Bank of America Option Alert: Jan, 2027 $55 Calls Sweep (29) near the Bid: 3201 vs 16599 OI; Earnings 4/15 Before Open 

Bank of America Option Alert: Jan, 2027 $55 Calls Sweep (29) near the Bid: 3201 @ $2.18 vs 16599 OI; Earnings 4/15 Before Open Ref=$42.38

Bank of America Option Alert: May 16 $44 Puts Sweep (20) near the Ask: 2058 vs 4036 OI; Earnings 4/15 Before Open 

Bank of America Option Alert: May 16 $44 Puts Sweep (20) near the Ask: 2058 @ $2.841 vs 4036 OI; Earnings 4/15 Before Open Ref=$41.975

Bank of America Option Alert: May 16 $44 Puts Sweep (30) near the Ask: 2100 vs 4036 OI; Earnings 4/15 Before Open 

Bank of America Option Alert: May 16 $44 Puts Sweep (30) near the Ask: 2100 @ $2.901 vs 4036 OI; Earnings 4/15 Before Open Ref=$41.865

Bank of America Option Alert: May 16 $44 Puts Sweep (32) near the Ask: 2426 vs 4036 OI; Earnings 4/15 Before Open 

Bank of America Option Alert: May 16 $44 Puts Sweep (32) near the Ask: 2426 @ $2.951 vs 4036 OI; Earnings 4/15 Before Open Ref=$41.84

Bank of America Option Alert: Jan 16 $37 Calls at the Bid: 3200 vs 11345 OI; Earnings 4/15 Before Open 

Bank of America Option Alert: Jan 16 $37 Calls at the Bid: 3200 @ $7.55 vs 11345 OI; Earnings 4/15 Before Open Ref=$41.975

Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) Stock

BANK OF AMERICA CORP

Bank of America

Bank of America is one of the largest financial institutions in the United States, with more than $3.2 trillion in assets. It is organized into four major segments: consumer banking, global wealth and investment management, global banking, and global markets. Bank of America's consumer-facing lines of business include its network of branches and deposit-gathering operations, retail lending products, credit and debit cards, and small-business services. The company's Merrill Lynch operations provide brokerage and wealth-management services, as does its private bank. Wholesale lines of business include investment banking, corporate and commercial real estate lending, and capital markets operations. Bank of America has operations in several countries but is primarily US-focused.

Bank of America Corp

BERENSON ACQUISITION CORP I CL A

Berenson Acquisition Corp I Warrants (01/08/2026)

BANK OF CHINA LTD ORD by Bank of China, Ltd.

Bank Of China Ltd

BANK OF CHINA UNSP/ADR by Bank of China, Ltd.

IMAC Holdings Inc

Bleichroeder Acquisition Corp. I - Class A Ordinary Shares

Bleichroeder Acquisition Corp I

Bleichroeder Acquisition Corp. I - Right

BANK OF AMERICA 7.00B PFD by Bank of America Corp.

Bank of America Corporation Depositary Shares, each representing a 1/1,000th interest in a share of 6.000% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series GG

Bank of America Corporation Depositary Sh repstg 1/1000th Perp Pfd Ser E

Bank of America Corporation Depositary Shares, each representing a 1/1,000th interest in a share of 5.875% Non- Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series HH

Bank of America Corporation Non Cumulative Perpetual Conv Pfd Ser L

Bank of America Corporation Depositary Shares, each representing a 1/1,000th interest in a share of 5.375% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series KK

Bank of America Corporation Depositary shares, each representing 1/1,000th interest in a share of 5.000% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series LL

Bank of America Corporation Depositary shares, each representing 1/1,000th interest in a share of 4.375% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series NN

Bank of America Corporation Depositary Shares, each representing a 1/1,000th interest in a share of 4.125% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series PP

Bank of America Corporation Depositary shares, each representing 1/1,000th interest in a share of 4.250% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series QQ

Bank of America Corporation Depositary shares, each representing 1/1,000th interest in a share of 4.750% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series SS

Whales with a lot of money to spend have taken a noticeably bullish stance on Bank of America.
Looking at options history for Bank of America (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>) we detected 132 trades.
If we consider the specifics of each trade, it is accurate to state that 59% of the investors opened trades with bullish expectations and 37% with bearish.
From the overall spotted trades, 75 are puts, for a total amount of $6,910,848 and 57, calls, for a total amount of $7,447,285.
<h3>Predicted Price Range</h3>
Based on the trading activity, it appears that the significant investors are aiming for a price territory stretching from $18.0 to $50.0 for Bank of America over the recent three months. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Development</h3>
Looking at the volume and open interest is a powerful move while trading options. This data can help you track the liquidity and interest for Bank of America's options for a given strike price. Below, we can observe the evolution of the volume and open interest of calls and puts, respectively, for all of Bank of America's whale trades within a strike price range from $18.0 to $50.0 in the last 30 days. 
<h3>Bank of America 30-Day Option Volume &amp; Interest Snapshot</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1744052508_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Largest Options Trades Observed:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>BAC</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/15/27</td>
<td>$5.65</td>
<td>$5.4</td>
<td>$5.55</td>
<td>$35.00</td>
<td>$555.0K</td>
<td>10.7K</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BAC</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$8.6</td>
<td>$8.5</td>
<td>$8.6</td>
<td>$42.00</td>
<td>$164.2K</td>
<td>40.9K</td>
<td>86</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BAC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>12/18/26</td>
<td>$12.3</td>
<td>$11.95</td>
<td>$12.3</td>
<td>$25.00</td>
<td>$159.8K</td>
<td>210</td>
<td>490</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BAC</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$3.55</td>
<td>$3.5</td>
<td>$3.5</td>
<td>$37.00</td>
<td>$147.0K</td>
<td>34.9K</td>
<td>6.9K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BAC</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$3.55</td>
<td>$3.45</td>
<td>$3.45</td>
<td>$37.00</td>
<td>$138.0K</td>
<td>34.9K</td>
<td>7.7K</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Bank of America</h3>
Bank of America is one of the largest financial institutions in the United States, with more than $3.2 trillion in assets. It is organized into four major segments: consumer banking, global wealth and investment management, global banking, and global markets. Bank of America's consumer-facing lines of business include its network of branches and deposit-gathering operations, retail lending products, credit and debit cards, and small-business services. The company's Merrill Lynch operations provide brokerage and wealth-management services, as does its private bank. Wholesale lines of business include investment banking, corporate and commercial real estate lending, and capital markets operations. Bank of America has operations in several countries but is primarily US-focused.
<h3>Bank of America's Current Market Status</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a trading volume of 98,544,583, the price of BAC is up by 3.56%, reaching $35.62.</li>
<li>Current RSI values indicate that the stock is may be approaching oversold.</li>
<li>Next earnings report is scheduled for 8 days from now.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Expert Opinions on Bank of America</h3>
A total of 5 professional analysts have given their take on this stock in the last 30 days, setting an average price target of $49.5.
Unusual Options Activity Detected: Smart Money on the Move
Benzinga Edge's Unusual Options board spots potential market movers before they happen. See what positions big money is taking on your favorite stocks. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-checkout/?t=Be8be9arja3be22bz20&amp;adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=options-activity&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Evercore ISI Group has decided to maintain their Outperform rating on Bank of America, which currently sits at a price target of $48. 
&#x2A; Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Truist Securities keeps a Buy rating on Bank of America with a target price of $50. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Morgan Stanley persists with their Equal-Weight rating on Bank of America, maintaining a target price of $56. 
&#x2A; Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Citigroup keeps a Buy rating on Bank of America with a target price of $50. 
&#x2A; Maintaining their stance, an analyst from JP Morgan continues to hold a Overweight rating for Bank of America, targeting a price of $43. 
Options trading presents higher risks and potential rewards. Astute traders manage these risks by continually educating themselves, adapting their strategies, monitoring multiple indicators, and keeping a close eye on market movements. Stay informed about the latest Bank of America options trades with real-time alerts from <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a>.

