. The activity is suggestive of these strategies, but an observer cannot be sure if a bettor is playing the contract outright or if the options bettor is hedging a large underlying position in common stock. For the latter case, bullish options activity may be less meaningful than the exposure a large investor has on their short position in common stock.
<h2>Trading Options With These Strategies</h2>
Unusual options activity is an advantageous strategy that may greatly reward an investor if they are highly skilled, but for the less experienced trader, it should remain as another tool to make an educated investment decision while taking other observations into account.
For more information to understand options alerts, visit <a href="https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts" title="https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts">https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts</a>

Understanding MoneyGram's Unusual Options Activity

Shares of McDonald's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCD#NYSE">MCD</a>) saw some unusual options activity on Friday. Following the unusual option alert, the stock price moved up to $244.13. 
<ul>
<li>Sentiment: NEUTRAL</li>
<li>Option Type: SWEEP</li>
<li>Trade Type: CALL</li>
<li>Expiration Date: 2021-07-23</li>
<li>Strike Price: $240.00</li>
<li>Volume: 950</li>
<li>Open Interest: 1843</li>
</ul>
<h2>Three Ways Options Activity Is ‘Unusual'</h2>
Extraordinarily large volume (compared to historical averages) is one indication of unusual options market activity. Volume refers to the total number of contracts traded over a given time period when discussing options market activity. Open interest is the number of unsettled contracts that have been traded but not yet closed by either counterparty. In other words, open interest represents the quantity of contracts that individual parties have written but not yet found a counterparty for (i.e. a buyer finding a seller, or a seller finding a buyer).
The trading of a contract with an expiration date in the distant future is another sign of unusual activity. Generally, additional time until a contract expires increases the potential for it to reach its strike price and grow its time value. Time value is important in this context because it represents the difference between the strike price and the value of the underlying asset. 
"Out of the money" contracts are unusual because they are purchased with a strike price far from the underlying asset price. "Out of the money" occurs when the underlying price is under the strike price on a call option, or above the strike price on a put option. Buyers and sellers try to take advantage of a large profit margin in these instances because they are expecting the value of the underlying asset to change dramatically in the future. 
<h2>Understanding Sentiment</h2>
Options are "bullish" when a call is purchased at/near ask price or a put is sold at/near bid price. Options are "bearish" when a call is sold at/near bid price or a put is bought at/near ask price. 
Although the activity is suggestive of these strategies, these observations are made without knowing the investor's true intentions when purchasing these options contracts. An observer cannot be sure if the bettor is playing the contract outright or if they're hedging a large underlying position in a common stock. For the latter case, the exposure a large investor has on their short position in common stock may be more meaningful than bullish options activity. 
<h2>Using These Options Strategies</h2>
Unusual options activity is an advantageous strategy that may greatly reward an investor if they are highly skilled, but for the less experienced trader, it should remain as another tool to make an educated investment decision while taking other observations into account.
For more information to understand options alerts, visit <a href="https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts" title="https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts">https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts</a>

Unusual Options Activity Insight: McDonald's

Cannabis beverage brand Cann scored a lot of&nbsp;<a href="http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cann-the-first-cannabis-infused-social-tonic-announces-investment-led-by-celebrity-power-players-including-gwyneth-paltrow-rebel-wilson-ruby-rose-darren-criss-baron-davis-and-more-301162829.html">celebrity support</a>.

The company announced Thursday that it has received investments from several big-name stars, including Academy Award-winner&nbsp;Gwyneth Paltrow, as well as Ruby Rose, Rebel Wilson, Darren Criss, Baron Davis, Tove Lo, Casey Neistat and Calesha Murray (aka Bre-Z).

&quot;Cann sits at the intersection of two powerful trends&hellip; the &#39;sober curious&#39; and &#39;cannabis curious&#39; movements,&quot;&nbsp;Paltrow said.

Paltrow is also the founder and CEO of wellness and lifestyle brand&nbsp;Goop.

