SOXS-US Options Volume Surges as Traders Bet on Further Semiconductor Declines

Traders are significantly increasing bearish bets on semiconductor stocks, evidenced by a surge in options trading for Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bear 3X Shares (SOXS-US) on Tuesday, June 23, 2026. This comes as the sector faced a nearly 7% sell-off, with investors anticipating further declines. According to ThinkOrSwim data, SOXS options volume on June 23 exceeded three times its monthly daily average, with call options trading more than six times put options. SOXS aims to deliver three times the inverse daily performance of the NYSE Semiconductor Index, making call purchases a bet on falling chip stock prices. The recent sell-off in semiconductor equities, which saw the sector index drop close to 7% on Tuesday, is attributed to cooling AI enthusiasm, re-evaluation of valuations, and concerns over excessive AI investment. SOXS, priced at approximately $4 per share, provides a low-cost avenue for investors to either hedge or speculate on continued downward momentum.