Intel heads into its April 23 earnings with rising investor expectations , but the key question remains whether AI-driven CPU demand can offset ongoing margin weakness . Revenue Stable, But Margins Under Pressure Intel is expected to deliver Q1 revenue around US$12.4 billion , slightly above the midpoint of its guidance range. However, the real concern lies in profitability: Gross margin guided at 34.5% , down from 39.2% a year ago EPS near breakeven (~US$0.00) vs US$0.13 last year This highlights continued pressure from costs, utilisation, and product mix , despite improving demand signals. AI CPUs: A Key Growth Driver Intel’s near-term bullish case centers on AI-related CPU demand , particularly its Xeon processors. A key development is its partnership with Alphabet , which reinforces: Intel’s role in AI data centre infrastructure Growing demand for AI inference and general-purpose computing Investors will watch c...
KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 14): The FBM KLCI rose 11.16 points or 0.62% with Asian markets as sentiment remained buoyant on the expected renewal of China-US trade talks. Morgan Stanley's move to upgrade Malaysia stocks to equal weight also supported the country's blue-chip shares.
At 5pm, the KLCI closed at 1,803.76. Asian shares made notable gains after Japan’s Nikkei 225 closed up 1.2% while South Korea’s Kospi was 1.4% higher. Elsewhere, Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 1.01%.
Reuters reported that shares across most of Asia rose on Friday on expectations that the US and China could launch a fresh round of trade talks, and as a surprisingly sharp interest rate hike in crisis-hit Turkey supported the lira and global risk appetite.
In Malaysia, TA Securities Holdings Bhd senior technical analyst Stephen Soo told theedgemarkets.com that "Malaysia’s blue chips were also supported by an upgrade to equal weight by Morgan Stanley".
Bloomberg reported that after Morgan Stanley cut its MSCI EM index target for a third time this year, Morgan Stanley has made more ratings changes for stocks in four countries.
Malaysia was upgraded to equal weight, Turkey was downgraded to underweight, South Africa cut to equal weight and Poland raised to overweight, Bloomberg reported. “India, Chile, Hong Kong and Malaysia exhibit a good combination of low beta and high beta estimate stability vs peers,” analysts led by Steven Ye were quoted as saying in a note published Sept 13.
Soo said investors may take profit once the KLCI reaches the 1,828-point level. “This is pending external concerns,” he said, noting that investors are largely trading based on day-to-day developments on the China-US trade tension.
On Monday (Sept 17), Bursa Malaysia and its subsidiaries will be closed in lieu of Malaysia Day which falls on Sunday.
"Bursa Malaysia and its subsidiaries will resume operations on Tuesday, 18 September 2018," the bourse operator and regulator said in a statement.
Source: The Edge
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