Dec 31, 2012 (Marketintelligencecenter.com via COMTEX) -- BP Plc (NYSE:BP) closed Friday's trading session at $41.22. In the past year, the stock has hit a 52-week low of $36.25 and 52-week high of $48.34. BP (BP) stock has been showing support around $40.96 and resistance in the $41.58 range. Technical indicators for the stock are Bearish and S&P gives BP (BP) a neutral 3 STARS (out of 5) hold rating. For a hedged play on BP (BP), look at the Apr '13 $42.00 covered call for a net debit in the $39.65 area. That is also the break-even stock price for this trade. This covered call has a duration of 110 days, provides 3.81% downside protection and an assigned return rate of 5.93% for an annualized return rate of 19.67% (for comparison purposes only). A lower-cost hedged play for BP (BP) would use a longer term call option in place of the covered call stock purchase. To use this strategy look at going long the BP (BP) Jan '14 $35.00 call and selling the Apr '13 $42.00 call for a total debit of $5.63. The trade has a lifespan of 110 days and would provide 1.43% downside protection and an assigned return rate of 24.33% for an annualized return rate of 81% (for comparison purposes only). BP (BP) has a current annual dividend yield of 5.18%.
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As of Thursday, 12-27-2012 23:59, the latest Comtex SmarTrendA? Alert,
an automated pattern recognition system, indicated a DOWNTREND on
03-28-2012 for BP @ $44.78.
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