Options

Markets

Behind the Scenes of Bank of America's Latest Options Trends

WIIM

ARES

Shares of some banking and financial services stocks are trading higher as markets rebound following earlier weakness.

Shares of the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLF#NASDAQ">XLF</a>) are trading lower by 10.6% to $44.36 over the past week and are extremely volatile during Monday&#8217;s session.
President Donald Trump's announcement of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44621408/market-access-has-a-price-trump-unveils-list-of-tariffs-countries-targeted">sweeping reciprocal tariffs</a> against key trading partners last week has ignited investor concerns about a global economic slowdown—an environment that poses significant risks to the U.S. financial sector.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What Is XLF?</h2>
The Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund is an exchange-traded fund designed to track the performance of the Financial Select Sector Index, which includes major U.S. financial institutions. 
Top holdings in the fund include JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>), Bank of America Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>), Wells Fargo &amp; Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WFC#NYSE">WFC</a>), Goldman Sachs Group Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GS#NYSE">GS</a>) and Citigroup Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/C#NYSE">C</a>). 
These companies are deeply tied to macroeconomic conditions and global trade flows, making XLF especially vulnerable to geopolitical developments like a trade war.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44667862/oil-crashes-to-60-per-barrel-as-recession-fears-grow">Oil Crashes To $60 Per Barrel As Global Recession Fears Grow</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Why Are Tariffs Hurting Financials—and XLF?</h2>
<ul>
<li>Economic Growth at Risk: Financial institutions thrive in stable, expanding economies. Tariffs have the opposite effect—disrupting supply chains, increasing costs for businesses and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/market-summary/25/04/44662164/us-stock-futures-slump-following-massive-tariff-induced-selloff-experts-warn-of-a-brewing-great-depression-like-pattern">chilling global trade</a>. Slower growth directly affects loan demand, reduces business investment and increases the likelihood of defaults. These dynamics all undercut bank profitability, especially for institutions that dominate the XLF ETF. </li>
<li>Weaker Loan Activity: Banks like JPMorgan and Wells Fargo generate significant income from lending. But as trade tensions escalate, businesses are more likely to delay expansion or capital investment, which means lower demand for commercial loans. At the same time, consumers hit by higher prices on <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44667862/oil-crashes-to-60-per-barrel-as-recession-fears-grow">imported goods</a> may tighten spending, reducing appetite for credit cards and mortgages. </li>
<li>Market Volatility and Investment Activity: Tariffs have injected fresh uncertainty into financial markets. That's bad news for investment banks and asset managers—another key slice of XLF's holdings. A sustained pullback in markets tends to reduce trading volumes, shrink deal pipelines, and lower asset management fees. Firms like Goldman Sachs could see a hit to earnings if market instability continues. </li>
<li>Rising Risk of Credit Deterioration: If tariffs trigger a sharper economic downturn, the financial sector could face rising delinquencies and deteriorating credit quality. Banks may be forced to set aside more capital for potential loan losses, further squeezing profits.</li>
</ul>
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44666973/trump-media-stock-is-tumbling-monday-whats-going-on">Trump Media Stock Is Tumbling Monday: What&#8217;s Going On?</a>

News

What's Going On With Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF)?

Morgan Stanley analyst Betsy Graseck upgrades Bank of America (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>) from Equal-Weight to Overweight and lowers the price target from $56 to $47.

Upgrades

Price Target

Analyst Ratings

Morgan Stanley Upgrades Bank of America to Overweight, Lowers Price Target to $47

Warren Buffett&#8216;s Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NASDAQ">BRK</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NASDAQ">BRK</a>) has outperformed the losses in the S&amp;P 500, while the &#8216;Oracle of Omaha&#8217; has emerged as the only top 10 billionaire to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/04/44658417/warren-buffett-stands-tall-in-2025-as-elon-musk-jeff-bezos-and-mark-zuckerberg-bleed-billions-in-net-worth-oracle-of-omaha-emerges-as-lone-gainer-among-top-billionaires-amid-market-rout">see a net worth gain</a> on a year-to-date basis in 2025.
What Happened: Shares of Berkshire Hathaway&#8217;s class B shares have risen by 9.41% in 2025, being one of the only few S&amp;P 500 components that are still in the green amid the ongoing market selloff. The S&amp;P 500 index, on the other hand, has fallen 13.54% on a year-to-date basis.
While, has been a flurry of speculations over the company&#8217;s cash pile, having the liquid form of dollars has helped the company avert losses amid President Donald Trump&#8216;s tariff-fueled crash on Wall Street.
Berkshire Hathaway&#8217;s cash and cash equivalents totaled a record $334.2 billion as of the end of the fourth quarter of 2024.
The firm has also added $87.81 billion in investor wealth in 2025 as its market capitalization has risen from $978.19 billion as of Dec. 31, 2024, to $1,066 billion as of Friday, April 4.
Buffett is also among the only one of the top 10 billionaires, according to Bloomberg&#8217;s Billionaire Index, to witness a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/04/44658417/warren-buffett-stands-tall-in-2025-as-elon-musk-jeff-bezos-and-mark-zuckerberg-bleed-billions-in-net-worth-oracle-of-omaha-emerges-as-lone-gainer-among-top-billionaires-amid-market-rout">net worth gain</a> of $12.7 billion in 2025.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Billionaires</td>
<td>Total Net Worth</td>
<td>YTD Change</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Elon Musk</td>
<td>$302B</td>
<td>-$130B</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jeff Bezos</td>
<td>$193B</td>
<td>-$45.2B</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Mark Zuckerberg</td>
<td>$179B</td>
<td>-$28.1B</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Bernard Arnault</td>
<td>$158B</td>
<td>-$18.6B</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Bill Gates</td>
<td>$155B</td>
<td>-$3.38B</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Warren Buffett</td>
<td>$155B</td>
<td>$12.7B</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Larry Ellison</td>
<td>$150B</td>
<td>-$42.1B</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Larry Page</td>
<td>$134B</td>
<td>-$34.6B</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Steve Ballmer</td>
<td>$127B</td>
<td>-$19.5B</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Sergey Brin</td>
<td>$126B</td>
<td>-$32.3B</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Source: Bloomberg Billionaire Index</figcaption></figure>
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/market-summary/25/04/44660779/sp-500-dow-jones-on-course-to-mimic-rare-consecutive-losses-not-seen-since-the-great-depression-whats-driving-the-fear">S&amp;P 500, Dow Jones On Course To Mimic Rare Consecutive Losses Not Seen Since The Great Depression: What&#8217;s Driving the Fear?</a>
Why It Matters: While Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) is the largest part of Berkshire&#8217;s portfolio, it is well diversified across manufacturing, energy, and retail businesses.
American Express Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AXP#NYSE">AXP</a>), Bank of America Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>), Coca-Cola Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KO#NYSE">KO</a>), Chevron Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVX#NYSE">CVX</a>), and Occidental Petroleum Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OXY#NYSE">OXY</a>) are a few of the other top holdings of the firm.
Berkshire is also one of the few firms that is trading above its 200-day simple moving average of $462.38 apiece. With a relative strength index of 38.2, it is in the neutral zone.
Its MACD line of +4.51 showed that its 12-period exponential moving average is above the 26-period EMA, indicating a bullish trend. However, the histogram was negative at -4.81, meaning that the MACD line was falling further below the signal line. This depicts that the bearish momentum is increasing amid the bullish trend.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/07081432/brk-B-TECH-CHART-1024x576.png" alt="" class="wp-image-859785" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/07081432/brk-B-TECH-CHART-1024x576.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/07081432/brk-B-TECH-CHART-300x169.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/07081432/brk-B-TECH-CHART-768x432.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/07081432/brk-B-TECH-CHART-1536x864.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/07081432/brk-B-TECH-CHART.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>
Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings indicate Berkshire has a negative price trend over the short term but a positive trend over the long and medium term. Its momentum ranking was solid at the 88.06th percentile, and its value ranking was also stronger. Further fundamental details about the growth rankings are <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">available here</a>. 
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/report/BRK.B"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="718" height="127" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/07081412/BRK-edge-rankings.png" alt="" class="wp-image-859782" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/07081412/BRK-edge-rankings.png 718w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/07081412/BRK-edge-rankings-300x53.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 718px) 100vw, 718px" /></a></figure>
The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) and Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), which track the S&amp;P 500 index and Nasdaq 100 index, respectively, declined in premarket on Monday. The SPY was down 2.10% to $494.66, while the QQQ declined 2.24% to $413.21, according to<a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard"> Benzinga Pro</a> data.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/04/44662730/bill-ackman-slams-commerce-secretary-lutnick-for-ignoring-stock-market-crash-he-and-cantor-are-long-bonds">Bill Ackman Slams Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick For Ignoring Stock Market Crash: &#8216;He And Cantor Are Long Bonds&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Image via Shutterstock

