STRI is trading $20.41, down 16.8% with IV30⢠down 24.7%. The <a href="http://www.livevol.com/">LIVEVOL⢠Pro Summary</a> is <a href="http://livevol.blogspot.com/2010/11/stri.html">in the article</a>. <img src="http://www.livevolpro.com/help/images/blog/stri_summary.gif" /> ------------------------------------------------------------------- <a href="http://www.livevolpro.com/help/free_trial.html"><img height="200" src="http://www.livevolpro.com/help/images/blog/lvp_trial_ad.gif" /></a> For a limited time we are offering a FREE real-time trial to Livevol Pro⢠for non-professional traders. You can get your trial by following the directions here: <b><a href="http://www.livevolpro.com/help/free_trial.html">Click for Free Trial Offer</a></b> ------------------------------------------------------------------- Jeff Kearns of Bloomberg brought this one to my attention and wrote a great article about it, "Bearish STR Options Surged to Record Before Decline." Basically there was some large put buying on 11-8-2010, just a few days before the recent stock collapse. Let's look at the details... First, let's look to the Charts Tab (6 months) is <a href="http://livevol.blogspot.com/2010/11/stri.html">in the article</a>. The top portion is the stock price, the bottom is the vol (IV30⢠- red vs HV20⢠- blue vs HV180⢠- pink). <img src="http://www.livevolpro.com/help/images/blog/stri_charts.gif" width="600" /> It's the stock collapse of late that's in question - or the order flow surrounding it, really. The company averages 166 puts traded a day with average put OI of just 1,482. The relevant portion of the Stats Tab is included <a href="http://livevol.blogspot.com/2010/11/stri.html">in the article</a>. Now we can turn to the trades on 11-8-2010. I've included the Options Montage from that day and the largest option trades <a href="http://livevol.blogspot.com/2010/11/stri.html">in the article</a>. So, in total, ~5,000 puts traded in Nov, Dec 25's and Dec 22.5's. That day 5,366 puts traded or ~ 3,800% of the daily average, and whatta' you know?... The stock has gone from ~$28 to $20 or down 28.5%. I'll repeat what I told Jeff, for what it's worth: "This is highly coincidental at best, and is foul play at worst. I tend to lean to the latter." And yes, I did just quote myself, myself... What? It's Friday... This is trade analysis, not a recommendation. <b>Follow Live Trades and Order Flow on Twitter: @Livevol_Pro</b> Details, trades, prices, vols, skews, charts here: <a href="http://livevol.blogspot.com/2010/11/stri.html">http://livevol.blogspot.com/2010/11/stri.html</a> Legal Stuff: <a href="http://www.livevolpro.com/help/disclaimer_legal.html">http://www.livevolpro.com/help/disclaimer_legal.html</a>