Investors Buy Large Volume of SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF Put Options (NYSEARCA:KRE)

SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF (NYSEARCA:KRE) was the target of some unusual options trading on Friday. Traders bought 120,739 put options on the company. This is an increase of approximately 46% compared to the average volume of 82,440 put options.

SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF Trading Down 1.2%

Shares of KRE stock opened at $72.01 on Friday. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $71.97 and a 200 day moving average price of $70.96. SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF has a twelve month low of $58.20 and a twelve month high of $78.35. The company has a market capitalization of $3.96 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.39 and a beta of 0.87.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Vanguard Capital Wealth Advisors purchased a new stake in shares of SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF during the 2nd quarter valued at about $934,000. Renaissance Technologies LLC grew its holdings in SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF by 21.0% during the 1st quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 141,900 shares of the exchange traded fund’s stock worth $9,245,000 after acquiring an additional 24,600 shares in the last quarter. Nwam LLC acquired a new stake in SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF during the second quarter valued at approximately $779,000. Summit Securities Group LLC lifted its stake in SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF by 216.2% during the first quarter. Summit Securities Group LLC now owns 23,919 shares of the exchange traded fund’s stock worth $1,558,000 after purchasing an additional 16,354 shares during the last quarter. Finally, First Eagle Investment Management LLC lifted its position in shares of SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF by 34.3% in the 2nd quarter. First Eagle Investment Management LLC now owns 236,569 shares of the exchange traded fund’s stock worth $17,707,000 after buying an additional 60,450 shares during the last quarter.

About SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF

SPDR KBW Regional Banking ETF, formerly SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF, seeks to closely match the returns and characteristics of the S&P Regional Banks Select Industry Index. Its approach is designed to provide portfolios with low portfolio turnover, tracking, and lower costs. As of October 27, 2011, the Company’s holding included Privatebancorp Inc, Webster Finl Corp Conn, Umpqua Hldgs Corp, Firstmerit Corp, East West Bancorp Inc, Fifth Third Bancorp, Fnb Corp Pa, Susquehanna Bancshares Inc and Keycorp New and First Rep Bk San Fran Cali.