Rose, an actress and model who recently starred in the CW series &quot;Batwoman,&quot; touted the diversity of the team, which is currently made up of &quot;50%+ women and 33%+ people of color.&quot;

&quot;When making an investment decision, you have to invest in two things &mdash;&nbsp;the product and the people,&quot; Rose said.

Since its launch in 2019,&nbsp;Los Angeles-based Cann has become known as a purveyor of CBD and THC-infused intoxicants. It sold over 2 million cans, each formulated with 2 milligrams of THC plus 4 milligrams of CBD.

In July, the company <a href="http://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/20/07/16639623/cannabis-beverage-maker-cann-celebrates-first-year-1-million-units-new-products">celebrated</a> its first year of operations with the milestone of producing its millionth can of Cann.

In January, the brand raised $5 million through a seed funding round co-led by Imaginary and JM10 Partners.

Following its recent debut in Nevada, Cann intends to expand into four additional state markets over the next six months. Currently, Cann is available across California, Nevada, Rhode Island in MedMen, Sweet Flower, and Urbn Leaf dispensaries.

&quot;We couldn&#39;t be more excited to welcome this group into our Cann family and have them share in our mission with us,&quot; said Cann&nbsp;co-founder&nbsp;Luke Anderson.

Cannabis Brands Seek Authenticity In Rock&#39;N Roll

And while it remains to be seen whether the support of this group of distinguished personalities would result in an uptick in sales of Cann, some suggest that celebrity endorsement doesn&#39;t necessarily equal sales growth.

1933 Industries&rsquo; (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="/stock/TGIF#NYSE">TGIF</a>) (OTCQX:<a class="ticker" href="/stock/TGIFF#OTCQX">TGIFF</a>) CEO Paul Rosen recently <a href="http://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/20/10/17800639/cannabis-brands-get-loud-with-rock-branded-weed-featuring-santana-jerry-garcia">told Benzinga</a> that consumers are more likely to gravitate towards brands where &quot;authenticity is part of the celebrity brand.&quot;

He cited Snoop Dogg, Tommy Chong, Willie Nelson and the late Bob Marley as examples of celebrities who can &quot;move product&quot; since &quot;they are associated with cannabis in the public eye.&quot;

Meanwhile, several musicians ventured into the marijuana market lately, such as legendary guitarist Carlos Santana who teamed up with Left Coast Ventures to launch cannabis products, including flower, pre-rolls, and topicals with traditional formulations.

Moreover, Jerry Garcia&#39;s family opted for a similar&nbsp;move by&nbsp;<a href="http://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/19/12/14998485/jerry-garcias-family-holistic-industries-partner-on-cannabis-brand">partnering</a> with&nbsp;Holistic Industries Inc. in December to develop new cannabis products.

Courtesy image

Cannabis

Press Releases

Gwyneth Paltrow, Ruby Rose And Other Celebs Back Cannabis-Infused Beverage Brand

TGIF

TGIFF

<a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice &amp; Trading Tips</a>
In the exchange-traded-funds industry, it&rsquo;s not a stretch to say that issuers find solutions for many problems. That could be the positioning of the newly minted SoFi Weekly Income ETF (NYSEARCA:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/tgif-stock-quote/">TGIF</a>). The TGIF ETF debuted on Oct. 1, and its timing could be auspicious.
	<div>
		<img src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/etf-wood-blocks-300x169.jpg" alt='Three wood blocks spelling out "ETF". representing best etfs' width="300" height="169" /><div>Source: Shutterstock</div>
	</div>
	
