Bank stocks, including Morgan Stanley (MS) and Bank of America (BAC), are at or near record highs after earnings reports.
Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) reported adjusted third-quarter earnings of $2.80 per share on $18.22 billion in revenue, exceeding estimates. The stock reached a record high of $166.77 and is now 32.2% higher in 2025.
Options traders are actively buying calls, with 52,000 calls changing hands, 12 times the average intraday amount.
Most of this attention is at the October 175 call, where new positions are being bought to open.
Author's summary: Bank stocks drive Wall Street gains.