Intel Reports Strong Earnings, Driving Market Volatility
The major averages were mixed near noon following a surge in chip stocks after strong earnings, particularly from Intel. The macro headwind, meanwhile, remains oil and geopolitics. Crude continues to be volatile amid renewed tensions in the Middle East, including shipping disruptions and military activity tied to the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict. Of note, a Pakistani government official told MS NOW that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is anticipated to arrive in Islamabad on Friday and that talks between the U.S. and Iran will likely occur there.Get caught up quickly on the top news and calls moving stocks with these five Top Five lists.1. STOCK NEWS:Intelreportedand provided upbeat Q2 earnings guidanceProcter & Gamblereportedand maintained its core FY26 earnings outlookMaxLinearshares soared after its Q1 earnings beat was followed byMetasigned anAmazon Web Services'Graviton processorsJeanine Pirro, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, said the DOJ willinto Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell2. WALL STREET CALLS:Intelto Buy or equivalent ratings at Citi, Evercore ISI and Roth Capital after earningsDA Davidson alsoAMDto Buy after the big Intel beatSportradarto Hold at JefferiesBloomin' Brandsto Underweight at JPMorganMoffettNathansonDraftKingsand Flutter Entertainmentto Neutral amid prediction markets "clouds"3. AROUND THE WEB:Sun Pharmaceutical is set to make a binding offer of $13B for Organon, The Economic Times reportsSpruce Point Management announces a long position in Zoom Communications, saying it sees "material upside potential" in the sharesNvidiahas yet to sell H200 AI chips to Chinese companies, citing difficulties obtaining permission from the Chinese government faced by potential buyers, Reuters saysBarclaysdecided not to challenge the Financial Conduct Authority's motor finance ruling, which could lead to average payouts for drivers of more than GBP 800M, Sky reportsTens of thousands of Samsungworkers rallied for a larger share of AI-driven profits, with the union demanding 15% of operating profit versus the company's offer of 10% plus a 6.2% wage increase, Bloomberg reports4. MOVERS:PagerDutygains after a rumor an activist targeting the company was highlighted in Ben Harrington's buyout-focusedNewmontincreases after, with EPS and revenue beating consensusSAPhigher in New York after Grupo Santanderthe stock to OutperformCharterlower after, with EPS missing consensusCourserafalls afterand provided guidance for Q2 and FY265. EARNINGS/GUIDANCE:Gentexand raised its guidance for FY26Moogand raised its guidance for FY26, with CEO Pat Roche commenting, "Our teams delivered another outstanding quarter"HCA Healthcare, with EPS in-line with consensusSLBand increased its guidance for FY26, with CEO Olivier Le Peuch commenting on "a challenging start to the year" amid widespread disruptions in the Middle EastApogee Enterprises, with EPS higher year-over-yearINDEXES:Near midday, the Dow was down 0.13%, or 62.86, to 49,247.46, the Nasdaq was up 1.47%, or 358.33, to 24,796.84, and the S&P 500 was up 0.74%, or 52.61, to 7,161.01.