Rambus Inc. (RMBS) designs, develops, and licenses chip interface technologies and architectures that are used in digital electronics products.

The microchip sector has been lagging lately but appears to be gaining investor attention.

RMBS is selling very close to a major support line and recently triggered a buy from our in-house indicator, the Collins-Bollinger Reversal (CBR). Note the oversold stochastic.

After seven months of one of the strongest rallies in history, the stock market is showing signs of faltering. From here on out through the rest of 2009, I believe the advance will shift gears, and instead of recording new highs every month, the trend will tend to flatten.

And as we head into the heart of the fourth quarter, I wouldn't bet on the market making many more new highs this year.

Rambus Inc. (NASDAQ: RMBS - option chain) shares are rising today after the company said European Union antitrust regulators have agreed to drop a probe and any fines if the company reduces its royalty rates for DRAM memory chip patents. The European Commission had charged RMBS with setting exorbitant royalties for DRAM patents. If you think that the stock won't fall by too much in the coming months, then now could be a good time to look at a bullish hedged trade on RMBS.

RMBS opened this morning at $16.84. So far today the stock has hit a low of $16.55 and a high of $17.81. As of 11:15, RMBS is trading at $17.44 up 2.35 (15.6%). The chart for RMBS looks bullish.

After three days of selling and profit taking, it seems that low wholesale inflation and slightly higher weekly jobless claims were enough of a recipe for a rally.

Dow 8,331.32 +46.43 (0.56%)
S&P 500 892.95 +9.03 (1.02%)
Nasdaq 1,689.21 +25.02 (1.50%)

Top Analyst Upgrades & Downgrades

Rambus (NASDAQ: RMBS - option chain) shares are rising today after the Federal Trade Commission withdrew its antitrust case against the company due to a recent Supreme Court ruling against the FTC. The withdrawal eliminates the possibility of further litigation in the matter. If you think that the stock won't fall by too much in the coming months, then now could be a good time to look at a bullish hedged trade on RMBS.

RMBS opened this morning at $11.73. So far today the stock has hit a low of $11.27 and a high of $12.21. At 11:20, RMBS is trading at 12.04 up 1.26 (11.7%). The chart for RMBS looks bullish.

The markets finally found that oversold bounce that everyone was hoping would eventually come. This was at least based on the "return of China" after it gave another positive manufacturing report. The depressing Beige Book from the Fed didn't even manage to kill the buying. Here were today's unofficial closing bell levels:

Dow 6,875.52 +149.50 (2.22%)
S&P 500 712.79 +16.46 (2.36%)
Nasdaq 1,353.74 +32.73 (2.48%)

Top Analyst Upgrades & Downgrades

Even while dancing on the edge of the Great Abyss one should keep one's eye on the numbers. In this case, the key indicators that presage an economy at risk of totally imploding. Sure, the auto sales numbers were no worse than grim expectations and the ISM manufacturing number was actually a positive. But, oh, we have lots of nasty numbers to go around. Start with the RevPar number. That's short for revenue per available room at hotels and is a solid indicator of the health of the travel industry, as well as the state of business travel spending. The number? Down a stunning 15.3% in the month of January, year-over-year.

Hershey (NYSE: HSY) closed at $40.23 Wednesday. HSY call volume was heavy on August 6, with 21,092 contracts trading. HSY August option implied volatility is at 56, September at 44; above its 26-week average of 30 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement.

Rambus (NASDAQ: RMBS) closed at $15.34 Wednesday. RMBS is the frequent subject of patent infringement & anti-trust claim issues. Hynix Semiconductor, Samsung Electronics and Micron Tech (NYSE-MU) have had patent infringement suits with RMBS. RMBS September option implied volatility of 103 is above its 6-month average of 74 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement.

Financial Select Sector-XLF overall volatility at 39; 26-week average is 38

Option Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com

Rambus (NASDAQ: RMBS) closed at $16.46 Monday.

RMBS is the frequent subject of patent infringement & anti-trust claim issues. Hynix Semiconductor, Samsung Electronics and Micron Tech (NYSE: MU) have had patent infringement suits with RMBS.

