Markets on Edge as AI Chips, Short Squeezes and Earnings Collide

The Biggest Story: AI Chips East and West

China's Enflame Technology surged more than 220% on its Shanghai debut today. Investors are betting hard on domestic AI chips as an alternative to NVDA. The listing puts fresh pressure on Nvidia's dominance in the region. Options markets are already flashing caution on Nvidia — negative bets have been elevated all week.

Short Interest: GME Unwinds, New Targets Emerge

GME bears folded fast. Short interest as % of free float collapsed from 15.7% to just 2.7% in seven days. Meanwhile, shorts found a new home. Wix.com saw SI % FF jump 7.5 points to 18.2%. Availability is just 28% — shorts are crowding in with little room to move. Chewy remains one of the most shorted large caps at 54.9% SI % FF. Options flow on Chewy is also skewed negative despite the stock down 37% year-to-date.

ACV Auctions Explodes After Hours

ACVA soared nearly 44% after hours. The digital auto auction platform appears to have delivered a strong earnings beat. Rival CPRT was also flagged in the same news flow.

Earnings and Analyst Calls

KR reports this morning. LEN and TCOM follow Tuesday. UK retailer NXT reports Thursday — a clean read on British consumer health. Analysts are rotating in midstream energy. Scotiabank lifted TRGP's target by 22% to $314 while trimming WMB. William Blair cut COO from Buy to Hold.

Asia: Founder Selling Signals Caution

The CEO of Malaysian AI firm ZETRIX filed nearly $49M in sales over late August and early September — a net disposal of over $42M. That volume from a founder warrants watching. Across the region, Shenzhou International's chairman bought $25.6M of stock in three days, signalling the opposite conviction.