Speculative Call Option Volume Surges for IonQ and Webull

IonQ Inc (IONQ) and Webull Corporation (BULL) experienced a notable increase in options trading activity on Tuesday, characterized by heavy positioning in short-term call contracts. This surge indicates a concentrated speculative bet on upward price movement ahead of the April 17 expiration date. IonQ saw a total options trading volume of 188,996 contracts, which represents approximately 18.9 million underlying shares. This activity accounts for roughly 108.8% of the company's average daily trading volume over the previous month. Traders showed particular interest in the $35 strike call option expiring April 17, with 14,676 contracts traded during the session. Similarly, Webull Corporation (BULL) recorded options trading volume of 88,972 contracts, representing 8.9 million underlying shares. This volume is approximately 87.7% of the stock's average daily trading volume over the past month. The most active contract for BULL was the $6 strike call expiring April 17, which saw 16,475 contracts trade. While high options volume can signal anticipation of a catalyst or institutional positioning, such activity often introduces short-term volatility. The concentration of trades in specific strike prices suggests that traders are targeting narrow price windows for the upcoming weekly expiration.