Although we don't believe in timing the market or panicking over market movements, we do like to keep an eye on big changes -- just in case they're material to our investing thesis.

What: Shares of solid-state storage pioneer STEC (Nasdaq: STEC) are celebrating the new year in grand style, jumping more than 10% today in early trading on very heavy volume.

So what: There is no news today that would support a STEC spike, though the intraday chart for fellow SSD technologist OCZ Technology (Nasdaq: OCZ) looks very similar to STEC's and SMART Modular Technologies (Nasdaq: SMOD) is on the same track but on a shallower trajectory. Neither of those stocks have any material news today, either.

Now what: This looks like a simple case of small stock plus big trade by actors unknown equals a massive price move. SSD storage could be the technology hit of 2011 after failing to deliver on its promised catalysts in 2010, but there's no reason all the gains would come on the first trading day.

Interested in more info on STEC? Add it to your watchlist.