KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 8 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia closed almost flat on Tuesday as buying interest rotated away from index heavyweights towards smaller-cap construction stocks, with sentiment affected by geopolitical uncertainty, said an analyst. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) eased 0.39 of a point to 1,714.40 from Monday’s close of 1,714.79. The benchmark index opened 1.65 points lower at 1,713.14 and moved between 1,710.44 and 1,714.50 throughout the trading session. The broader market was almost evenly balanced, with decliners leading gainers 548 to 546, while 598 counters were unchanged, 1,107 were untraded and 25 were suspended. Turnover expanded to 4.13 billion units valued at RM3.14 billion from 3.60 billion units valued at RM2.45 billion on Monday.
As Intel Corp. (INTC) gears up to report earnings Thursday, all eyes are on CEO Lip-Bu Tan. Investors aren’t just looking for numbers—they want a credible roadmap to profitability and growth. And patience is running thin.
A Promising Start, but Momentum Stalls
Since Tan took the reins in March, Intel’s shares are up 19%, a modest recovery compared to Nvidia’s 50% surge and AMD’s 64% jump over the same period. Optimism around Tan’s appointment has given way to skepticism.
“There’s still a great opportunity in Intel, but we’ve cut our position,” said Joe Tigay, fund manager at Rational Equity Armor Fund.
What Wall Street Expects
Intel is forecast to post a Q2 loss of 31 cents per share on $11.9 billion in revenue, down 7% year-over-year, according to Bloomberg data. The company isn’t expected to turn a profit or see growth until mid-2026.
Cutting Costs Isn’t Enough
Tan has pledged to slash operating costs and cut capital spending by $2 billion in 2025. About 4,000 jobs have been trimmed—just 4% of the workforce. But analysts say that’s not enough.
“It takes more than cost-cutting. Revenue needs to grow,” warned KC Rajkumar, analyst at Lynx Equity Strategy.
AI and Factory Deals Hold the Key
Intel must carve out a place in the AI infrastructure boom — an area where Nvidia dominates. Investors also want clarity on whether large customers are committing to Intel’s factories, and whether in-house chip designs can reclaim market share.
Analyst Sentiment Paints a Gloomy Picture
Out of 52 analysts tracked by Bloomberg:
Only 4 rate Intel a Buy
42 say Hold
6 recommend Sell
The 12-month price target? Just $21.93, nearly 7% below Wednesday’s close of $23.49
“Do Intel’s numbers even matter at this point?” asked Bernstein analyst Stacy Rasgon, reflecting the uncertainty surrounding Intel’s future.
The Bottom Line:
Tan needs to deliver more than cost savings. A clear, confident strategy to grow revenue, reclaim relevance in chips, and tap into AI demand is the only way to convince a skeptical market that Intel can truly rebound.
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