Intel (INTC 7.52%) surged 7.4% on Thursday to close at $23.86, with trading volume roughly doubling its 3-month average. The rally followed reports that the Trump administration is in talks to take a financial stake in the company. The move would support Intel's Ohio manufacturing project and signal renewed federal backing.
The broader market traded flat. The S&P 500 inched up 0.03%, while the Nasdaq Composite dipped by 0.01%. Despite the lukewarm performance of major indexes, semiconductor stocks showed relative strength amid fresh policy momentum.
Intel outpaced peers in the chip space. Nvidia (NVDA 0.28%) rose 0.3% to $182.02, while Broadcom (AVGO 0.76%) gained 0.7% to close at $311.23. While both firms have enjoyed consistent gains this year, Intel's surge stood out amid growing speculation that a U.S. government partnership could reshape its future.
The proposed federal investment -- still under discussion -- would back Intel's previously delayed Ohio fab buildout. It marks a major show of confidence in CEO Lip-Bu Tan, who met with President Donald Trump earlier this week. With the administration increasingly focused on tech-sector self-reliance, Intel's role as a domestic champion may finally be regaining traction.
Market data sourced from Google Finance and Yahoo! Finance on Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2025.