Equities

Technicals

Economics

Trading Ideas

General

AAPL

Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Unfazed By Trump Tariff-Triggered Market Selloff: Shares Up 9.41% YTD, Adding $87.81 Billion In Investor Wealth In 2025

Global markets plunged in the first week of the new quarter after President Donald Trump announced sweeping new tariffs on Wednesday—an event <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44616760/donald-trump-sets-reciprocal-tariffs-on-key-trade-partners-in-historic-policy-shock">he dubbed "Liberation Day."</a>
Trump unveiled a set of retaliatory tariffs with differentiated rates depending on the trading partner. The announcement sparked backlash from analysts, who criticized the methodology and raised fears of retaliation <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44647999/trumps-tariff-war-could-take-us-tech-industry-back-a-decade-while-china-steam-rolls-ahead-analyst-says">from global trade partners.</a>
China, the country with which the U.S. has the largest trade deficit, was hit with a steep 34% tariff, prompting Beijing to respond with similar countermeasures by the end of the week. The escalation marked the beginning of a new global trade war between the world's two largest economies.
Other key trading partners were also targeted: the European Union faced a 20% tariff, Japan 24%, and India 26%. Canada and Mexico were spared, as long as their exports complied with USMCA provisions.
The surprise severity of the measures sent shockwaves through markets, surpassing even the most pessimistic forecasts. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/04/44645518/strong-jobs-report-offers-hope-but-will-it-be-enough-to-counter-tariff-turmoil">A strong March jobs report</a> offered little reassurance to investors, who remain focused on the looming economic fallout from rising tariffs.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Trillions Of Wealth Evaporates As Stocks Crash </h3>
Trillions of dollars in market value were wiped <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/04/44631916/wall-street-wipes-out-2-trillion-apple-eyes-worst-day-since-covid-19-pandemic-oil-plummets-whats-driving-markets-thursday">out from Wall Street</a>. 
The S&amp;P 500 Index recorded its worst weekly decline since March 2020, when markets were devastated by the onset of COVID-19 lockdowns.
With the S&amp;P 500 plunging 10.5% over Thursday and Friday, this marks only the fourth time such a sharp two-day drawdown has occurred in modern market history—joining October 1987, September 2008, March 2020, and now April 2025.
The Nasdaq 100 plunged more than 20% from its February all-time high, officially <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/04/44647678/nasdaq-100-enters-bear-market-dow-in-correction-territory-as-traders-anxiously-await-powell-remarks">entering bear market territory.</a>
Mega-cap tech stocks led the rout, with Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) posting its worst two-day drop since October 2008. 
Financial stocks also suffered steep losses, with double-digit declines across JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>), Citigroup Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/C#NYSE">C</a>), Bank of America Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>), and others.
Oil prices bore the brunt of the sell-off. Crude dropped 10% on the week, hitting a four-year low, pressured by weakening demand expectations and a surprise announcement from OPEC+. The cartel disclosed plans for a larger-than-expected production hike starting in May, raising fears of an oversupply in global energy markets.
On Friday, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell failed to soothe market concerns, reiterating "no hurry" on interest rate cuts and highlighting that the new <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/04/44648681/powell-cites-tariff-driven-inflation-risks-shrugs-off-trumps-call-for-perfect-time-to-cut-rates">tariffs could fuel inflation.</a>
Meanwhile, Trump continued to publicly pressure the central bank, stating that now is the "perfect time" to lower interest rates.
Also on Friday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended the tariff plan, attributing the roots of the market collapse instead to China's DeepSeek AI breakthrough.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44652055/its-more-a-mag-seven-problem-than-a-maga-one-treasury-secretary-says-as-wall-street-meltdowns">&#8216;It&#8217;s More A Mag 7 Problem Than A MAGA One,&#8217; Says Bessent As Wall Street Implodes</a></li>
</ul>
Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

Government

Large Cap

Macro Economic Events

Regulations

Broad U.S. Equity ETFs

Federal Reserve

ETFs

Trump Tariffs Trigger Wall Street Bloodbath, S&P 500 Notches Worst Weekly Drop Since 2020: This Week In Markets

Bank of America shares are trading lower. Truist Securities cut its price target on the stock from $53 to $50.

Shares of Bank of America Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>) plunged 7.5% to $34.42 Friday afternoon as President Donald Trump&#8217;s sweeping reciprocal tariffs sent <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/04/44648681/powell-cites-tariff-driven-inflation-risks-shrugs-off-trumps-call-for-perfect-time-to-cut-rates">shockwaves</a> through financial markets, fueling fears of a potential global economic downturn.
As the second-largest U.S. bank by assets, Bank of America finds itself particularly exposed to these <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/market-summary/25/04/44643100/us-stocks-likely-to-open-lower-after-the-worst-selloff-since-2020-tariff-announcement-was-100-smoot-hawley-disguised-as-thoughtful-policy-says-expert">escalating trade tensions</a>. Rising tariffs threaten to slow economic growth, dampen corporate lending and curb consumer spending—three critical pillars of the bank's revenue.
What's Driving the Decline: Bank of America, which derives a significant portion of its revenue from interest income on loans and mortgages, now faces heightened concerns that tariffs could trigger inflation while <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/04/44645681/jpmorgan-raises-recession-risk-to-60-as-largest-us-tax-hike-in-60-years-hits-global-economy">stalling economic activity</a>. 
If businesses pull back on expansion due to trade uncertainty, demand for corporate credit could weaken, impacting the bank's lending operations.
Additionally, Bank of America's investment banking division—which profits from mergers, acquisitions and capital market activities—could take a hit if market volatility persists. 
Heightened uncertainty and global trade disruptions may deter companies from pursuing major deals, further squeezing the bank's fee-based income.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/04/44645518/strong-jobs-report-offers-hope-but-will-it-be-enough-to-counter-tariff-turmoil">Strong Jobs Report Offers Hope — But Will It Be Enough To Counter Tariff Turmoil?</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">How To Buy BAC Stock</h2>
Besides going to a brokerage platform to purchase a share &#8211; or fractional share &#8211; of stock, you can also gain access to shares either by buying an exchange traded fund (ETF) that holds the stock itself, or by allocating yourself to a strategy in your 401(k) that would seek to acquire shares in a mutual fund or other instrument. 
For example, in Bank of America&#8217;s case, it is in the Financials sector. An ETF will likely hold shares in many liquid and large companies that help track that sector, allowing an investor to gain exposure to the trends within that segment.
According to data from&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a>, BAC has a 52-week high of $48.08 and a 52-week low of $33.67.

