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 (May 6): The FBM KLCI closed 4.5 points or 0.27% lower amid weaker Asian stock markets after US President Donald Trump threatened to raise US tariffs on Chinese goods.
At 5pm, the KLCI closed at 1,632.8 after falling to its intraday low at 1,623.61. Across Bursa Malaysia, 2.79 billion shares worth RM1.7 billion were traded as decliners outdid gainers by a stark 684 to 162.
In China, the Shanghai Stock Exchange Composite closed down 5.58% while Hong Kong's Hang Seng fell 2.9%. Elsewhere across Asia, South Korea and Japan markets were closed today for public holidays.
US stock futures were also lower. At 5:39pm, the S&P and Dow futures fell 1.79% and 1.91% respectively while Nasdaq futures dropped 2.28%.
Reuters reported today that Trump stunned global markets with a tweet
late on Sunday announcing he would hike US tariffs on US$200 billion
worth of Chinese goods this week and target hundreds of billions more
soon, saying trade talks with China were going too slowly.
It was reported that he would raise tariffs on the US$200 billion of Chinese goods to 25 percent on Friday from 10 percent. It was reported that he also said he would target a further US$325 billion of Chinese goods with 25 percent tariffs "shortly".
In Malaysia today, Areca Capital Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Danny Wong Teck Meng told theedgemarkets.com: “Our market is defensive, therefore, less selling pressure.
“Though factors that will be looked at are policy direction on economic growth as well as certain industries such as infrastructure, we still need a clearer picture on this.”
He said this today as investors looked ahead to Bank Negara Malaysia's (BNM) monetary policy statement tomorrow. At its latest monetary policy committee meeting in March, BNM said the committee decided to maintain the overnight policy rate at 3.25%.
Source: The Edge
It was reported that he would raise tariffs on the US$200 billion of Chinese goods to 25 percent on Friday from 10 percent. It was reported that he also said he would target a further US$325 billion of Chinese goods with 25 percent tariffs "shortly".
In Malaysia today, Areca Capital Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Danny Wong Teck Meng told theedgemarkets.com: “Our market is defensive, therefore, less selling pressure.
“Though factors that will be looked at are policy direction on economic growth as well as certain industries such as infrastructure, we still need a clearer picture on this.”
He said this today as investors looked ahead to Bank Negara Malaysia's (BNM) monetary policy statement tomorrow. At its latest monetary policy committee meeting in March, BNM said the committee decided to maintain the overnight policy rate at 3.25%.
Source: The Edge

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