That&rsquo;s because the new fund comes to market at a time when U.S. interest rates are at historic lows, making income harder to come by in the bond market. Additionally, a massive amount of S&amp;P 500 member firms <a href="https://investorplace.com/2020/07/wells-fargo-stock-should-survive-its-dividend-cut-just-fine/">pared or suspended their dividends</a> in the first half of the year, due to their reduced cash amid the novel-coronavirus pandemic.
In other words, generating income is getting harder to do in 2020, and TGIF fills a unique void by promising weekly distributions. Although there are some <a href="https://investorplace.com/2020/09/6-monthly-dividend-stocks-to-buy/">monthly dividend stocks</a> and equity-based ETFs on the market, while bond funds deliver monthly distributions, no ETFs had made weekly payouts prior to TGIF&rsquo;s arrival.
<h3>Weekly Payouts Don&rsquo;t Look Like a Gimmick</h3>
Actively managed, the TGIF ETF aims to deliver distributions every Friday. I don&rsquo;t believe this is a gimmick by its issuer, SoFi or by Income Research + Management, the 30-year-old old bond firm that manages the new fund.

The firms know what the rest of the world knows: The S&amp;P 500 yields just 1.66% while the comparable metric on 10-year Treasuries is a tiny 0.77%.
TGIF generates income by holding corporate bonds, both investment-grade and high-yield fare. As a result, credit risk is in play, and that&rsquo;s something to consider in the current climate. In March alone, $400 billion worth of investment-grade corporate debt was downgraded <a href="https://www.blackrock.com/institutions/en-us/compliance/terms-and-conditions?targetUrl=/institutions/en-us/insights/investment-actions/credit-downgrades">one level by at least one</a> of the three major ratings agencies.
In the second quarter, <a href="https://www.spglobal.com/ratings/en/research/articles/200715-credit-trends-u-s-corporate-downgrades-rise-to-a-new-high-in-second-quarter-2020-11571697">S&amp;P Global Ratings</a> trimmed its ratings on a record 414 long-term issuers . Moreover, the downgrades of speculative debt, i.e.&nbsp; bonds with ratings of BB+ and lower &ndash; surged.
Due to the fact that it&rsquo;s new on the scene, the&nbsp;composition and credit quality of TGIF <a href="https://www.sofi.com/invest/etfs/tgif/">aren&rsquo;t yet posted</a> on the SoFi web site. But a look at the fund&rsquo;s roster indicates that the ETF has substantial exposure to the energy sector. Further, it also holds debt issued by companies in other industries that have been punished by Covid-19.
In other words,&nbsp; there&rsquo;s likely a fair amount of junk bonds in its portfolio, meaning TGIF isn&rsquo;t a free lunch, particularly if default rates remain elevated.
Conversely, TGIF does offer investors reduced interest-rate risk because it focuses on bonds with durations of three years or less. Duration affects a bond&rsquo;s sensitivity to changes in interest rates, and longer-dated debt is more sensitive than short-term fare.
<h3>Assessing the Utility of the TGIF ETF</h3>
The first ETF in U.S. history is almost three decades old, and many if not all of the most basic investment concepts are addressed by ETFs. That means <a href="https://investorplace.com/2020/10/spak-etf-could-prove-to-be-well-timed-thematic-launch/">new ETFs are likely to be</a> increasingly nuanced, refined and unique.
That also places makes it harder for investors to determine which new funds work for them. When it comes to TGIF, I like <a href="https://twitter.com/MstarETFUS/status/1312053467624747008">the explanation offered up</a> by Ben Johnson, Morningstar&rsquo;s global director of ETF research.
He tells investors to assume that TGIF will yield 5% and then subtract its annual fee of 0.59%, for a yield of 4.41%. Throw $10,000 into the new ETF and, assuming a 10% tax rate, an investor is generating $7.63 per week. That&rsquo;s almost $400 per year.
That&rsquo;s not too shabby. But assuming that Johnson&rsquo;s math proves accurate and the income delivered by TGIF every week is equivalent to the cost of 1.5 cups of expensive coffee, the new ETF may wind up being more suitable for younger investors with lengthy time horizons than those needing high levels of income right now.
On the date of publication, Todd Shriber did not have (either directly or indirectly) any positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article.
Todd Shriber has been an InvestorPlace contributor since 2014.
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	</div>The post <a href="https://investorplace.com/2020/10/tgif-etf-fills-an-income-voidbut-its-not-risk-free/">The TGIF ETF Offers Weekly Paychecks Hoping to Lure Income-Starved Investors</a> appeared first on <a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace</a>.