What's Going On With Bank Of America (BAC) Shares

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders will search for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges heavily from its normal worth. High amounts of trading activity could push option prices to exaggerated or underestimated levels. 
Below are some instances of options activity happening in the Financials sector: 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>CRBG</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>05/17/24</td>
<td>$28.00</td>
<td>$37.6K</td>
<td>3.0K</td>
<td>1.2K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>C</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>05/17/24</td>
<td>$62.50</td>
<td>$32.1K</td>
<td>29.3K</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AMBC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/21/24</td>
<td>$17.00</td>
<td>$46.6K</td>
<td>336</td>
<td>805</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BAC</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$35.00</td>
<td>$27.3K</td>
<td>24.2K</td>
<td>733</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SOFI</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$7.00</td>
<td>$107.7K</td>
<td>23.4K</td>
<td>598</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BX</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$90.00</td>
<td>$287.5K</td>
<td>2.7K</td>
<td>500</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AXP</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>07/19/24</td>
<td>$220.00</td>
<td>$134.0K</td>
<td>856</td>
<td>446</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>COIN</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>06/21/24</td>
<td>$250.00</td>
<td>$50.3K</td>
<td>4.2K</td>
<td>308</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AFRM</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>05/24/24</td>
<td>$36.50</td>
<td>$150.7K</td>
<td>6</td>
<td>138</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>UPST</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>07/19/24</td>
<td>$27.50</td>
<td>$28.8K</td>
<td>1.1K</td>
<td>102</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These itemized elaborations have been created using the accompanying table. 
• For CRBG (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRBG#NYSE">CRBG</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 322 day(s) on May 17, 2024. This event was a transfer of 1500 contract(s) at a $28.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 26 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $37.6K, with a price of $25.0 per contract. There were 3064 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1275 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding C (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/C#NYSE">C</a>), we observe a call option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 322 day(s) on May 17, 2024. Parties traded 365 contract(s) at a $62.50 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $32.1K, with a price of $88.0 per contract. There were 29351 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1075 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For AMBC (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMBC#NYSE">AMBC</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 287 day(s) on June 21, 2024. This event was a transfer of 301 contract(s) at a $17.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 7 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $46.6K, with a price of $155.0 per contract. There were 336 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 805 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For BAC (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 77 day(s) on June 20, 2025. This event was a transfer of 116 contract(s) at a $35.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 18 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $27.3K, with a price of $236.0 per contract. There were 24242 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 733 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For SOFI (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SOFI#NASDAQ">SOFI</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 287 day(s) on January 16, 2026. This event was a transfer of 561 contract(s) at a $7.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 7 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $107.7K, with a price of $192.0 per contract. There were 23444 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 598 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding BX (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BX#NYSE">BX</a>), we observe a put option trade with neutral sentiment. It expires in 287 day(s) on January 16, 2026. Parties traded 500 contract(s) at a $90.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $287.5K, with a price of $575.0 per contract. There were 2714 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 500 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For AXP (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AXP#NYSE">AXP</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 259 day(s) on July 19, 2024. This event was a transfer of 400 contract(s) at a $220.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $134.0K, with a price of $335.0 per contract. There were 856 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 446 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding COIN (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COIN#NASDAQ">COIN</a>), we observe a call option sweep with neutral sentiment. It expires in 287 day(s) on June 21, 2024. Parties traded 46 contract(s) at a $250.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 3 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $50.3K, with a price of $1095.0 per contract. There were 4208 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 308 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding AFRM (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AFRM#NASDAQ">AFRM</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 315 day(s) on May 24, 2024. Parties traded 503 contract(s) at a $36.50 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 15 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $150.7K, with a price of $300.0 per contract. There were 6 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 138 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For UPST (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UPST#NASDAQ">UPST</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 259 day(s) on July 19, 2024. This event was a transfer of 51 contract(s) at a $27.50 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 3 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $28.8K, with a price of $565.0 per contract. There were 1106 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 102 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more about unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

AFRM

AMBC

COIN

CRBG

SOFI

UPST

10 Financials Stocks With Whale Alerts In Today's Session

Truist Securities analyst John McDonald maintains Bank of America (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>) with a Buy and lowers the price target from $53 to $50.

Truist Securities Maintains Buy on Bank of America, Lowers Price Target to $50

While most discussions on trade and tariffs center around manufacturing and merchandise, software and service providers can be just as vulnerable. 
According to analysts, e-commerce software vendors and platforms such as&nbsp;Shopify Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SHOP#NASDAQ">SHOP</a>),&nbsp;Bigcommerce Holdings Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BIGC#NASDAQ">BIGC</a>), and&nbsp;Lightspeed Commerce Inc.&nbsp;(TSE: LSPD) are now the &#8216;most exposed&#8217; due to recent events.
What Happened: On Wednesday, President Donald Trump closed the <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/04/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-closes-de-minimis-exemptions-to-combat-chinas-role-in-americas-synthetic-opioid-crisis/">De Minimis exemption</a> for China and Hong Kong, which allowed low-value imports worth less than $800 to enter the United States duty-free.
This order is set to go into effect on May 2, 2025, with the President blaming deceptive practices used by Chinese shipping companies, along with the rise of fentanyl coming from China, for the decision.
According to analyst<a href="https://in.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/ecommerce-software-vendors-most-exposed-to-trump-tariffs-says-bofa-4755567">s</a> at Bank of America (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>), this is a major setback for e-commerce platforms such as Shopify and Bigcommerce. Duties imposed on the merchandise flowing through their platforms will certainly impact volumes, affecting their revenue models, as <a href="https://in.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/ecommerce-software-vendors-most-exposed-to-trump-tariffs-says-bofa-4755567">reported</a> by Investing.com
The analysts stated that with intensifying competition in the e-commerce space, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/03/44542821/inflation-will-accelerate-in-coming-months-if-april-2-tariffs-take-effect-economist-warns">passing the higher costs to consumers</a> is no longer an option. On the other hand, enterprise software firms are better insulated from this impact, given their focus on domestic clients, and less reliance on global trade.
See More: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44639682/trump-gets-sued-over-china-tariffs-congress-did-not-grant-presidents-blank-check-to-write-domestic-policy">Trump Gets Sued Over China Tariffs: Congress Did Not Grant Presidents &#8216;Blank Check To Write Domestic Policy&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: Every day, 4 million de minimis shipments from China are processed by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection before being allowed into the country duty-free. Now, they will be charged either 30% of their value, or $25 per item, going up to $50 per item on June 1st, according to the White House fact sheet.
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Company</td>
<td>Yesterday</td>
<td>Year-To-Date</td>
<td>52-Week High / Low</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Shopify (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SHOP#NASDAQ">SHOP</a>)</td>
<td>-18.24%</td>
<td>-23.47%</td>
<td>$48.56 &#8211; $129.38</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Bigcommerce Holdings (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BIGC#NASDAQ">BIGC</a>)</td>
<td>-5.17%</td>
<td>-9.39%</td>
<td>$5.12 &#8211; $8.56</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Lightspeed Commerce (TSE: LSPD) </td>
<td>-10.94%</td>
<td>-48.96%</td>
<td>$11.54 &#8211; $26.60</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">e-Commerce stocks got crushed yesterday and have been under pressure throughout this year.</figcaption></figure>
According to Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings, Shopify still looks favorable in the long run, but how does it compare with Bigcommerce and Lightspeed? Sign up for <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">Benzinga Edge</a> to find out!
Image via Shutterstock
Read More: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/04/44635604/meta-stock-drops-9-thursday-as-tariff-fears-shake-tech-sector-what-you-need-to-know">Meta Stock Drops 9% Thursday As Tariff Fears Shake Tech Sector: What You Need To Know</a></li>
</ul>

