$GE put buyers score overnight

Bearish option traders are making big gains in downside positions on General Electric (GE) this session.

On Oct. 21, Market Rebellion’s Unusual Option Activity Service found that 5,000 November $190 puts were bought for $4.80 to $5.87 with shares at $194.27. This was clearly fresh buying, as open interest in the contract was just 411 before the activity appeared.

Those puts have traded for as much as $14.45 this session, a 146.17% return, while the stock fell 9.1% in the same time frame, illustrating the kind of leverage that can be achieved quickly with options.

Long puts lock in the price where a stock can be sold no matter how far it might drop, gaining value in a selloff with the potential for significant leverage. The contracts can be purchased either as an outright bearish bet or a hedge on a long-stock position.

GE at the close was down by 9.07% to $176.66.