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Intel Corp  has emerged as one of the  hottest stocks in the market , delivering a stunning rally that added over  US$100 billion in market value  within days. Record Rally Signals Renewed Confidence Intel shares have surged  51% over eight consecutive sessions , marking the  strongest stretch in its history  and its best weekly gain since 2000. Year-to-date, the stock is now up  ~69% , building on last year’s  84% rally , as investors increasingly bet on a  successful turnaround strategy . Strategic Moves Drive Momentum The rally was fueled by a series of positive developments: A  US$14.2 billion buyback  of its Ireland chip facility stake from  Apollo Global Management Participation in  Elon Musk’s Terafab project , supplying chips for next-generation technologies A partnership with  Alphabet  to supply future  Xeon processors for data centres These moves signal a shift toward  expansion and stra...

Wall Street’s rally stalled at the end of its  strongest week this year , as investors turned cautious ahead of critical  US-Iran negotiations  that could shape the outlook for markets and energy prices. Rally Loses Momentum After Seven-Day Run The  S&P 500 Index  dipped  0.1% , snapping a seven-day winning streak, though it still recorded its  best weekly performance since November . Nasdaq 100  edged  +0.1% Dow Jones Industrial Average  fell  0.6% Markets had previously rallied on  in-line inflation data and easing geopolitical fears , but sentiment softened as uncertainty around the  Iran conflict  resurfaced. Oil Drops Sharply, Gold Also Weakens Energy markets saw significant volatility: WTI crude fell below US$97 , posting its  largest weekly decline since 2020 Gold slipped 0.2% , reflecting reduced safe-haven demand Despite the drop, oil prices remain sensitive to developments in the  Strait of Hor...

Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN)  delivered a stronger-than-expected third-quarter performance, powered by a  20% surge in AWS revenue  — the  fastest growth in three years . The upbeat results pushed the stock up as much as  13% after hours , reaffirming investor confidence in the company’s AI-driven growth story. Key Highlights at a Glance Revenue:  $180.2 billion (+13% YoY) — beating analysts’ $177.8 billion estimate Operating Income:  $17.4 billion (flat YoY), or  $21.7 billion excluding one-off charges Net Income:  $21.2 billion vs. $15.3 billion last year EPS:  $1.95 vs. $1.58 expected AWS Growth:  +20% YoY to $33.0 billion — beating forecasts and driving earnings surprise Stock Movement:  +13% after-hours; current  P/E ratio above 33x AWS Fuels the Growth Engine AWS remains Amazon’s biggest profit driver, contributing  two-thirds of total operating income . Revenue:  $33.0 billion (+20% YoY) — vs. $32.42 billion expe...

Market Resilience Meets Fresh Caution U.S. equities have staged one of their strongest rallies since the 1950s, adding nearly  US$15 trillion in market value since April . The S&P 500 has surged  33% , notched  28 record highs in 2025 , and is on track for its best September in more than a decade. But momentum is showing early signs of fatigue. The benchmark slipped for three straight sessions last week — its longest losing streak in a month — before eking out a rebound Friday. Since the Fed’s rate cut on Sept. 17, the S&P 500 is up less than 1%, with weakness spreading beyond Big Tech to consumer, healthcare, and materials stocks. Tariffs, Data, and the Fed in Focus President  Donald Trump’s new tariffs  on imported trucks, drugs, and furniture add another layer of uncertainty just as  Q3 earnings season  begins Oct. 14 with JPMorgan Chase. Markets are already pricing in  8% earnings growth  for the quarter — levels seen only twice i...

Intel Explores Strategic Partnerships Intel Corp. (NASDAQ: INTC)  shares surged more than 6% on Wednesday after reports surfaced that the company has approached  Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL)  about a potential investment. According to Reuters, discussions have also touched on expanding collaboration, though the talks remain preliminary and may not lead to a formal deal. Neither company has issued public comment. Reviving Competitiveness in AI The move comes as Intel seeks to regain ground in the fast-growing artificial intelligence chip market, where it has lagged behind  Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ: NVDA)  and  Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) . Chief Executive  Lip-Bu Tan  has been pursuing strategic partnerships and fresh capital to support Intel’s turnaround. Just last week,  Nvidia disclosed a $5 billion investment  for a roughly 4% stake in Intel, while  SoftBank  has also taken a position. In addition, the  US government secured ...

