Intel Surges 4.5% on Options Frenzy as Short-Term Bulls Rally – What’s Fueling the Move?

Summary
• Intel (INTC) rockets 4.49% to $20.845, piercing $21.595 intraday high
• RSI plummets to 24.02, signaling oversold rebound potential
• Options chain erupts: 35M+ shares traded in 2025-08-15 calls
• GraniteShares 2x INTC ETF (INTW) surges 8.77%, amplifying leveraged bets
Intel’s 4.5% intraday rally has ignited a firestorm of options activity and leveraged ETF flows, with technical indicators and options data pointing to a short-term reversal. The stock’s sharp rebound from $20.44 to $21.595—despite a bearish 52-week trend—has traders scrambling to decode the catalyst behind this sudden surge.

Options Volatility and Oversold RSI Drive Intel’s Sharp Rebound
Intel’s 4.49% intraday jump is fueled by a confluence of technical triggers. The RSI plummeted to 24.02, its lowest level since late 2024, creating a classic oversold rebound scenario. Simultaneously, the options market erupted: 35.6 million shares traded in 2025-08-15 $21 call options (INTC20250815C21) alone, with implied volatility spiking to 58.95%. This suggests aggressive short-term bullish positioning, as traders bet on a breakout above the 200-day moving average ($21.66) and Bollinger Band middle ($21.42). The stock’s price action—climbing from $20.44 to $21.595—also aligns with a 30-day support zone (19.76–20.35), indicating a potential short-covering rally.

GraniteShares 2x INTC ETF and Call Options Lead the Charge
• GraniteShares 2x Long INTC Daily ETF (INTW): Bold
• 200-day MA: $21.66 (above)
• RSI: 24.02 (oversold)
• Bollinger Bands: $18.31–$24.54 (price near lower band)
• MACD: -0.65 (bearish), Signal Line: -0.45
• Histogram: -0.199 (divergence)

Intel’s technicals present a high-conviction short-term trade. The RSI’s oversold reading and Bollinger Band rebound suggest a potential $21.595–$22.50 target. The GraniteShares 2x INTC ETF (INTW) offers amplified exposure, surging 8.77% today. For options, two contracts stand out:

• INTC20250815C21: Call, $21 strike, 2025-08-15 expiry
• IV: 58.95% (moderate)
• Leverage: 41.66%
• Delta: 0.47
• Theta: -0.1365
• Gamma: 0.2768
• Turnover: 3.56M
This call option balances leverage and liquidity, with gamma sensitivity to price swings. A 5% upside to $21.89 would yield a 44% payoff (max(0, 21.89 - 21) = $0.89).

• INTC20250815C21.5: Call, $21.5 strike, 2025-08-15 expiry
• IV: 63.22%
• Leverage: 59.51%
• Delta: 0.35
• Theta: -0.1166
• Gamma: 0.2405
• Turnover: 4.83M
This contract offers higher leverage with moderate delta, ideal for a breakout above $21.50. A 5% move to $21.89 would generate a 59% payoff (max(0, 21.89 - 21.5) = $0.39).

Aggressive bulls should target a $21.50 breakout, with INTC20250815C21.5 as the top pick for leveraged exposure.

Backtest Intel Stock Performance
Intel's stock performance showed a positive reaction to the news of its CEO, Lip-Bu Tan's, scheduled visit to the White House to meet with President Trump. Following the 4% intraday surge, the stock's trajectory for the day was upward, indicating investor confidence or a perceived positive outcome from the upcoming meeting.

Bulls Eye $21.595 as Intel’s Short-Term Catalysts Align
Intel’s 4.5% surge is a textbook short-term reversal play, driven by oversold RSI and options-driven bullish momentum. The $21.595 intraday high now acts as a critical pivot—break above $21.66 (200-day MA) could trigger a $22.50 retest of the Bollinger Band. Sector leader AMD’s 1.23% gain suggests broader semiconductor optimism, but Intel’s options frenzy indicates this move is stock-specific. Investors should monitor the $21.50 level: a close above confirms a breakout trade, while a retest of $20.44 would signal a false rally. For now, the GraniteShares 2x INTC ETF and INTC20250815C21.5 offer the most dynamic exposure to this unfolding technical setup.