BIGC

LSPD

SHOP

Trump Ends De Minimis Exemptions: Shopify, BigCommerce And Lightspeed Face New Headwinds

Editor&#8217;s Note: The story has been updated to include the correct price action for Tesla stock.
The stock market experienced a <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/04/44631916/wall-street-wipes-out-2-trillion-apple-eyes-worst-day-since-covid-19-pandemic-oil-plummets-whats-driving-markets-thursday">significant downturn</a> today, with the&nbsp;S&amp;P 500&nbsp;dropping nearly 5% to 5,396.52, marking its worst session since September 2022. The&nbsp;Nasdaq&nbsp;also faced a steep decline of nearly 6% as fears of retaliatory actions from U.S. trading partners spread across markets. The tech-heavy index ended the day at 16,550.61. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped almost 4% to 40,545.93.
These are the top stocks that gained the attention of retail traders and investors throughout the day.
RH (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RH#NYSE">RH</a>)
RH&#8217;s stock plummeted 40.09% to close at $149.39, hitting an intraday high of $166.09 and a low of $138.40. The stock&#8217;s 52-week high and low stand at $457.26 and $138.40, respectively. The shares gained 1.9% in after-hours trading. The sharp decline followed the company&#8217;s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44626074/rh-posts-downbeat-earnings-joins-apple-tesla-nvidia-and-other-big-stocks-moving-lower-in-thursdays-pre-market-session">disappointing earnings report</a>&nbsp;for the fourth quarter, which fell short of expectations, contributing to the pre-market losses. Revenue for the period came in at $812.41 million, which missed the consensus estimate of $829.56 million.
Five Below, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FIVE#NASDAQ">FIVE</a>)
Five Below saw its shares fall 27.81%, closing at $58.83. The stock reached an intraday high of $65.37 and a low of $56.90, with a 52-week range of $166.55 to $56.90. The retail sector, including Five Below, was heavily impacted by&nbsp;President Donald Trump&#8217;s tariff plan, which <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/news/global/25/04/44632479/retail-stocks-slammed-as-trumps-tariff-plan-sends-shockwaves-through-sector">sent shockwaves</a> through the market, leading to a sell-off.
Sangamo Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SGMO#NASDAQ">SGMO</a>)
Sangamo Therapeutics&#8217; stock declined 4.73% to $0.62, with an intraday high of $0.64 and a low of $0.58. The stock&#8217;s 52-week high and low are $3.18 and $0.30, respectively. Despite the day&#8217;s decline, the stock surged 47.7% to $0.92 in after-hours trading due to a&nbsp;<a href="https://in.benzinga.com/general/biotech/25/04/44636945/sangamo-therapeutics-stock-surges-after-the-bell-whats-going-on">new agreement</a> with Eli Lilly, granting a worldwide exclusive license for its proprietary technology.
Bank of America Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>)
Bank of America&#8217;s shares dropped 11.06%, closing at $37.22. The stock&#8217;s intraday high was $38.84, with a low of $37.02, and a 52-week range of $48.08 to $34.15. The bank&#8217;s stock was hit hard by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/04/44627173/whats-going-on-with-bank-of-america-bac-shares-15">trade tensions</a>&nbsp;and fears of an economic downturn, which threaten its key revenue drivers.
Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>)
Tesla&#8217;s stock fell 5.47% to $282.76, reaching an intraday high of $284.99 and a low of $251.27. The stock&#8217;s 52-week high and low are $488.54 and $138.80. Despite the overall market decline, Tesla&#8217;s shares fell after the company reported a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/04/44635878/tesla-shares-are-falling-today-whats-going-on">weaker-than-expected performance</a> for the first quarter, with a decline in vehicle production and deliveries.
Image via Shutterstock
Prepare for the day&#8217;s trading&nbsp;<a href="https://editorial.benzinga.com/wp-admin/Premarket%20Movers%20&amp;%20News">with top premarket movers and news</a>&nbsp;by Benzinga.
Read Next:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/04/44602870/anthony-scaramucci-hates-it-when-trump-pumps-his-own-coin-but-loves-the-presidents-bitcoin" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Anthony Scaramucci Hates It When Trump Pumps His Own Coin, But Loves The President&#8217;s Bitcoin Moves — This Complex Crypto Relationship Decoded</a></li>
</ul>
This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/shivdeep-dhaliwal" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shivdeep Dhaliwal</a>

FIVE

SGMO

TSLA

RH, Five Below, Sangamo, Bank Of America, Tesla: Why These 5 Stocks Are On Investors' Radars Amid Trump Tariff Meltdown (CORRECTED)