 Global Markets Wall Street ended lower for a second straight session on Wednesday as losses in AI-linked stocks weighed on sentiment. Nvidia and Oracle led the declines, while Micron fell despite upbeat AI-driven growth guidance. Alibaba, by contrast, surged after unveiling its most advanced AI model, Qwen3-Max, alongside new overseas data centers and a partnership with Nvidia. Investor confidence was tempered by Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s cautious tone. Powell warned that rate cuts must proceed carefully to avoid reigniting inflation, moderating expectations for additional easing following last week’s 25 bp reduction. Attention now turns to Thursday’s Q2 GDP figures and Friday’s PCE inflation data for policy cues. The Dow Jones shed 0.37%, the S&P 500 slipped 0.28%, and the Nasdaq dropped 0.33%. US Treasury yields firmed, with the 10-year at 4.14%. Malaysia Markets The ringgit weakened, with USD/MYR rising 75 pips to 4.2080 as uncertainty over Fed policy direction pressured se...

 Key Takeaway The S&P 500 closed at a new record high, fueled by soft U.S. labor market data that reinforced expectations for a Fed rate cut this month. Amazon, Broadcom, and Meta led the gains, with consumer discretionary stocks standing out. Market Recap S&P 500:  +0.83% to 6,502.08 (record close) Dow Jones:  +0.77% to 45,621.29 Nasdaq:  +0.98% to 21,707.69 Investors now see a  95% probability  of a 25bp cut in September, according to CME FedWatch. Powell’s dovish tone has markets confident, unless Friday’s payrolls report delivers a major surprise. Sector & Stock Highlights Amazon (AMZN):  +4.3% after JetBlue announced a partnership with its Project Kuiper satellite unit for in-flight WiFi. Broadcom (AVGO):  +1.2% before results; edged higher after hours with stronger Q4 revenue forecast. Meta Platforms (META):  +1.6% on tech buying momentum. American Eagle (AEO):  +38% after upbeat Q3 sales guidance. Salesforce (CRM): ...

Market Snapshot U.S. equities started the week quietly, with investors holding back ahead of  retail earnings  and the  Federal Reserve’s Jackson Hole symposium . Dow Jones : 44,943.97 (-2.15 pts) S&P 500 : 6,445.97 (-0.06%) Nasdaq : 21,594.39 (-0.13%) Seven of 11 S&P sectors rose, led by  healthcare (+0.5%)  as UnitedHealth extended gains after last week’s surge. Key Drivers This Week 1.  Retail Earnings in Focus Reports from  Walmart, Home Depot, Target, and others  will gauge the health of U.S. consumers amid  trade uncertainty and inflation concerns . Retail sales grew in line with expectations, but  consumer sentiment dipped  on inflation fears. Traders expect results to be  mostly in line , with only slight upside surprises. 2.  Jackson Hole Symposium (Aug 21–23) Markets await  Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s speech  for clarity on monetary policy. Investors price in a  25 bps cut in September , but ...

Stock Reaction Intel (INTC.US)  fell  3.7%  after reports of government equity talks. Meanwhile,  Arm (ARM.US)  gained  1.6%  and the  SOXX ETF  rose  0.3% . Two Big Headlines Washington’s Stake  – The White House is reportedly considering converting  CHIPS Act support into a 10% equity stake in Intel . Upside : Aligns taxpayer returns with Intel’s turnaround; strengthens domestic semiconductor capacity for national security. Downside : Dilution risk. A 10% new share issuance would weigh on  EPS  in the near term. Policy Shift : CHIPS funds have so far been grants/loans, not equity—this would set a precedent. SoftBank’s Bet  – SoftBank agreed to invest  $2 billion at $23 per share . Financial angle : A leveraged bet on Intel’s foundry turnaround at cyclical lows. Strategic angle : Supports SoftBank’s “Stargate”  AI infrastructure push  in the U.S. Intel–Arm dynamic : While Arm (owned by SoftBank) c...

Stock Reaction SharpLink Gaming (SBET.US)  dropped  15.5% Friday  after weak Q2 results and a heavy non-cash hit tied to its Ethereum holdings. Earnings Snapshot Revenue : $0.7M (↓ from $1.0M YoY) Gross Profit : $0.2M Net Loss :  $103.4M , mainly due to: $87.8M non-cash impairment  on liquid staked Ethereum (ETH) $16.4M non-cash stock-based compensation  (linked to a strategic advisory deal with Consensys) Treasury Strategy: Big Bet on ETH Q2 marked SharpLink’s  pivot to Ethereum as its primary reserve asset . Raised  $2.6B via capital offerings Acquired  728,804 ETH , nearly all staked Earned  ~1,326 ETH in staking rewards  to date Boosted its  ETH Concentration metric by 98% in weeks Co-CEO Joseph Chalom said this strategy positions SharpLink “at the center of a transformational opportunity in global finance and technology.” Investor Takeaway Core business weak : declining sales and shrinking gross profit ETH strategy dominat...

