BOSTON (Reuters) - Nvidia Corp. (NVDA.O: Quote, Profile, Research) shares climbed more than 8 percent on Wednesday amid speculation the graphics chipmaker could be acquired by Intel Corp. (INTC.O: Quote, Profile, Research), traders said.

A spokeswoman for Intel, the world's No. 1 chipmaker, declined comment, saying her company doesn't comment on market speculation. A spokeswoman for Nvidia could not be reached.

Nvidia shares rose $2.32 to $30.62 in afternoon Nasdaq trade. Some 20 million shares changed hands, about double the three-month daily average.