Option Mover The Moo

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0317 Options Leaderboard | Tech stocks rebound collectively! META and Amazon Call options surge over 100%; Precious metals diverge as Silver ETF Put options soar 32%, awaiting dual tests from PPI and the Fed decision

As Nasdaq launches weekly options expiring on Mondays and Wednesdays for nine major underlying assets, there are now short-term options available for trading every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

Our editor has compiled the leaderboard of option price changes from the previous trading day, allowing fellow investors to experience the appeal and excitement of options trading.

Must-read for options buyers:

Call Option Gainers:

$iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT.US)$ +3.89% IBIT 260316 40.50C +150.22%

$Meta Platforms (META.US)$ +2.33% META 260316 620.00C +137.31%

$Amazon (AMZN.US)$ +1.96% AMZN 260316 207.50C +137.31%

$Microsoft (MSFT.US)$ +1.11% MSFT 260316 395.00C +50.94%

$Broadcom (AVGO.US)$ +0.86% 260316 312.50 Call +46.09%

$iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM.US)$ +0.94% IWM 260316 241.00 Call +43.15%

$NVIDIA (NVDA.US)$ +1.65% NVIDIA 260316 177.50 Call +38.55%

$Alphabet-A (GOOGL.US)$ +1.09% Alphabet 260316 300.00 Call +36.36%

$Apple (AAPL.US)$ +1.08% Apple 260316 245.00 Call +33.84%

$Tesla (TSLA.US)$ +1.11% Tesla 260316 377.50 Call +29.63%

Top Gainers in Put Options:

$iShares Silver Trust (SLV.US)$ +0.73% SLV 260316 75.5 Put +32.50%

$SPDR Gold ETF (GLD.US)$ -0.09% GLD 260316 478.00 Put +15.58%

Essential Options Preview

$Apple (AAPL.US)$

Next expiration date: 03/26/18

Major events during the period:Apple has released the new iPhone 17e and iPad Air. The iPhone 17e starts at 4,499 yuan, features a faster processor, a self-developed wireless chip, MagSafe magnetic charging, and introduces a new pink color option. Additionally, the latest market developments indicate that iOS 27 may be undergoing system customization for a foldable iPhone.

Current technical patterns:Apple's stock has recently pulled back under pressure from the broader market, affected by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and a global tech sector decline amid rising oil prices. The short-term technical pattern is weak, with the current share price falling below all key short-term moving averages: the 5-day, 10-day, and 20-day moving averages are aligned bearishly, and the stock price is trading below them, indicating a downward short-term trend; the KDJ indicator is in a severely oversold region, signaling a need for technical rebound or correction.

A trend reversal requires a breakout above the moving average resistance confirmed by increased trading volume and a MACD golden cross, while the market is closely watching whether initial feedback on its new product launch can provide effective support for the stock price, which is currently testing support near the lower Bollinger Band at 250.68.

$Tesla (TSLA.US)$

Next expiration date: 03/26/18

Major events during the period:CEO Elon Musk announced on the X platform that the 'Terafab' project, aimed at manufacturing AI chips, is about to officially launch. Tesla has confirmed it is designing its fifth-generation AI chip (AI5) to advance autonomous driving, with mass production targeted for 2027 and performance expected to be 50 times greater than the current AI4. Musk further defined this project as an 'AI system capable of simulating the entire operation of a company.'

Current technical patterns:Tesla's stock has shown volatility recently, influenced by positive expectations surrounding the fifth-generation AI chip (AI5) and the Terafab project announcement, combined with overall weakness in the tech-heavy market, leading to intense capital competition.

Technically, the stock is repeatedly testing key support and resistance levels (especially the 200-day moving average), with the price closely aligned with several short-term moving averages, indicating market costs are converging, and lacking a clear directional trend. Over the past 14 days, the MACD histogram has converged from extremely negative values toward the zero axis, showing significantly weakened downward momentum, though confirmation is still needed for upward momentum to take hold. The stock is hugging the middle Bollinger Band and slightly below it, with the channel narrowing. Overall, Tesla is in a critical window for direction selection.

