Semiconductors
National Semiconductor Corp (NSM) $9.89 -1.99%
National Semi (NSM, chart, volatility) is down 18 cents to $9.91 and more than 4,000 May 10 calls have traded. 86 percent hitting at the offer and ISEE sentiment data suggests more than 90 percent opening customer buy orders.  Additional color from Registered User LJ24  National Semi (NSM) May $10 calls have traded [...]
Micron Technology Inc (MU) $3.11 -5.47%
Micron Technology option volume is 3x normal daily total on a large diagonal call spread sold on the ISE. Customer sold Jan 2.5 Calls and bought April 4s, with nearly 10,000 spreads trading and the seller collecting 20cents per spread. OI and trade history shows the Jan 2.5s were bought in November for 30cents per [...]
Rambus Inc (RMBS) $15.85 -14.32%
Rambus (RMBS, chart, volatility) is under pressure, falling $1.91 to $16.59, and put activity is picking up on a Bloomberg story that it might have lost a chip patent dispute to Micron (MU). 11,000 RMBS puts have now traded, including a block of Jan 15s above the offer for 47 cents.
Intel Corporation (INTC) $14.55 +0.00%
Intel (INTC, chart, volatility) gained 11 cents to $14.55 Thursday and 21,660 Jan 14 puts traded. Open interest increased by 7,000 to 35,054 and implied volatility is up to 67 percent ahead of Jan 15 earnings report–one day before the expiration.
Novellus Systems Inc (NVLS) $13.27 +0.23%
Novellus (NVLS, chart, volatility) Feb 15 calls saw an increase in open interest of 4,266 following a day of active call buying Wednesday. Today, shares of the chip equipment company are up 8 cents to $13.32. Options volume is running at three times the average daily after 8,000 March 12.5 calls traded at the offer [...]
Sigma Designs (SIGM) $10.99 -1.26%
Options on semiconductor firm Sigma Designs are trading 4x their normal pace and dominated by bullish call flow with buyers in upside April 15 and Feb 12.5 calls. Shares are off 1.3% to 10.98 and this flow continues a trend sstarted yesterday, when buyers paid 15cents for Jan 12.5 calls to open 440 contracts.
Novellus Systems Inc (NVLS) $13.17 -3.87%
Novellus (NVLS, chart, volatility) is down 57 cents to $13.13, but sentiment in the options market seems somewhat bullish after 8,800 calls and 1,000 puts traded. The day’s trades have come in fewer than 350 contracts and ISEE sentiment data suggests that about two-thirds is opening customer buy orders. The company is presenting at a [...]
Intel Corporation (INTC) $15.35 +0.00%
Options activity in Intel (INTC, chart, volatility) was two times the normal levels Tuesday after 106,000 puts and 41,000 calls traded. Jan 16 puts were among the most actives. The day’s volume included a block of 9,600 trading above the offer for $1.08. Open interest increased by 15,466. Looks like good timing on the part [...]
Amkor Technology (AMKR) $3.17 +23.35%
Amkor (AMKR, chart, volatility) is up 59 cents to $3.16 and options volume is running at 15 times the usual levels amid increasing interest in March 2.5 calls. 6,300 have traded in lots of 750 and fewer contracts. With 84 percent trading offerside and existing open interest of 2,285, looks like opening call buying, perhaps [...]
NVIDIA Corp (NVDA) $8.87 +1.78%
NVidia (NVDA, chart, volatility) calls are actively traded after the Apple Insider reported that a reliable third party claimed that Apple plans to luanch some NVDIA-based iMacs at Macworld. NVDA is up 17 cents to $8.88 and total options volume is running at twice the average daily levels. 21,000 calls have traded, including more than [...]