What Happened Multiple reports indicate that Washington is in talks to take an equity stake in  Intel (INTC) , with terms and size yet to be determined. Shares jumped  7.38%  on the news. This approach reflects the U.S. government’s shift toward  return-bearing strategic investments  rather than pure grants for semiconductor manufacturing capacity. Intel’s Strategic Reset On its Q2 earnings call, Intel drew a hard line under its prior  “build-it-and-they-will-come”  approach, committing to a more disciplined capital plan: CapEx tied to demand:  New capacity will only be built with firm customer volume commitments. Project cuts and consolidations:  No new manufacturing sites in Germany and Poland; Costa Rica assembly & test will be consolidated into Vietnam and Malaysia. Ohio construction will be slowed to align with demand. CapEx target:  2025 gross capital expenditure capped at ~$18B to optimize footprint and improve returns on inve...

Intel Corp. (INTC.US) shares climbed after a meeting between CEO  Lip-Bu Tan  and President Donald Trump appeared to ease recent tensions, potentially opening the door for closer collaboration with Washington. Key Developments Tone Shift from Trump  – Days after calling for Tan’s resignation over ties to Chinese companies, Trump praised his “amazing success story” and suggested a “path forward.” Next Steps  – Tan to meet with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, returning with recommendations next week. Intel’s Statement  – Called the meeting “candid and constructive,” reaffirming commitment to strengthening  U.S. technology and manufacturing leadership . Political & Regulatory Backdrop Federal Funding at Stake  – Intel has received  ~$8B from the CHIPS and Science Act —the largest single-company award. Sen. Tom Cotton’s Concerns  – Pressing for answers on Tan’s China-linked associations, warning they co...

Align Technology (NASDAQ: ALGN) shares fell sharply in after-hours trading Wednesday after the company posted disappointing second-quarter results and issued a lower-than-expected outlook. Q2 Highlights: Revenue:  $1.01B vs. $1.06B estimate, down 1.6% YoY Adjusted EPS:  $2.49 vs. $2.57 estimate Clear Aligner Revenue:  $804.6M, down 3.3% YoY Imaging Systems & CAD/CAM Services:  $207.8M, up 5.6% YoY Cash & Equivalents:  $901.2M CEO Joe Hogan noted strong consumer interest in Invisalign but said  “uneven patient case conversion”  led to a weaker-than-expected seasonal uptick in case starts. Stock Buyback: Align repurchased  585,100 shares  during the quarter at an average price of $164.14 per share. Guidance: Q3 Revenue Forecast:  $965M–$985M vs. ~$1.04B estimate. Company plans to cut costs and refine marketing efforts to support growth in its clear aligner and scanner products. Market Reaction: Shares  plunged 36.8% in after-h...

 Nike Stock Could See 19% Upside on Turnaround, J.P. Morgan Says Upgrade:  J.P. Morgan upgraded $Nike (NKE.US)$ to  Overweight  from Neutral and raised its price target to  $93 (from $64). Current price:  $78.37 premarket; target implies ~ 19% upside . Key driver:  Analysts led by Matthew Boss see Nike on a “multiyear recovery path” as it aggressively clears excess inventory and reduces discounting by 1H2026. Highlights: Inventory cleanup:  Ongoing liquidation via Factory stores and partners to rebalance supply-demand. Holiday orders:  Management noted Y/Y improvement, signaling momentum. Recent earnings:  Q4 sales -12% Y/Y but beat expectations; positive guidance boosted shares ~27% since June 26. Strategic outlook:  Focus on scaling Performance product pipeline and rebuilding wholesale order books. Long-term:  Boss projects Nike could return to pre-pandemic profitability beyond 2028. 📌  Quote from the report:  “Nik...