The TGIF ETF Offers Weekly Paychecks Hoping to Lure Income-Starved Investors

New SoFi Weekly Dividend ETF will pay dividends every seven days

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 2, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- <a xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" target="_blank" href="https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&amp;l=en&amp;o=2937971-1&amp;h=3383802515&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sofi.com%2F&amp;a=SoFi" rel="nofollow">SoFi</a> announced today the launch of its newest exchange -traded fund (ETF): the SoFi Weekly Income ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="/stock/TGIF#NYSE">TGIF</a>), the online personal finance company&#39;s first fixed-income offering and the industry&#39;s first ETF to offer a weekly distribution to fund shareholders.*

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TGIF is an actively managed fund that seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing in U.S. dollar-denominated investment grade and non-investment grade securities and instruments. The fund plans to distribute income from its investments to shareholders every Friday. The fund is the latest addition to SoFi&#39;s innovative family of ETFs, after launching its first four ETFs last year, SoFi Select 500, SoFi Next 500, SoFi 50, and SoFi Gig Economy ETFs. 
&#34;At SoFi, our mission is to help our members get their money right, which means providing our members with access to innovative, affordable, and diversified investments for their portfolio,&#34; said Anthony Noto, CEO of SoFi. &#34;TGIF can help provide our members with a means of generating consistent income at attractive interest rates, with potential for a lower level of risk than the stock market. Whether an investor is just beginning their financial journey or they have decades of experience under their belt, cultivating an income-generating component to a portfolio is an important step, and we&#39;re very proud to be offering this first-of-its-kind fund.&#34; 
TGIF will be sub-advised by Income Research + Management and Exponential ETFs. Toroso Investments serves as the ETF&#39;s investment advisor. TGIF has an expense ratio of 0.59%.
TGIF is the second actively managed ETF offered by SoFi, joining the<a xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" target="_blank" href="https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&amp;l=en&amp;o=2937971-1&amp;h=862021835&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sofi.com%2Finvest%2Fetfs%2Fgige%2F&amp;a=%C2%A0" rel="nofollow"> </a><a xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" target="_blank" href="https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&amp;l=en&amp;o=2937971-1&amp;h=2196322651&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sofi.com%2Finvest%2Fetfs%2Fgige%2F&amp;a=SoFi+Gig+Economy+ETF+(GIGE)" rel="nofollow">SoFi Gig Economy ETF (GIGE)</a>. Also part of this unique fund family is the<a xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" target="_blank" href="https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&amp;l=en&amp;o=2937971-1&amp;h=1315704387&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sofi.com%2Finvest%2Fetfs%2Fsfyf%2F&amp;a=%C2%A0" rel="nofollow"> </a><a xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" target="_blank" href="https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&amp;l=en&amp;o=2937971-1&amp;h=4071248986&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sofi.com%2Finvest%2Fetfs%2Fsfyf%2F&amp;a=SoFi+50+ETF+(SFYF)" rel="nofollow">SoFi 50 ETF (SFYF)</a>, which is made up of the 50 most widely held U.S. Listed stocks on the SoFi Invest platform, as well as the<a xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" target="_blank" href="https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&amp;l=en&amp;o=2937971-1&amp;h=2168134078&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sofi.com%2Finvest%2Fetfs%2Fsfy%2F&amp;a=%C2%A0" rel="nofollow"> </a><a xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" target="_blank" href="https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&amp;l=en&amp;o=2937971-1&amp;h=3015886119&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sofi.com%2Finvest%2Fetfs%2Fsfy%2F&amp;a=SoFi+Select+500+ETF+(SFY)" rel="nofollow">SoFi Select 500 ETF (SFY)</a> and<a xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" target="_blank" href="https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&amp;l=en&amp;o=2937971-1&amp;h=1858285147&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sofi.com%2Finvest%2Fetfs%2Fsfyx%2F&amp;a=%C2%A0" rel="nofollow"> </a><a xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" target="_blank" href="https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&amp;l=en&amp;o=2937971-1&amp;h=2257909198&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sofi.com%2Finvest%2Fetfs%2Fsfyx%2F&amp;a=SoFi+Next+500+ETF+(SFYX)" rel="nofollow">SoFi Next 500 ETF (SFYX)</a>, which were launched as the first two zero-fee ETFs on the market and will remain zero fee until at least June 30, 2021.**