RMBS July 16 straddle is priced at $1.60. RMBS August option implied volatility of 90 is above its 26-week average of 72 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement.

Option Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com

Before the bell: Futures higher ahead of GDP; ORCL drops, CCU climbs, LEN beats

Despite higher costs, ConAgra Foods Inc. (NYSE: CAG) fiscal third-quarter net income climbed 60% to $309.1 million, or 63 cents a share. Sales for the quarter increased 21% to $3.53 billion.

Hoop Holdings, a unit of Children's Place Retail Stores Inc. (NASDAQ: PLCE) and the operator of Disney Store North America, said late on Wednesday that it filed for Chapter 11. Children's Place isn't part of the Chapter 11 petition, but is in talks to sell a substantial part of the Disney Store business to Walt Disney Co. (NYSE: DIS) in order to concentrate on its core namesake brand.

Rambus (NASDAQ: RMBS) shares are advancing another 4.4% in premarket trading after closing up over 38% yesterday following a court decision finding it wasn't guilty of fraud or violating antitrust laws in dealing with an industry group that set technology standards for dynamic random access memory, or DRAM, chips in the 1990s.

Rambus (NASDAQ: RMBS) is recently up $5.64 to $24.39.

Bloomberg reported RMBS wins final phase of Hynix patent infringement trial.

RMBS call option volume of 87,523 contracts compares to put volume of 29,918 contracts. RMBS April option implied volatility is at 83, below a level of from 150 prior to the decision, May is at 64 below a level of 114 and August is at 62 below a level of 87 according to Track Data, suggesting decreasing price movement.

Option Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com

Just yesterday we were all scratching our heads and wondering where the bears had gone. It seems maybe they were just out on a binge session. Today was the playbook day of what we had seen so regularly before last week with financials and tech lower, and gold, oil and commodities higher. Oil rose a sharp $4.73 to $105.95 on lower than expected inventory numbers, and gold was up $11.00 at $949.50 in late day trading on the weak U.S.-Peso.

February's Durable Goods brought on more pessimism from the start of the session after posting a 1.7% drop, although this has always been one of the more volatile economic numbers in good times and in bad. The report out of the Commerce Department showed new home sales fell another 1.8% in a fourth consecutive decline, although that was slightly better than many were looking for. Below are the unofficial closing prices for U.S. index levels:

• DJIA 12,422.86 (-109.74; -0.88%)
• S&P 500 1,341.09 (-11.90; -0.88%)
• NASDAQ 2,324.36 (-16.69; -0.71%)
• 10YR-TBond 3.494% (+0.002%)
• 52-week lows

Jabil Circuit Inc. (NYSE: JBL) fell today on quarterly losses and missed estimates. Other competing companies in the sector traded lower too but not as much as Jabil. The stock is down over 18% to $9.30.

Rambus (NYSE: RMBS) is recently up $1.53 to $20.05.

RMBS seven year patent infringement litigation vs. Hynix Semiconductor, Micron (NYSE: MU) and Nanya went to jury on March 25 in federal court in San Jose.

RMBS call option volume of 64,232 contracts compares to put volume of 11,633contracts. RMBS April option implied volatility is at 150, May is at 114 and August is at 87; above its 26-week average of 76 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement.

Option Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com

Rambus (NASDAQ: RMBS) closed at $18.71 Monday.

RMBS has upcoming patent infringement and anti-trust claim issues.

RMBS April option implied volatility is at 140, May is at 108 and August is at 83; above its 26-week average of 74 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement.

Option Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com

Rambus Inc. (NASDAQ: RMBS) is recently up $3.16 to $19.68. RMBS has upcoming patent infringement and anti-trust claim issues in 2008. RMBS call option volume of 40,646 contracts compares to put volume of 8,780 contracts. RMBS February option implied volatility is at 92, March is at 93 and May is at 94; above a level of 75 from January 29. RMBS average option implied volatility over the last 26-weeks is 66 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement.

Option Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com.