Intel reported mixed second-quarter earnings, with a slight revenue beat offset by  record-low margins , continued losses in its foundry business, and cautious guidance. Shares swung in a wide range after-hours before settling down over 4%. Key Q2 Financials: Revenue:  $12.9B (+0.2% YoY, -9.8% QoQ), above guidance Gross Margin (GAAP):  27.5%, down sharply from last year Operating Loss (GAAP):  $3.18B (includes $1.9B restructuring costs) Net Loss (GAAP):  $3.02B, sixth consecutive quarter of losses Free Cash Flow:  -$1.1B, fourth straight negative quarter Business Segment Breakdown: Client Computing (PC CPUs):  $7.87B (-3% YoY, +3% QoQ) Operating margin hit a low of 26.1% Datacenter & AI (Server CPUs):  $3.94B (+4% YoY, -5% QoQ) Operating profit up 162% YoY; margin improved to 16.1% Intel Foundry:  $4.42B (+3% YoY, -5% QoQ) Operating loss widened to $3.17B (-71.7% margin) Mobileye:  $0.51B (+15% YoY) Altera (FPGA):  $0.45B (+24% ...

LKQ Corp. stock plunged 17.8% , making it the  worst-performing stock in the S&P 500 on Thursday , after the automotive parts and services provider delivered  disappointing earnings and slashed its 2025 outlook . Key Financial Results: Adjusted EPS : 87 cents –  Missed  estimates of 92 cents –  Down 11%  year-over-year Revenue : $3.64 billion – Slightly  beat  expectations of $3.62 billion Parts & Services Comparable Revenue :  -3.4%  vs. Q2 2024 2025 Outlook Cut: New EPS Guidance : $3.00–$3.30 – Previously: $3.40–$3.70 Organic Revenue Forecast for Parts & Services : – Now expected to  decline 1.5% to 3.5% – Previously forecasted as  flat to +2% What’s Dragging LKQ Down? Fewer vehicle repairs  due to: Higher insurance deductibles Declining used car prices Increased repair costs Lower insurance coverage rates Economic slowdown in Europe Tariff uncertainty in North America These factors have  reduced the num...

  Intel (INTC)  –  Down 4% Q2 revenue beat expectations , but the market reacted negatively to  CEO Lip Bu Tan’s comments , which failed to boost investor confidence. Ongoing concerns over  deep job cuts, weak EPS guidance, and strategic uncertainty  weighed on sentiment. AST SpaceMobile (ASTS)  –  Down 7% Shares fell after the company  filed for a Class A common stock offering , which often signals potential dilution. Deckers Outdoor (DECK)  –  Up 12% Strong earnings beat drove the surge. The company also announced  shoe price increases , which boosted profit outlook and investor sentiment. Newmont Corporation (NEM)  –  Up 2% Reported  better-than-expected earnings per share (EPS) and revenue , supporting the stock’s modest gain. Meme Stock Rally Opendoor Technologies (OPEN)  jumped  5.7% Krispy Kreme (DNUT)  added  4% Driven by  retail investor momentum , social media chatter, and short...

Tesla’s stock plunged 8%  after reporting a rough quarter, with falling revenue and auto sales sending shockwaves through both the market and options traders. What Happened? Revenue dropped 12%  from the previous quarter to  $22.5 billion , missing analyst expectations of $22.74 billion. Vehicle deliveries fell 16% , marking the second straight quarter of declining sales—even with a refreshed Model Y SUV. Some market watchers suggest  Elon Musk’s controversial political activities  may also be denting global brand appeal. Options Market Reaction 3.84 million Tesla options  traded in a day—massive volume. Put-call ratio: 0.88 , showing a nearly balanced but slightly bullish outlook from traders. Tesla options were among the  most actively traded on the market  following the earnings news. Bonus: Unusual Options Alert $Comerica (CMA)  saw standout activity with  $80 calls showing a 170x volume-to-open-interest ratio , with 25,322 contracts...

GE Vernova (GEV)  surged over  15% intraday  to a  record $633.72  after posting a  solid Q2 earnings beat  and signaling a  stronger full-year revenue outlook . The company, a spinoff from General Electric, is showing impressive  broad-based growth  across its energy-focused segments. Q2 Financial Highlights EPS:  $1.86 vs. $1.76 expected Down from $4.65 YoY (due to one-off prior-year gains) Revenue:  $9.11B (+11% YoY) vs. $8.81B expected Orders:  $12.4B (+4% organic) Backlog:  +$5.2B sequentially Segment Performance Segment Q2 Revenue YoY Growth Power $4.76B +6.8% Wind $2.25B +8.9% Electrification $2.20B +23.0% The  electrification segment  stands out with  23% revenue growth , reflecting growing demand for grid modernization and clean energy infrastructure. Outlook Full-year guidance  unchanged : $36B–$37B revenue Management now expects to land toward the  higher end of the range  Inve...