President Donald Trump's sweeping new trade tariffs sent shockwaves through global markets on Thursday, triggering a massive sell-off that echoed the COVID-19 pandemic-era routs, as investor risk <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets">appetite vanished in a flash.</a>
Wall Street saw a staggering $2 trillion in market cap erased, with the U.S.&#8217;s biggest 10 companies shedding $1 trillion alone.
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) plunged 8.7%, staring down its worst day since March 2020 and wiping out nearly $300 billion in value. NVIDIA Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) tumbled 6.4%, losing $171.9 billion, while Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) dropped 8%, on pace for a $166 billion hit.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Company</th>
<th>% Daily Change</th>
<th>Market Cap Loss ($B)</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Apple</td>
<td>-8.74%</td>
<td>-293.95</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NVIDIA</td>
<td>-6.38%</td>
<td>-171.89</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Amazon</td>
<td>-8.03%</td>
<td>-166.80</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>)</td>
<td>-6.64%</td>
<td>-98.24</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>)</td>
<td>-3.26%</td>
<td>-62.74</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVGO#NASDAQ">AVGO</a>)</td>
<td>-7.63%</td>
<td>-61.74</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>)</td>
<td>-2.04%</td>
<td>-57.96</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>)</td>
<td>-5.80%</td>
<td>-52.76</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>)</td>
<td>-6.69%</td>
<td>-45.99</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Bank of America Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>)</td>
<td>-9.93%</td>
<td>-31.60</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
<tfoot>
<tr>
<td>Total</td>
<td></td>
<td>-1043.67</td>
</tr>
</tfoot>
</table>
</figure>
The S&amp;P 500 fell nearly 4%, poised for its worst session since September 2022, and sank to a seven-month low. Small caps took the brunt of the sell-off, with the Russell 2000 plunging over 5% and officially entering a bear market, now down more than 20% from its 2024 peak.
Fears of retaliatory action from key U.S. trading partners dragged every major sector into the red, except for defensive plays like consumer staples and utilities.
Consumer discretionary stocks were slammed. Apparel names posted double-digit losses: Ralph Lauren Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RL#NYSE">RL</a>), Nike Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NKE#NYSE">NKE</a>), Lululemon Athletica Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LULU#NASDAQ">LULU</a>) and Garmin Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GRMN#NYSE">GRMN</a>) each dropped between 10% and 16%.
Cruise lines were also hit hard: Norwegian Cruise Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NCLH#NYSE">NCLH</a>) sank 13%, Carnival Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CCL#NYSE">CCL</a>) fell 10%, and Royal Caribbean Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RCL#NYSE">RCL</a>) slid 9%.
Bond markets saw a mild flight to safety. Treasury yields edged lower, yet the U.S. dollar weakened 1.6%, with the DXY index heading for its worst day since November 2022.
Commodities weren't spared. Oil prices nosedived on fears of a global slowdown, worsened by OPEC+'s surprise move to raise output. West Texas Intermediate crude plunged 7.5%, slipping below $70 per barrel.
Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) showed relative resilience in the carnage, dipping just 1% and holding above $81,600.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Thursday&#8217;s Performance in Major U.S. Indices, ETFs</h1>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Major Indices</td>
<td>Price</td>
<td>1-day %chg</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>40,908.76</td>
<td>-3.1 %</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>5,449.64</td>
<td>-3.9%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq 100</td>
<td>18,751.99</td>
<td>-4.2%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>1,929.91</td>
<td>-5.6%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Updated at 12:00 p.m. ET</figcaption></figure>
According to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/?utm_source=BZprocontent&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">Benzinga Pro</a>&nbsp;data:
<ul>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) fell 3.6% to $544.20.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>) tumbled 3% to $409.26.</li>
<li>The tech-heavy&nbsp;Invesco QQQ Trust Series&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>)&nbsp;plummeted 4.2% to $456.21.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) nosedived 5.4% to 191.63.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;Consumer Staples&nbsp;Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLP#NYSE">XLP</a>) outperformed, up 1.2%; the&nbsp;Technology&nbsp;Select Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLK#NYSE">XLK</a>) tanked, down 5.6%.</li>
</ul>
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Other Major Stock, ETFs Moves To Know</h1>
<ul>
<li>Lamb Weston Holdings Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LW#NYSE">LW</a>) up 7.8%</li>
<li>Five Below Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FIVE#NASDAQ">FIVE</a>) down 26%,</li>
<li>Molina Healthcare Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MOH#NYSE">MOH</a>), up 7.8%</li>
<li>Kohls Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KSS#NYSE">KSS</a>) down 25%</li>
<li>VanEck Vietnam ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VNM#NYSE">VNM</a>) down 10.2%</li>
<li>iShares MSCI Mexico ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EWW#NYSE">EWW</a>) up 4.7%, </li>
<li>iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EWT#NYSE">EWT</a>) down 4%. </li>
</ul>
Read Now: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/04/44629640/us-services-sector-slows-sharply-as-hiring-drops-tariff-pressures-mount">US Services Sector Slows Sharply As Hiring Drops, Tariff Pressures Mount</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Coverage of Bitcoin, Etherum, Ripple and all the latest digital currencies.

Cryptocurrency

Sector ETFs

Emerging Markets

Emerging Market ETFs

Commodities

Econ #s

Tech

$BTC

AMZN

AVGO

SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust

GOOGL

GRMN

LULU

MSFT

NCLH

NVDA

Select Sector SPDR-Consumer Discretionary

Wall Street Wipes Out $2 Trillion, Apple Eyes Worst Day Since COVID-19 Pandemic, Oil Plummets: What's Driving Markets Thursday?

While the tariffs announced by President Donald Trump are already dragging markets deep into the red, early signs of strain are beginning to emerge in corporate health indicators, raising concerns that the services sector, the backbone of the U.S. economy, may no longer be <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/econ-s">able to sustain growth.</a>
The Institute for Supply Management&#8217;s Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) survey revealed a marked deterioration in sentiment among service-sector businesses last month, further igniting investor concerns on the state of the economy. 
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">ISM Services PMI Falls More Than Expected</h3>
The ISM Services PMI fell sharply to 50.9% in March, down from 53.5% in February, which had been the highest reading since August 2023. The decline was steeper than expected, with forecasts pointing to a more modest drop to 53%.
This was the lowest reading since December and only marginally above the 50% threshold that separates expansion from contraction.
The Business Activity Index, a gauge of current output, actually strengthened to 55.9% in March from 54.4%, extending its expansion streak to 58 consecutive months. However, forward-looking indicators showed weakness.
The New Orders Index dropped to 50.4% from 52.2%, suggesting waning customer demand, while the Backlog of Orders Index slipped to 45.6%, down from 47.7%, marking a third straight month of contraction.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Employment Index Craters, Hiring Freezes Emerge</h3>
The most striking component of the report was the collapse in the Employment Index, which plunged to 46.2% from 53.9%—a 7.7 percentage point drop and a nine-month low, marking its first contraction in six months.
That's a red flag for a services sector that comprises nearly 80% of U.S. private-sector employment. The reading suggests that companies are either slowing down hiring, cutting jobs outright, or scaling back hours amid economic uncertainty.
In the ISM's qualitative commentary, respondents in professional, scientific and technical services reported a loosening labor market. They cited easier hiring conditions, declining staff turnover and a more abundant supply of high-quality job candidates.
One participant said, "Have been able to hire high-quality employees to fill open positions," while another described a "conservative view of the job market and economy," noting they are "not adding head count or resources."
Now, 19.2% of respondents anticipate reducing employment, up from 15% in February.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Inflation Still Hot Despite Easing Slightly</h3>
The Prices Index registered at 60.9%, down modestly from 62.6% in February, but still above the 60% mark for a fourth straight month. That signals input cost pressures remain elevated, even as demand cools.
The ISM also noted a surge in mentions of tariff-related cost pressures, citing "a significant increase this month in the number of respondents reporting cost increases due to tariff activity."
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Market Reactions: Stocks Fall, Traders Eye Four Rate Cuts</h3>
The weaker-than-expected ISM Services PMI intensified the tariff-driven selloff on Wall Street, dragging major U.S. equity indexes to new session lows.
The S&amp;P 500 index – as trakced by the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) – fell 4.1% to 5,440 points, eyeing the worst session since September 2022. 
The Nasdaq 100 – tracked by the Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) – sank 4.4%, hitting a 7-month low.
Shares of Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) were down 8.5%, on track for their worst day since March 2020. 
Similarly, major banks like Bank of America Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>) and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GS#NYSE">GS</a>) fell 8.7% and 9.10%, eyeing their worst days in five years. 
Ralph Lauren (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RL#NYSE">RL</a>) was the S&amp;P 500&#8217;s worst performer for the day, down 17%, also heading for its worst session since March 2020.
In money markets, traders ramped up bets on Federal Reserve rate cuts following the downbeat economic data. According to the CME FedWatch Tool, the probability of four 25-basis-point cuts by December 2025 surged to as high as 67%. 
The shift in expectations triggered a sharp selloff in the U.S. dollar, which plunged 2.1%—its steepest single-day drop since November 2022.
Read now: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/top-stories/25/04/44627817/retaliation-odds-spike-after-trumps-heavy-tariffs-sending-country-etfs-tumbling">Retaliation Odds Spike After Trump&#8217;s Heavy Tariffs, Sending Country ETFs Tumbling</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Analyst Color

US Services Sector Slows Sharply As Hiring Drops, Tariff Pressures Mount

Bank of America shares are trading lower after JP Morgan cut its price target on the stock from $49.5 to $43.5.