$NVIDIA (NVDA.US)$

Next expiration date: 03/26/18

Major events during the period:The core event of the week was NVIDIA's official release of highly anticipated pricing details for GTC 2026, along with multiple new AI models and underlying technologies. Expectations of 'at least $1 trillion in demand by 2027' once drove NVIDIA’s stock up over 4.3% intraday on the 16th.

Current technical patterns:Despite releasing new AI technologies, the stock has been volatile at higher levels due to macro-level concerns and a broad-based tech sell-off. The market is currently pricing in expectations for GTC 2026, exhibiting neutral consolidation characteristics, with the stock stabilizing near key support levels. The stock is slightly below the 5-day and 10-day moving averages but remains stable near the 20-day moving average. The 60-day moving average is almost overlapping with the 20-day line, forming an important support level. The stock is trading near the middle Bollinger Band, which has not narrowed significantly, suggesting that volatility may persist.

Overall, NVIDIA is in a strong consolidation phase at higher levels, with key moving averages providing support. Technical indicators have returned to neutrality after repair, and subsequent focus will be on whether there is significant volume pushing the stock above the moving average system to initiate a new upward trend.

$Alphabet-A (GOOGL.US)$

Next expiration date: 03/26/18

Major events during the period:Google recently released benchmark test results for a new AI model, showcasing significant progress in the AI domain. Meanwhile, the company is facing strict regulatory scrutiny and is actively advancing its compliance efforts to meet EU regulations.

Current technical patterns:The positive impact of AI technology is being offset by EU regulatory pressures. Against the backdrop of a recent market downturn, upward momentum in the stock price has been limited. The technical pattern suggests entry into a consolidation range, with the overall system signal being 'neutral.' However, multiple oscillation indicators show oversold conditions, indicating some release of downward pressure.

Specifically, short-term moving averages are intertwined, while medium- to long-term averages exert downward pressure. The MACD histogram has turned from negative to positive, suggesting that short-term downward momentum is weakening. A potential golden cross in the MACD at lower levels, along with some indicators showing 'oversold' conditions, provides a technical basis for a short-term rebound. Overall, effective volume support will be required to convert this into a trend reversal.

$Meta Platforms (META.US)$

Next expiration date: 03/26/18

Major events during the period:Meta has reportedly announced a large-scale layoff plan affecting up to 16,000 employees. At the same time, the company recently launched a new anti-fraud tool to optimize its platform ecosystem.

Current technical patterns:Affected by the negative news of layoffs and broader macro sentiment, Meta's stock price experienced a significant drop of 3.29% on March 13. Coupled with the downward trend among global tech giants, the current moving average system is under pressure, signaling short-term downside risks.

In detail, the moving average (MA) shows a clear bearish alignment, with significant negative deviation between the stock price and the 20-day moving average. The KDJ indicator is in the oversold region, showing that the price decline has been too rapid, diverging from the strong downward trend indicated by the moving averages and MACD. Overall, attention should be paid to potential critical rebound points after deep oversold conditions, which could lead to a technical rebound (similar to January 20 and late November last year). However, significant resistance from the moving average system remains, and trend reversal will require stronger confirmation signals over a longer period.

$Broadcom (AVGO.US)$

Next expiration date: 03/26/18

Major events during the period:This week, Broadcom was mainly driven by external macro factors, making it one of the semiconductor stocks significantly impacted by the rotation within the global technology sector and heightened geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

Current technical patterns:This week saw a significant setback, with the stock price dropping by more than 4% at one point. Under the dual pressure of the overall market trend and industry sentiment, the technical pattern showed signs of a breakdown, facing pressure to find bottom support in the short term.

Specifically, the moving average (MA) lines are highly converged, lacking a clear directional trend and facing a decision on direction; the MACD histogram shows small positive values, indicating that bullish and bearish forces are fairly balanced at present; the KDJ indicator has retreated from the overbought zone to near the midline, showing a decline in short-term upward momentum, but not yet entering oversold territory; the Bollinger Bands (BOLL) channel width remains stable, with the stock price fluctuating around the middle band, characteristic of a typical consolidating market.

Overall, Broadcom's technical picture is currently in a consolidation phase before making a high-level directional choice, requiring close attention as to whether the stock price will break through the entangled moving averages with increased volume. Additionally, the high implied volatility suggests that future breakout movements may involve significant volatility.

