This week's dominant theme is earnings. Alphabet reports Q2 on Tuesday, July 22 after the bell. It is the biggest print of the week. Short sellers have been quietly trimming positions — SI sits at just 1.5% of free float. Options markets lean bullish. Intel follows on Wednesday. The chipmaker faces tough questions on its foundry turnaround. Charter Communications and Southwest Airlines also report mid-week. GE Vernova options hit a 52-week high in defensive positioning ahead of its own Q2 print. Bears are light on the stock, but options traders are bracing for a sharp move.
Outside the US, SK Hynix delivered Q2 earnings overnight. Revenue beat expectations on AI memory demand. But the CEO flagged uncertainty for 2027. Options markets in the stock are stressed. It is a timely reminder that the AI chip cycle carries tail risk further out.
The Strait of Hormuz closure is back in focus. Oil traders warned stockpiles acting as shock absorbers are running low. Energy IPOs are also surging as investors hunt ways to play the AI power theme — a crossover trend between energy and technology that is gaining pace in public markets.
On the short side, HTZ remains one of the most crowded US short trades at 70% SI % FF. SPCX, the SpaceX tracking stock, saw SI % FF explode from 3.6% to 27.6% in a single week. In analyst action, Fox Corporation was downgraded with SI % FF already at 21.1% — adding pressure to an already bear-heavy name.
ORTEX Market Intelligence content is generated by AI from a snapshot of ORTEX's proprietary data. Content is informational only and does not constitute investment advice.
