SELL TO CLOSE the Sun Microsystems November 5 put option (SUQ+WA, 0.95), at 0.95 or better.  Sun Microsystems reported its first-quarter earnings yesterday after close. Excluding one-time charges, Sun earned $13 million, or break-even on a per-share basis while analysts expected a loss of 3 cents per share.  Read More

BUY TO OPEN the Sun Microsystems November 5 put option (SUQ+WA, 0.85), at $0.90 or better.  Sun Microsystems will report its first-quarter earnings on Thursday, October 14. The consensus among analysts for the network computer and server maker is calling for a loss of 3 cents a share on $2.7 billion in revenue.  Read More

BUY to Open the April 20 APEX SILVER MINES Call Option (SIL+DD, $3.50), at the market.  Among the precious metals, gold gets the lion's share of investors' attention. But the yellow metal isn't the only one that deserves a good hard look.  Read More

SELL TO CLOSE your December 42.50 Newmont Mining NEM Call Option (NEM+LV, 3.50, at the market)  We recommend closing out your Newmont Mining Position while it is still profitable. The trade was defensive play leveraged to gold prices. However, today's gold prices have sharply declined, and we believe that this may continue for the nearest future. Read More

We have been stopped out from the RSYS position (RSYS, 13.73)   The stock was trading down all day today and violated our stop that we recommended establishing yesterday in our market update. Close your margined position in RSYS with more than 20% gain.  Read More

Both of these positions are leveraged to the growth in the economy. But with oil at its current level the risks in the economy are growing. And perhaps no sector is more vulnerable here than technology.  Read More

BUY to Open December 42.50 Newmont Mining NEM Call Option (NEM+LV, at 2.90 or better)  We recommend the purchase of a call option on the Newmont Mining Corp., a company engaged in mostly gold exploration and gold production worldwide, as gold prices continue to recover.  Read More

Correction to today's Instant Alert:  Sell to open Goldman Sachs Semiconductor iShares November 55 Put Option (IGW+WK, $5.60 or better)  Year-to-date, the Goldman Sachs Semiconductor iShares (IGW, $49.95) is down more than 25%.  Read More

Sell to open Goldman Sachs Semiconductor iShares November 55 Put Option (IGW+WJ, $2.60 or better)  Year-to-date, the Goldman Sachs Semiconductor iShares (IGW, $49.95) is down more than 25%.  Read More

Buy RadiSys Corp (RSYS) on margin.   RadiSys Corp is a $230 mil small-cap company engaged in design and manufacturing of embedded computer solutions.  Read More