$Microsoft (MSFT.US)$

Next expiration date: 03/26/18

Major events during the period:Microsoft recently announced the launch of its new AI chip, Maia 200, and further emphasized its core strategy of 'sovereign AI infrastructure.' The rapid development of artificial intelligence continues to disrupt the profit growth outlook for the global software industry, putting recent pressure on Microsoft's stock price.

Current technical patterns:In the short term, the stock’s moving averages show early signs of a bearish alignment. On March 13, there was a minor rebound, but its height was constrained by the 20-day moving average, indicating notable resistance at this level; the MACD histogram remains positive, though downward momentum is significantly weakening; the KDJ indicator shows a rebound from the oversold region, reflecting recent adjustment pressures, with preliminary signs of stabilization. Overall, Microsoft's technical indicators suggest it is in the late stages of a bearish trend, undergoing oscillation to form a bottom. The stock faces resistance from the moving average system and requires substantial trading volume to effectively break through this barrier.

$Amazon (AMZN.US)$

Next expiration date: 03/26/18

Major events during the period:Significant changes have occurred in Amazon's platform ecosystem, with the number of sellers reaching the million-dollar level doubling recently, marking a rapid shift towards professionalized operations in the e-commerce business. The platform strategy continues to favor high-performing sellers, emphasizing stable and professional business models, reflecting a more competitive and mature market orientation. Moreover, collaboration with NVIDIA to develop multimodal AI assistant technology has enhanced Alexa's capabilities for in-car experiences.

Current technical patterns:Thanks to the successful transformation of its fundamental e-commerce business towards high performance and professionalism, Amazon demonstrates relatively strong resilience against declines among tech giants. The short-term trend is constrained by the broader environment of the tech sector, while the technical picture shows characteristics of 'recovery and consolidation after an oversold rebound.'

Specifically, the current stock price has moved above the 5-day and 20-day moving averages, initially reversing the extremely weak pattern, with the 20-day moving average becoming a key support level in the near term; the MACD indicator, similar to Microsoft's, shows weakening downward momentum while upward momentum is gradually building; the KDJ fell from its highs around March 6, and after adjustment, has stabilized near the midline, neither overbought nor oversold. The focus going forward will be whether it can hold above the 20-day moving average support and expand upward.

Macroeconomic event reminders:

At 20:30 on Wednesday, the US February PPI will be released;

At 02:00 on Thursday, the Federal Reserve's interest rate decision for March 18 in the US will be announced;

At 20:30 on Thursday, the number of initial jobless claims in the US for the week ending March 14 (in tens of thousands) will be reported.

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Risk WarningAn option is a contract that grants the holder the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell an asset at a fixed price on a specific date or at any time before that date. The price of an option is influenced by various factors, including the current price of the underlying asset, the strike price, time to expiration, and implied volatility. Implied volatility reflects the market’s expectations for the level of volatility in the option over a future period. It is a data point derived inversely from the Black-Scholes option pricing model and is generally regarded as an indicator of market sentiment. When investors anticipate greater volatility, they may be more willing to pay a higher price for options to hedge risks, resulting in higher implied volatility. Traders and investors use implied volatility to assess the attractiveness of option prices, identify potential mispricings, and manage risk exposure.

DisclaimerThis content does not constitute any offer, solicitation, recommendation, opinion, or guarantee for any securities, financial products, or tools. The risk of loss in trading options can be substantial. In some cases, losses may exceed the initial margin deposited. Even if you set contingent orders such as 'stop-loss' or 'limit' orders, these may not prevent losses. Market conditions may prevent these orders from being executed. You might be required to deposit additional margin within a short period. If you fail to provide the required amount within the specified time, your open positions may be liquidated. However, you will still be responsible for any shortfall in your account. Therefore, before trading, you should study and understand options and carefully consider whether such trading is suitable for you based on your financial situation and investment objectives. If you trade options, you should be familiar with the procedures for exercising options and the rights and obligations upon exercise and expiration. Option trading involves extremely high risks and is not suitable for all investors. Investors should read carefully before engaging in any options trading strategy.Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options。

Editor/Rocky

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