Options traders have been positioning for a rebound in financial-sector exchange traded funds that have large stakes in Citigroup (NYSE: C), Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) and other big banks, according to a report Monday.
A trend has emerged in recent weeks in options based on SPDR KBW Bank ETF (NYSEArca: KBE), the largest bank ETF by assets, Street One Financial said in a note to clients.
“The ETF closed on its 200-day moving average on Friday, its lowest close this year, but we have seen bullish-looking options flows in the ETF,” said Paul Weisbruch, vice president of ETF/options sales and trading at Street One.
“It is clear that the options investors are looking for a rebound in the sector in months to come. Top holdings of KBE include JP Morgan (NYSE: JPM), Citigroup, Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC), Bank of America and US Bancorp (NYSE: USB),” he wrote in the report.
Similarly, there has been evidence of options traders looking for a bottom in the sector through Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSEArca: XLF).