Wed Dec 31 14:30:00 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text and a rewrite as a news article:

Summary:

The text reports unusual options activity detected in the last two hours of trading on December 29th. It highlights three specific put option trades on Taiwan Semiconductor (TSM), Howmet Aerospace (HWM), and Newmont (NEM) due to their high volume-to-open-interest (V/OI) ratios, indicating potentially significant new positions. The article explains the criteria used to identify this unusual activity and provides relevant details such as volume, premium, strike price, and expiration date. It also includes a standard risk disclaimer about options trading.

News Article:

Unusual Options Activity Signals Potential Market Shifts in TSM, HWM, and NEM

NEW YORK, NY – December 29th, 2023 – Amidst market volatility, unusual options activity has been detected in several high-profile stocks during the final two hours of trading today. A surge in volume relative to open interest suggests that significant new positions may be forming, potentially signaling shifts in investor sentiment.

Specifically, put option contracts on Taiwan Semiconductor (TSM), Howmet Aerospace (HWM), and Newmont (NEM) exhibited remarkably high volume-to-open-interest (V/OI) ratios, exceeding a threshold of 10. High volume compared to open interest means the trade volume is much higher than the number of existing positions.

The most notable trade occurred on TSM put options with a strike price of $305.00 and an expiration date of January 30th, 2026. A volume of 3,350 contracts was traded, dwarfing the open interest of just 17, resulting in a V/OI ratio of 197.06. The premium for this trade totaled $4.02 million.

Another significant trade involved HWM put options with a strike price of $180.00 and an expiration date of February 20th, 2026. The volume reached 1,800 contracts against an open interest of 11, leading to a V/OI ratio of 163.64. The premium paid for this trade was $351,000.

Finally, NEM put options with a strike price of $103.00 and an expiration date of January 9th, 2026, saw a volume of 1,999 contracts traded, exceeding its open interest of 18. This resulted in a V/OI ratio of 111.06 and a premium of $629,690.

These trades were identified using a screening process that focuses on options trades with a V/OI ratio of 10 or higher, an open interest of at least 10 contracts, and a premium of at least $50,000. The underlying asset must also be an individual stock with a market capitalization of $5 billion or greater.

While the exact reasons behind these unusual options activities remain unclear, the high V/OI ratios suggest traders are initiating substantial new positions. Investors should closely monitor these stocks and related market developments.

Disclaimer: Options trading involves significant risk and is not suitable for all investors. Investors should carefully consider their financial objectives and risk tolerance before trading options. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Consult with a financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

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