Jan 16, 2013 (Marketintelligencecenter.com via COMTEX) -- Marathon Oil Corp (NYSE:MRO) closed Tuesday's trading session at $31.93. In the past year, the stock has hit a 52-week low of $23.17 and 52-week high of $35.49. Marathon Oil (MRO) stock has been showing support around $31.40 and resistance in the $32.32 range. Technical indicators for the stock are Bullish and S&P gives Marathon Oil (MRO) a positive 4 STARS (out of 5) buy rating. For a hedged play on Marathon Oil (MRO), look at the Apr '13 $31.00 covered call for a net debit in the $29.97 area. That is also the break-even stock price for this trade. This covered call has a duration of 94 days, provides 6.14% downside protection and an assigned return rate of 3.44% for an annualized return rate of 13.34% (for comparison purposes only). A lower-cost hedged play for Marathon Oil (MRO) would use a longer term call option in place of the covered call stock purchase. To use this strategy look at going long the Marathon Oil (MRO) Jan '14 $23.00 call and selling the Apr '13 $31.00 call for a total debit of $7.39. The trade has a lifespan of 94 days and would provide 4.82% downside protection and an assigned return rate of 8.25% for an annualized return rate of 32% (for comparison purposes only). Marathon Oil (MRO) has a current annual dividend yield of 2.12%.
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As of Saturday, 01-12-2013 23:59, the latest Comtex SmarTrendA? Alert,
an automated pattern recognition system, indicated a DOWNTREND on
03-22-2012 for MRO @ $32.48.
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provider or go to www.mysmartrend.com
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