Theresa Perrin
Self-Directed Investor & Trader, Former Hospice Nurse
SOXX's extreme selling sets up a semiconductor relief bounce next week before another leg lower. Per Heis, SOXX had its third-highest red-volume week and tied its longest nine-day losing streak; the four other top red-volume weeks averaged an 8.4% gain the following week. This is not a heavy bet: preserve capital, keep short-term setups small and accumulate core dips for the long term. x.comÂ
Intel's fading options activity at $70 and $80, alongside a strong $100 node, improves its near-term setup. The stock bounced at its 200-day average alongside SMH and SOXX, supporting a $98-100 target this week; $110 calls are further out and $130 calls are for November-December. Dealers seem to have moved their hedges, though $80 may still come after October 30 earnings. The share target remains $140. x.com x.comÂ
Direxion's 3x semiconductor bear ETF is built to bleed holders through volatility decay, needing 10 reverse splits since 2010 just to keep its price in a tradable range. x.comÂ
SOXS, a 3x bear ETF on semiconductors, gains as AI stocks fall, offering a way to profit from that decline without shorting or buying puts. x.comÂ
War escalation and the midterms will keep investors from increasing gross or net semiconductor exposure. SOXX will take out its July lows before any sustained rally; against a suggested 5% dip and 50% rebound, the path is '5% down then 100% down.' x.com x.comÂ
Semiconductors are exposure worth owning even through a 3x leveraged ETF, so SOXL is worth buying on a dip. High implied volatility comes with leverage rather than signaling the uncertainty it would in lower-quality names. The risk is a sharp drop, such as 40% in a week. x.com x.comÂ
Semiconductors look set for an upside breakout as the Fed hike plays out as sell the rumor, buy the news. The iShares Semiconductor ETF set its 2026 high two days after Kevin Warsh's first press conference in June, then fell about 29% in five weeks. Since the Fed hiked, it is up 5%, and the massive moves into Friday's close in many big names after the Fed meeting were telling. x.com x.com x.com x.comÂ
Charm-driven market-maker hedging now works against SOXX's options squeeze. The bump was likely fueled by calls: market makers buy deltas as the stock rises, but sell when it stalls and sell more if it falls. Squeezes need constant fuel. x.comÂ
Semiconductor stocks feel overextended and need a period of digestion. x.comÂ
The 3x leveraged semiconductor ETF SOXL will certainly go to zero within five years, because its daily rebalancing keeps adding exposure as prices rise and selling at lows as they fall. Leveraged ETFs go to zero even in the biggest bull markets. That answers @nongxiaodefa, who joked about going all in on SOXL and opening the mystery box in five years. x.com x.comÂ