All of SoFi&#39;s ETFs are available through SoFi Invest, as well as through any other brokerage account.
About SoFi
SoFi helps people achieve financial independence to realize their ambitions. Our products for borrowing, saving, spending, investing, and protecting give our more than one million members fast access to tools to get their money right. SoFi membership comes with the key essentials for getting ahead, including career advisors and connection to a thriving community of like-minded, ambitious people. SoFi is also the naming rights partner of SoFi Stadium, home of the Los Angeles Chargers and the Los Angeles Rams. For more information, visit SoFi.com.
About Tidal ETF Services
Formed by ETF industry pioneers and thought leaders, Tidal sets out to disrupt the way ETFs have historically been developed, launched, marketed and sold. With a transparent, partnership approach, Tidal offers a comprehensive suite of services, proprietary tools, and methodologies designed to bring lasting ideas to market. As advocates for ETF innovation, Tidal helps institutions and organizations launch the most interesting and viable ETFs available today. For more information, visit tidaletfservices.com.
Contacts
Chris Sullivan/Julia Stoll MacMillan Communications (212) 473-4442 <a xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" target="_blank" href="mailto:chris@macmillancom.com" rel="nofollow">chris@macmillancom.com</a> <a xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" target="_blank" href="mailto:pr@sofi.com" rel="nofollow">pr@sofi.com</a> 
Disclosures
Before investing you should carefully consider the Fund&#39;s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. This and other information is in the prospectus. A prospectus may be obtained by visiting <a xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" target="_blank" href="https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&amp;l=en&amp;o=2937971-1&amp;h=1125548525&amp;u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sofi.com%2Finvest%2Fetfs&amp;a=www.sofi.com%2Finvest%2Fetfs" rel="nofollow">www.sofi.com/invest/etfs</a>. Please read the prospectus carefully before you invest.
* The Fund intends to pay out dividends and interest income, if any, weekly. There is no guarantee these payouts will be made.
**The Fund&#39;s investment adviser has agreed to waive its Management Fees for SoFi Select 500 ETF and SoFi Next 500 ETF until at least June 30, 2021. Investors buy and sell ETF shares through a brokerage account or an investment adviser like ordinary stocks, brokerage commissions and/or transaction costs or service fees may apply. Please consult your broker or financial advisor for their fee schedule.
There is no guarantee that the Fund&#39;s investment strategy will be successful. Shares may trade at a premium or discount to their NAV in the secondary market, and a fund&#39;s holdings and returns may deviate from those of its index. These variations may be greater when markets are volatile or subject to unusual conditions. A high portfolio turnover rate increases transaction costs, which may increase the Fund&#39;s expenses. The Fund is new and has a limited operating history. You can lose money on your investment in the Fund. 
High-yield securities (also known as &#34;junk&#34; bonds) carry a greater degree of risk and are more volatile than investment grade securities and are considered speculative. The Fund&#39;s investments in high-yield securities expose it to a substantial degree of credit risk .The value of the Fund&#39;s investments in fixed income securities will fluctuate with changes in interest rates. Typically, a rise in interest rates causes a decline in the value of fixed income securities owned indirectly by the Fund. On the other hand, if rates fall, the value of the fixed income securities generally increases. Investments in foreign securities may involve risks such as social and political instability, market illiquidity, exchange-rate fluctuations, a high level of volatility and limited regulation. Investing in emerging markets involves different and greater risks, as these countries are substantially smaller, less liquid and more volatile than securities markets in more developed markets. Privately placed securities generally are less liquid than publicly traded securities and the Fund may not always be able to sell such securities without experiencing delays in finding buyers or reducing the sale price for such securities. Since the Fund is actively managed it does not seek to replicate the performance of a specified index. The Fund may frequently trade all or a significant portion of its portfolio; and have higher portfolio turnover than funds that do seek to replicate the performance of an index.
SoFi ETFs are distributed by Foreside Fund Services, LLC.