Shares of Bank of America Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>) fell 5.3% to $39.63 Thursday morning as President Donald Trump's sweeping reciprocal tariffs rattled financial markets and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44621408/market-access-has-a-price-trump-unveils-list-of-tariffs-countries-targeted">heightened fears</a> of a global economic downturn.
The second-largest U.S. bank by assets is particularly vulnerable to the escalating trade tensions, as <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44624245/tariffs-to-plug-the-hole-for-income-tax-cuts-to-come-economists-predict-what-more-could-be-expected">rising tariffs</a> threaten economic growth, corporate lending and consumer spending—all key revenue drivers for the bank.
What To Know: Bank of America, which generates significant revenue from interest income on loans and mortgages, faces mounting concerns that the tariffs could stoke inflation while <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44623179/larry-summers-warns-trumps-tariffs-will-deliver-oil-crisis-like-shock-slash-30-trillion-from-economy-as-markets-plunge">slowing economic activity</a>. Additionally, if businesses cut back on expansion due to trade uncertainty, demand for corporate credit could weaken.
Also, Bank of America's investment banking division, which earns fees from mergers, acquisitions and capital markets activity, may suffer if market volatility persists. Global trade disruptions could deter companies from pursuing major deals, further pressuring the bank's fee-based income.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/market-summary/25/04/44623604/us-stock-likely-to-open-lower-following-trumps-tariffs-worse-than-the-worst-case-scenario-says-analyst">US Stocks Likely To Open Lower Following Trump&#8217;s Tariffs: &#8216;Worse Than The Worst Case Scenario,&#8217; Says Analyst</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">How To Buy BAC Stock</h2>
By now you're likely curious about how to participate in the market for Bank of America &#8211; be it to purchase shares, or even attempt to bet against the company.
Buying shares is typically done through a brokerage account. You can find a list of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-stock-trading-platforms">possible trading platforms here.</a> Many will allow you to buy &#8220;fractional shares,&#8221; which allows you to own portions of stock without buying an entire share.
In the case of Bank of America, which is trading at $41.85 as of publishing time, $100 would buy you 2.39 shares of stock.
If you're looking to bet against a company, the process is more complex. You'll need access to an options trading platform, or a broker who will allow you to &#8220;go short&#8221; a share of stock by lending you the shares to sell. The process of shorting a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock">stock can be found at this resource.</a> Otherwise, if your broker allows you to trade options, you can either buy a put option, or sell a call option at a strike price above where shares are currently trading &#8211; either way it allows you to profit off of the share price decline.
According to data from&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a>, BAC has a 52-week high of $48.08 and a 52-week low of $34.15.

JP Morgan analyst Vivek Juneja maintains Bank of America (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>) with a Overweight and lowers the price target from $49.5 to $43.5.

JP Morgan Maintains Overweight on Bank of America, Lowers Price Target to $43.5

Whales with a lot of money to spend have taken a noticeably bullish stance on Bank of America.
Looking at options history for Bank of America (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>) we detected 12 trades.
If we consider the specifics of each trade, it is accurate to state that 58% of the investors opened trades with bullish expectations and 41% with bearish.
From the overall spotted trades, 4 are puts, for a total amount of $291,902 and 8, calls, for a total amount of $369,802.
<h3>What's The Price Target?</h3>
After evaluating the trading volumes and Open Interest, it's evident that the major market movers are focusing on a price band between $37.0 and $45.0 for Bank of America, spanning the last three months.
<h3>Analyzing Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
Looking at the volume and open interest is a powerful move while trading options. This data can help you track the liquidity and interest for Bank of America's options for a given strike price. Below, we can observe the evolution of the volume and open interest of calls and puts, respectively, for all of Bank of America's whale trades within a strike price range from $37.0 to $45.0 in the last 30 days. 
<h3>Bank of America Option Activity Analysis: Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1743604316_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Biggest Options Spotted:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>BAC</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>05/16/25</td>
<td>$2.57</td>
<td>$2.55</td>
<td>$2.57</td>
<td>$43.00</td>
<td>$141.3K</td>
<td>5.1K</td>
<td>1.8K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BAC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$5.55</td>
<td>$5.5</td>
<td>$5.55</td>
<td>$37.00</td>
<td>$84.9K</td>
<td>9.1K</td>
<td>153</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BAC</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>05/16/25</td>
<td>$2.58</td>
<td>$2.57</td>
<td>$2.58</td>
<td>$43.00</td>
<td>$81.0K</td>
<td>5.1K</td>
<td>1.3K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BAC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/04/25</td>
<td>$0.27</td>
<td>$0.26</td>
<td>$0.27</td>
<td>$42.50</td>
<td>$54.0K</td>
<td>5.9K</td>
<td>10.3K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BAC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/04/25</td>
<td>$0.25</td>
<td>$0.24</td>
<td>$0.25</td>
<td>$42.50</td>
<td>$50.0K</td>
<td>5.9K</td>
<td>10.2K</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Bank of America</h3>
Bank of America is one of the largest financial institutions in the United States, with more than $3.2 trillion in assets. It is organized into four major segments: consumer banking, global wealth and investment management, global banking, and global markets. Bank of America's consumer-facing lines of business include its network of branches and deposit-gathering operations, retail lending products, credit and debit cards, and small-business services. The company's Merrill Lynch operations provide brokerage and wealth-management services, as does its private bank. Wholesale lines of business include investment banking, corporate and commercial real estate lending, and capital markets operations. Bank of America has operations in several countries but is primarily US-focused.
Following our analysis of the options activities associated with Bank of America, we pivot to a closer look at the company's own performance.
<h3>Present Market Standing of Bank of America</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a trading volume of 5,170,891, the price of BAC is down by -0.14%, reaching $41.43.</li>
<li>Current RSI values indicate that the stock is is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.</li>
<li>Next earnings report is scheduled for 13 days from now.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Expert Opinions on Bank of America</h3>
In the last month, 4 experts released ratings on this stock with an average target price of $51.0.
Unusual Options Activity Detected: Smart Money on the Move
Benzinga Edge's Unusual Options board spots potential market movers before they happen. See what positions big money is taking on your favorite stocks. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-checkout/?t=Be8be9arja3be22bz20&amp;adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=options-activity&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Evercore ISI Group persists with their Outperform rating on Bank of America, maintaining a target price of $48. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Citigroup has decided to maintain their Buy rating on Bank of America, which currently sits at a price target of $50. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Morgan Stanley has decided to maintain their Equal-Weight rating on Bank of America, which currently sits at a price target of $56. 
&#x2A; In a positive move, an analyst from Baird has upgraded their rating to Outperform and adjusted the price target to $50. 
Options are a riskier asset compared to just trading the stock, but they have higher profit potential. Serious options traders manage this risk by educating themselves daily, scaling in and out of trades, following more than one indicator, and following the markets closely.
If you want to stay updated on the latest options trades for Bank of America, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a> gives you real-time options trades alerts.

