Applied Material shares are off 12c to $12.24 and option volume is 5x the daily average driven by large transaction in the July $12 puts and $13 calls. 30,781 contracts traded in what was a short strangle at $1.46. Based (register to read more …)

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First Solar (FSLR) is trying to dig out of a hole after FBR Research said a possible German phaseout of farmland tarriffs could dampen FSLR’s future profitability. German parliament is debating later this week and options include total removal of (register to read more …)

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First Solar shares $3.40 to $110.80 notable transaction looks to be a three way trade in which the initially sold 1,650 March $105/$80 puts spreads traded on CBOE (now 2,300) (register to read more …)

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Intel (INTC) shares added 25 cents to $20.16 and INTC calls are seeing early iinterest after the latest issue of Barron’s mentioned the company positively. The chipmaker trades at modest valuation while business is rebounding, according to Barron’s. The top (register to read more …)

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Pop in Rambus shares a moment ago as many eyes were on S&P500 futures breaking 1100. On more than a million shares, RMBS spiked from 23.75 to 25.75 before settling back near $25.25. The company won decision in trade fight (register to read more …)

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Rambus (RMBS) is bucking the bearish trend and options trading is brisk after the chipmaker signed a comprehensive agreement with Samsung. Under the plan, Samsung will invest $200 mln. RMBS is up $2.28 to $23.41 and 33K options traded, or (register to read more …)

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Rambus (RMBS) saw a morning spike, to $21.66, on heavy volume amid market chatter about a legal settlement — Briefing. However, the early advance didn’t last and RMBS is now extending the losses suffered last week, when shares tumbled on (register to read more …)

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Analysts expect Intel (INTC) to report 30 cents per share, up from 28 cents last quarter (which beat by 3 cents), when the chipmaker reports after the closing bell. There has been heavy trading in INTC options in the days (register to read more …)

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STEC Jan 19 and 20 calls are busy, as shares gain 18 cents to $18.79 on takeover chatter. IBM mentioned as the interested party — Briefing. Jan 19s are the most actives, with 7316 traded (65 percent Ask) vs. 3716 (register to read more …)

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Options action continues in STEC, as the stock gains ground for the 14th time in 15 trading sessions. STEC added another $1.49 to $19.83 and is up 73.8 percent since December 11. The reason for today’s strength isn’t entirely clear (register to read more …)

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