KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 7 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia’s benchmark index rebounded from earlier losses to close at its intraday high on Wednesday, gaining 0.27 per cent in late trading as buying interest returned to selected heavyweights. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) advanced 4.48 points to 1,676.83 from Tuesday’s close of 1,672.35. The benchmark index opened 0.88 of-a-point lower at 1,671.47 and subsequently hit a low of 1,665.94 during the mid-morning session before gaining momentum toward closing. On the broader market, losers led gainers by 565 to 512, while some 526 counters were unchanged, 1,046 untraded, and 10 suspended. Turnover improved to 2.73 billion units worth RM2.76 billion versus Tuesday’s 2.66 billion units worth RM2.76 billion. Dealers said that investors were cautious following geopolitical developments in Asia.
Stocks on the Move: Intel Jumps on U.S. Investment, RH Slides on Tariff Probe, Nvidia in Focus Ahead of Earnings
U.S. stock futures edged lower Monday after last week’s record-setting rally in the Dow Jones Industrial Average (.DJI.US), fueled by Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s dovish signals. Investors are now recalibrating positions ahead of a packed week of corporate earnings.
Intel (+5.5% Friday Close; +1.9% Premarket)
Catalyst: U.S. government to invest $8.9 billion in Intel shares at $20.47 each, giving Washington a 9.9% passive stakein the chipmaker.
Funded by unpaid Chips Act grants ($5.7b) and the Secure Enclave program ($3.2b).
No board seats or information rights.
Intel ended Friday at $24.80, up 5.5%, making the U.S. government Intel’s largest shareholder.
Investor takeaway: This move underscores Washington’s push for domestic chip sovereignty, positioning Intel as a strategic national asset. The passive nature of the stake alleviates governance risk but raises questions on long-term government involvement.
Furniture Retailers Mixed on Tariff News
President Trump announced an investigation into furniture import tariffs, triggering sharp sector moves:
RH (RH.US): -6.7%
Wayfair (W.US): -4.8%
Williams-Sonoma (WSM.US): -5%
Ethan Allen (ETD.US): +5.5% (benefits from 75% North American sourcing, seven U.S. plants).
La-Z-Boy (LZB.US): +2% (domestic production in Tennessee, Missouri, Arkansas).
Investor takeaway: Policy shifts could reshape competitive dynamics, favoring domestically focused manufacturers at the expense of import-heavy retailers.
Keurig Dr Pepper (-2.2%)
Catalyst: Announced $18 billion acquisition of JDE Peet’s (31.85 euros per share, ~US$37.30).
Plan to split into two listed entities – one focused on coffee, the other on beverages.
JDE Peet’s shares surged 17% in Europe.
Investor takeaway: The restructuring is ambitious, but integration risks and leverage concerns weigh on short-term sentiment. Long-term, the coffee separation could unlock value.
Nvidia (+0.4% Premarket; +1.7% Friday)
Reports earnings Wednesday; Street expects EPS +48% YoY on $45.9b revenue.
Options market pricing in a 6% swing either way.
Stock up 33% YTD, but in a two-week losing streak — the longest since April.
Investor takeaway: Nvidia remains a bellwether for AI trade momentum. Any guidance miss or cautious China commentary could ripple across global tech.
Crypto & Blockchain Plays
Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy): -3.9%
Coinbase (COIN.US): -2.5%
Moves mirrored a weekend pullback in Bitcoin (BTC.CC).
Earnings on Deck
Monday: PDD Holdings, Heico, Semtech.
Later This Week: Dell, Snowflake, Marvell, CrowdStrike, HP Inc, Autodesk, Affirm, MongoDB, Okta, Box, PVH, Veeva, Agilent, Williams-Sonoma, NetApp, Nutanix, Pure Storage, Li Auto, Ulta Beauty, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Best Buy.
Bottom Line for Investors:
Intel’s U.S. stake reinforces chip reshoring momentum.
Furniture stocks are now a policy trade, highly sensitive to tariff outcomes.
Nvidia earnings could set the tone for AI and broader tech sentiment.
Keurig Dr Pepper’s restructuring offers long-term optionality but faces near-term execution risks.
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