KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 5 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia closed lower on Friday amid mixed regional market performance as investors turned cautious over a possible rate hike by the Bank of Japan (BOJ) and upcoming US economic data that may influence the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) interest rate decision next week. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) pared most earlier losses to settle 4.55 points easier, or 0.28 per cent, to 1,616.52 from Thursday’s close of 1,621.07. The benchmark index, which opened 0.37 of-a-point lower at 1,620.70, moved between 1,609.67 and 1,621.25 throughout the day. The broader market was negative, with decliners outpacing advancers 604 to 439. A total of 550 counters were unchanged, 1,151 untraded, and 18 suspended. Turnover declined to 3.17 billion units worth RM2.24 billion from 4.48 billion units worth RM2.75 billion yesterday. Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd vice-presiden...
Global chipmaker Intel (INTC.US) will release its third-quarter 2025 earnings after the market closes on Thursday (ET). This will be the first financial update since Intel secured strategic investments from SoftBank, Nvidia, and the U.S. government, drawing intense attention from both investors and competitors.
Options Market Signals: Bullish but Costly Bets
Intel’s options market suggests traders are positioning for a highly volatile upside move.
Put/Call Ratio: 0.67 — indicating strong bullish sentiment, as call options vastly outnumber puts.
Implied Volatility (IV): 78.03%, ranking in the 94th percentile — signaling extremely expensive options pricing.
This combination shows that while traders expect a positive surprise, the bar for Intel to impress is exceptionally high.
Core Financial Expectations
Revenue: US$13.14 billion (▼1% YoY, ▲2% QoQ), slightly above Intel’s guidance midpoint.
Gross Margin: 35.6% GAAP / 36% non-GAAP — a notable YoY improvement due to better cost control.
Net Profit: A GAAP loss of US$1 billion expected (7th consecutive loss), but a non-GAAP profit of US$33.8 million, signaling a modest return to profitability.
Three Key Things to Watch
1. Can Raptor Lake Price Hikes Offset Margin Pressure?
Intel reportedly raised Raptor Lake CPU prices by over 10% to improve margins. However, surging DRAM prices tied to AI demand could weigh on Lunar Lake CPU profitability. The market will be watching whether Intel can maintain gross margin improvements despite higher component costs.
2. Foundry Strategy Revisions Ahead?
Intel’s 18A and 18AP nodes remain central to its roadmap. The company has hinted that internal demand alone could justify the 18A investment, a shift that may signal reduced reliance on third-party foundry customers.
Still, with U.S. government funding tied to Intel maintaining foundry ownership, investors want clarity on long-term strategic direction. Progress on the Panther Lake (18A-based) CPU could be a key positive surprise.
3. Data Center Recovery Timeline
Intel’s Datacenter and AI (DCAI) division continues to lag rivals, with Q3 revenue expected to fall 4% YoY. AMD has gained over 40% x86 server market share, and Nvidia dominates AI accelerators.
Reports that Intel may pair its Gaudi3 AI chip with Nvidia’s B200 GPU suggest collaboration over competition — a pragmatic move that could stabilize the division.
Summary
Intel’s Q3 numbers may show limited growth, but strategic clarity—especially regarding foundry plans, AI partnerships, and cost recovery—will be pivotal for investor sentiment.
If Intel’s foundry updates surprise to the upside, U.S. semiconductor equipment suppliers such as KLAC, AMAT, and LRCX could also benefit.
The market’s verdict will depend on whether Intel can prove its turnaround is real — not just funded by outside investors, but driven by execution in chips and margins.
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