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SOURCE SoFi

Mutual Funds

SoFi Brings Another Perk to Fridays with the First-Ever Weekly Income ETF (TGIF)

WKLY focuses on exposure to the most consistent dividend paying companies in the world; Joins TGIF in providing shareholders with weekly distributions

<a xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" rel="nofollow" href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sofi.com%2F&amp;esheet=52427142&amp;newsitemid=20210511005403&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=SoFi&amp;index=1&amp;md5=f58b55055e0a09d1945f63caf6c11c6a" shape="rect">SoFi</a> today announced the launch of the SoFi Weekly Dividend ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WKLY#NYSE">WKLY</a>), the first equity ETF designed to provide a weekly dividend payment to shareholders. WKLY joins a SoFi ETF family that also includes the <a xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" rel="nofollow" href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sofi.com%2Finvest%2Fetfs%2Ftgif%2F&amp;esheet=52427142&amp;newsitemid=20210511005403&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=SoFi+Weekly+Income+ETF+%28NYSE%3A+TGIF%29&amp;index=2&amp;md5=38dc9fdf9b8b076cb410950bbfc03e77" shape="rect">SoFi Weekly Income ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TGIF#NYSE">TGIF</a>)</a>, which launched in 2020 and was the first fixed income ETF to offer a weekly distribution to fund shareholders.&#x2A;

WKLY seeks to track the performance of the SoFi Sustainable Dividend Index, which is made up of large- and mid-cap companies in both the U.S. and developed international markets that meet a robust set of sustainable dividend filters. Securities selected for the index have maintained their dividend payments over the last 12 months, been forecasted to continue to pay over the next 12 months, and met a number of additional screens designed to remove companies at risk of reducing their dividend payouts. The fund plans to distribute income from its investments to shareholders every Thursday.

"‘Pay yourself first' is one of the oldest adages in investing, and income-generating investments can be some of the most powerful tools in an investor's arsenal," said Anthony Noto, CEO of SoFi. "We are very proud to be bringing the innovative weekly distribution approaches of first TGIF and now WKLY to both our members and the broader investing marketplace."

WKLY is passively managed and has an expense ratio of 0.49%. SoFi has partnered with Tidal ETF Services for the trust, strategy, administrative and operational aspects of the ETFs, and the fund is advised by Toroso Investments.

In addition to WKLY and TGIF, SoFi's innovative ETF lineup also includes the <a xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" rel="nofollow" href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sofi.com%2Finvest%2Fetfs%2Fgige%2F&amp;esheet=52427142&amp;newsitemid=20210511005403&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=SoFi+Gig+Economy+ETF+%28GIGE%29&amp;index=3&amp;md5=e425f7b1842361cbc9107ace28801122" shape="rect">SoFi Gig Economy ETF (GIGE)</a>, the only ETF to provide targeted exposure to the companies driving and benefiting from the growth of the gig economy; the <a xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" rel="nofollow" href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sofi.com%2Finvest%2Fetfs%2Fsfyf%2F&amp;esheet=52427142&amp;newsitemid=20210511005403&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=SoFi+Social+50+ETF+%28SFYF%29&amp;index=4&amp;md5=bb3495c0e935ec71ca59cdf3f30ccc41" shape="rect">SoFi Social 50 ETF (SFYF)</a>, which is made up of the 50 most widely held U.S. listed stocks on the SoFi Invest platform; and the <a xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" rel="nofollow" href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sofi.com%2Finvest%2Fetfs%2Fsfy%2F&amp;esheet=52427142&amp;newsitemid=20210511005403&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=SoFi+Select+500+ETF+%28SFY%29&amp;index=5&amp;md5=7fa99d083ca7f0bb6be86dc0edfb2146" shape="rect">SoFi Select 500 ETF (SFY)</a> and <a xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" rel="nofollow" href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sofi.com%2Finvest%2Fetfs%2Fsfyx%2F&amp;esheet=52427142&amp;newsitemid=20210511005403&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=SoFi+Next+500+ETF+%28SFYX%29&amp;index=6&amp;md5=6fc602933f54590ab0e3eb814bc59fe6" shape="rect">SoFi Next 500 ETF (SFYX)</a>, which were launched as the first two zero-fee ETFs on the market and will remain zero fee until at least June 30, 2021.&#x2A;&#x2A;

