New York, February 7, 2026, 06:38 (EST) — Market has closed.
- Intel climbed 4.9% on Friday, riding a wider chip sector bounce.
- Chinese clients have reportedly been told to expect increased wait times for certain server CPUs, according to sources.
- Next up for investors: U.S. jobs numbers land Feb. 11, with inflation data following on Feb. 13.
Intel (INTC.O) climbed 4.87% to close at $50.59 on Friday, snapping back following a tough run for some AI-linked names. In the after-hours session, the stock edged up another 0.1%. 1
Right now, the focus is on whether the AI push is starting to squeeze the entire server supply chain, not only the top-line chips. Scarcity in even the simplest components can delay projects and drive up costs for buyers, regardless of how hot demand looks.
It’s a key issue for Intel: data-center CPUs are still footing much of the bill, and surprises don’t sit well with customers. Raising prices is fine, but only works if shipments don’t stall.
Sources familiar with the delays say Intel and Advanced Micro Devices have notified their Chinese customers to brace for extended waits on server CPUs—these are the main chips used for everyday data center work. According to these people, Intel has flagged that some customers could see up to six months’ wait on certain fourth- and fifth-gen Xeon models. Prices for Intel server products in China? Generally up about 10%. AMD’s lead times for some server chips have now stretched to eight to ten weeks. China makes up more than 20% of Intel’s revenue, the company noted, pointing to a surge in demand for “traditional compute” because of rapid AI adoption. Intel expects inventory to bottom out in the first quarter, while projecting a better supply situation by the second. 2
Intel caught a break from the broader market action Friday. The Dow finished above 50,000 for the first time ever, and chipmakers surged as investors bet that Amazon and Alphabet’s ramped-up AI data-center budgets would lift the sector. “There’s real demand for AI products,” said Ross Mayfield, investment strategy analyst at Baird. 3
Intel shares made gains but trailed a few heavyweight chip stocks. Nvidia jumped 7.87% and Broadcom saw a 7.22% increase, with Qualcomm up 0.76%, according to MarketWatch. 4
Intel stayed in the spotlight thanks to deal buzz. According to sources, Vista Equity Partners is fronting a funding round topping $350 million for AI chip player SambaNova Systems. Intel, already an investor, is putting in roughly $100 million. The fresh cash targets inference chips—hardware that runs AI models after training—as companies look for options beyond Nvidia. 5
No ambiguity about demand here. The Semiconductor Industry Association projects global chip sales reaching $1 trillion in 2026. Growth next year should be led by advanced computing chips from Nvidia, AMD, and Intel, according to the group. “My orders are completely full,” said John Neuffer, president and CEO. 6
Still, that supply crunch keeping prices elevated isn’t without risk. Prolonged delays might prompt customers to hold off on data-center expansions, pivot to competitors’ chips, or postpone deals until availability improves in the coming quarters.
U.S. markets are quiet over the weekend, leaving Intel watchers waiting to see if the chip recovery picks up steam on Monday—and whether there’s any new word on when server CPUs might hit shelves. Investors have their eyes on two major pieces of economic data coming soon: the January Employment Situation lands Feb. 11, and January’s Consumer Price Index follows Feb. 13, both at 8:30 a.m. ET. 7
