Intel Hits New 52-Week High as Options Activity Surges and US Chip Policy Boosts Sentiment

Intel (INTC) hit a new 52-week high after a surge in options activity and optimism around US semiconductor policy. Call-option volume reached 250,000 contracts in the first hour of trading, and the put-call ratio dropped to its lowest level since mid-August. The government's $150 million investment in xLight, a US company making chipmaking equipment, boosted sentiment, as it indicated continued support for the US supply chain. Despite the gains, Wall Street remains cautious, with analysts holding an average price target below the current trading level.