All of SoFi's ETFs are available through SoFi Invest, as well as through any other brokerage account.

About SoFi

SoFi helps people achieve financial independence to realize their ambitions. Our products for borrowing, saving, spending, investing and protecting give our over 1.8 million members fast access to tools to get their money right. SoFi membership comes with the key essentials for getting ahead, including career advisors and connection to a thriving community of like-minded, ambitious people. SoFi is also the naming rights partner of SoFi Stadium, home of the Los Angeles Chargers and the Los Angeles Rams. For more information, visit SoFi.com or download our iOS and Android apps.

Disclosures

Before investing you should carefully consider the Fund's investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. This and other information is in the prospectus. A prospectus may be obtained by visiting <a xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" rel="nofollow" href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sofi.com%2Finvest%2Fetfs&amp;esheet=52427142&amp;newsitemid=20210511005403&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=www.sofi.com%2Finvest%2Fetfs&amp;index=7&amp;md5=c956613686109fec54afab052a781f21" shape="rect">www.sofi.com/invest/etfs</a>. Please read the prospectus carefully before you invest.

&#x2A; The Fund intends to pay out dividends and interest income, if any, weekly. There is no guarantee these payouts will be made.

&#x2A;&#x2A;The Fund's investment adviser has agreed to waive its Management Fees for SoFi Select 500 ETF and SoFi Next 500 ETF until at least June 30, 2021. Investors buy and sell ETF shares through a brokerage account or an investment adviser like ordinary stocks, brokerage commissions and/or transaction costs or service fees may apply. Please consult your broker or financial advisor for their fee schedule.

There is no guarantee that the Fund's investment strategy will be successful. Shares may trade at a premium or discount to their NAV in the secondary market, and a fund's holdings and returns may deviate from those of its index. These variations may be greater when markets are volatile or subject to unusual conditions. A high portfolio turnover rate increases transaction costs, which may increase the Fund's expenses. The Fund is new and has a limited operating history. You can lose money on your investment in the Fund.

The Fund's investments will be concentrated in an industry or group of industries to the extent the Index is so concentrated. In such event, the value of Shares may rise and fall more than the value of shares that invest in securities of companies in a broader range of industries.

There is no guarantee that issuers of the securities held by the Fund will declare dividends in the future or that, if declared, they will either remain at current levels or increase over time.

Investments in securities or other instruments of non-U.S. issuers involve certain risks not involved in domestic investments and may experience more rapid and extreme changes in value than investments in securities of U.S. companies. Financial markets in foreign countries often are not as developed, efficient, or liquid as financial markets in the United States, and therefore, the prices of non-U.S. securities and instruments can be more volatile. In addition, the Fund will be subject to risks associated with adverse political and economic developments in foreign countries, which may include the imposition of economic sanctions. Generally, there is less readily available and reliable information about non-U.S. issuers due to less rigorous disclosure or accounting standards and regulatory practices.

SoFi ETFs are distributed by Foreside Fund Services, LLC.
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