TradingKey – Massive short-term options trading drove strength in the memory chip sector, with SanDisk (SNDK) emerging as the standout performer. On September 18, SanDisk surged 10.99% on heavy volume to close at $1,791.82, hitting an intraday high of $1,797, just shy of the $1,800 round-number mark.

Beyond expectations of AI data center demand for memory products, unusually active call options trading also served as a key catalyst for this rally. Intraday capital heavily bought short-term options in SanDisk, Micron Technology, Intel, and Marvell, with total premiums amounting to approximately $93 million to $96 million across different calculation criteria.

CNBC host Jim Cramer noticed these trades and posted on social media, stating,…