Bank of America Options Trading: A Deep Dive into Market Sentiment

With U.S. markets in turmoil, the Oracle of Omaha is once again turning his gaze eastward, with Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>) (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>) planning a new round of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/24/10/41266529/warren-buffetts-berkshire-hathaway-reportedly-raises-1-9b-through-largest-samurai-bond-sale-in-5-yea">Yen-denominated bonds</a>, which it plans to invest primarily in five Japanese trading companies, in which it already maintains a sizable position.
What Happened: Berkshire Hathaway made new filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Tuesday, announcing its intent to issue another round of Yen-denominated bonds, after naming Bank of America Securities (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>) and Mizuho Americas as the lead managers of the issue.
The company&#8217;s filings neither mention the size of the issue nor the coupon rates just yet, and there is no clarity on how it plans to use the proceeds either, but there have been indications that Berkshire might use this to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/03/44353719/warren-buffets-berkshire-hathaway-boosts-stake-in-japans-top-trading-firms">increase its holdings in Japan&#8217;s top 5 trading houses</a>. 
This includes Mitsubishi Corp, Mitsui &amp; Co, Marubeni, Itochu, and Sumitomo Corp, adding to its $24 billion position in these companies.
See More: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44601400/nvidia-rival-amd-completes-4-9b-acquisition-of-zt-systems-to-strengthen-ai-and-data-center-dominance">Nvidia Rival AMD Completes $4.9B Acquisition Of ZT Systems To Strengthen AI And Data Center Dominance</a>
Berkshire first tapped into Japanese debt markets in 2019, attracted by the low interest rates, followed by several rounds each year since then. Its last issuance was in October 2024, when the company sold multitranch bonds worth $1.9 billion, and now this one marks its 10th Samurai (Yen) Bond issuance overall. 
Berkshire has two Yen-denominated bonds maturing in April and August this year, so part of the proceeds might go towards refinancing them as well.
Why It Matters: The issue adds to Berkshire&#8217;s massive $130 billion debt pile, even as it <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43904932/warren-buffett-favors-5-treasury-bills-over-buybacks-as-berkshire-hathaways-cash-pile-surges-the-rate-of-change-thats-most-telling-says-lawrence-mcdonald">hoards cash worth $330 billion</a>, but the way it is structured makes a great deal of sense. 
To start with, the 5 trading companies that Berkshire is interested in each have remarkably high dividend yields, significantly higher than the coupon rates on the bonds it has issued. Moreover, given that the Japanese Yen is constantly declining against the US dollar, issuing Yen-denominated bonds acts as a hedge.
Warren Buffett has long been an admirer of Japanese companies and their work culture, but strictly from a valuation perspective, the Japanese stock market is <a href="https://www.hennessyfunds.com/insights/investment-idea-japan-valuations">a lot more attractive currently</a>, trading at 13.6 times earnings, compared to 25.3 times earnings in US stocks.
Berkshire has a momentum rating of 87% and a value rating of 71%, and is favorable for the short, medium, and long term. For more such insights, consider signing up for <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings</a>.
<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="168" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/02040544/Screenshot-2025-04-02-at-1.31.37-PM-1024x168.png" alt="" class="wp-image-852718" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/02040544/Screenshot-2025-04-02-at-1.31.37-PM-1024x168.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/02040544/Screenshot-2025-04-02-at-1.31.37-PM-300x49.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/02040544/Screenshot-2025-04-02-at-1.31.37-PM-768x126.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/02040544/Screenshot-2025-04-02-at-1.31.37-PM.png 1418w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
Read More:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44601019/as-uncle-sam-tightens-purse-strings-palantir-is-feeling-the-squeeze">Elon Musk&#8217;s DOGE, Tightening Purse Strings Spell Trouble For Palantir: Here&#8217;s Why The AI Darling Is Facing The Heat</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Bonds

Global

Warren Buffett Doubles Down On Japan: Another Yen Bond Blitz Amid Growing US Market Volatility

Evercore ISI Group analyst Glenn Schorr maintains Bank of America (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>) with a Outperform and lowers the price target from $51 to $48.

Evercore ISI Group Maintains Outperform on Bank of America, Lowers Price Target to $48

Press Releases

Bank of America Announces Redemption of CAD550,000,000 3.515% Fixed/Floating Rate Senior Notes, Due March 2026

Fintech

Digital Interactions by BofA Clients Surge to Over 26 Billion, up 12% Year-Over-Year

BofA and Youth on Course Partner to Expand Access to the Sport for Youth Golfers Across America

Bank of America Announces Redemption of CAD400,000,000 Floating Rate Senior Notes, Due March 2026

Dividends

Bank of America Declares Preferred Stock Dividends Payable in April and May 2025

BofA Names Jason Edelmann President of Fort Lauderdale

Bank of America Announces Redemptions of $500,000,000 Floating Rate Senior Notes and $3,000,000,000 3.384% Fixed/Floating Rate Senior Notes, Due April 2026

Bank of America to Report First Quarter 2025 Financial Results and Host Investor Conference Call on April 15

AI Adoption by BofA's Global Workforce Improves Productivity, Client Service

Bank of America Declares Preferred Stock Dividends Payable in May and June 2025

Banco Bradesco Sa American Depositary Shares

Bank Bradesco

Banco Bradesco Sa American Depositary Shares (each representing one Common Share)

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. Common Stock

BBVA

Barclays

Banco Santander Brasil SA American Depositary Shares, each representing one unit

Banco Santander

Citigroup

First Citizens BancShares, Inc. - Class A Common Stock

First Citizens BancShares

Fifth Third Bancorp

HDFC Bank

HSBC Holdings

ICICI Bank

ING Groep

Itau Unibanco Banco Holding SA American Depositary Shares (Each repstg 500 Preferred shares)

Itau Unibanco Holding

JPMorgan Chase

KB Financial Group

Lloyds Banking Group Plc American Depositary Shares

Lloyds Banking Group

Mizuho Financial Group, Inc. Sponosred ADR (Japan)

Mizuho Financial Gr

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. Common Stock

Mitsubishi UFJ Finl Gr

Nu Holdings

NatWest Group plc American Depositary Shares, (each representing two (2) Ordinary Shares)

NatWest Group

PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (The) Common Stock

PNC Financial Services Gr

Banco Santander, S.A. Sponsored ADR (Spain)

Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc Unsponsored American Depositary Shares (Japan)

Comments

Bank of America

Unusual Options Activity for

Notizie

PARTENAIRE / CONTRIBUTEUR

BENZINGA MONDIAL

Date	Put/Call	Strike Price	Exp Date	DTE	Trade Vol	Day Vol	Vol / OI	OI	Trade Type	Sentiment
09:36 AMMar 21, 2025	CALL	$55.00	Jan 15, 2027	645	3203	3201	19	16599	SWEEP	BEARISH
09:33 AMMar 20, 2025	PUT	$44.00	May 16, 2025	36	6365	2058	158	4036	SWEEP	BEARISH
09:32 AMMar 20, 2025	PUT	$44.00	May 16, 2025	36	4530	2100	112	4036	SWEEP	BEARISH
09:32 AMMar 20, 2025	PUT	$44.00	May 16, 2025	36	2426	2426	60	4036	SWEEP	BEARISH
12:02 PMMar 19, 2025	CALL	$37.00	Jan 16, 2026	281	3700	3200	33	11345	TRADE	BULLISH