Mainland Resources, Inc.(fka MNLU)

[Ecomike]

OPEX expiration was Friday. It is part of the game of setting options prices IMHO. But Europe rallied too:

After showing a lack of direction throughout much of the trading day on Monday, European stocks showed a strong upward move going into the close, ending the day firmly in positive territory. The markets benefited from reports that European leaders made progress on dealing with the regional debt crisis at a summit over the weekend, although final decisions are not expected to be made until a separate summit on Wednesday. The leaders are reportedly close to agreements on recapitalizing European banks and leveraging the European Financial Stability Facility bailout fund. "Work is going well on the banks, and on the fund and the possibilities of using the fund, the options are converging," French President Nicolas Sarkozy told reporters at the Brussels summit. "On the question of Greece, things are moving along.

And this:

AP Business Writer

(AP:NEW YORK) Stocks are rising strongly after a round of corporate takeovers and reports that Europe's bailout fund will be larger than anticipated.

Mattel and J.M. Smucker were among companies that rose after announcing acquisitions. Caterpillar jumped 5.5 percent after it raised its profit forecast for the year.

Indexes jumped about thirty minutes after the market opened on reports that the powers of Europe's financial rescue program will be greatly expanded. That may help prevent a credit crisis.