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 (Oct 11): The FBM KLCI closed 4.97 points or 0.32% higher today while small market capitalisation (small cap) stocks rose by a larger quantum amid revived optimism on US-China trade talks and as investors evaluated Malaysia's Budget 2020 announcement.
At 5pm the KLCI closed at 1,556.84 after broad-based buying across Bursa Malaysia. The small-cap index rose 138.38 points or 1.05% to 13,311.92.
"Local market sentiment should recover further today on hopes for some concessions from US-China trade talks, and optimism for goodies and stimulus for selective sectors from Budget 2020 this afternoon," TA Securities Holdings Bhd wrote in a note today.
Across Bursa, 2.29 billion shares were traded for RM1.6 billion. Leading gainers included KLCI stocks MISC Bhd and Tenaga Nasional Bhd.
MISC closed 24 sen or 2.99% higher at RM8.28 while Tenaga ended up 22 sen or 1.61% at RM13.88.
Globally, Reuters reported that Southeast Asian stock markets opened higher on Friday, with Indonesia leading the gains, as revived optimism over the ongoing Sino-US trade talks boosted investor sentiment.
It was reported that market sentiment turned positive after a first day of trade talks between top US and Chinese negotiators that Trump characterised as "very, very good".
"All commentaries coming from the first day of talks seemed to be helping the markets in the region, given this is something everyone was waiting for," Joel Ng, an analyst with KGI Securities was quoted as saying.
Source: The Edge
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