New York, January 24, 2026, 08:51 EST — Market closed
- AMD shares closed Friday up 2.35%, marking another week of gains.
- Intel’s dim forecast and ongoing supply issues put the spotlight on competitors in the server and PC markets.
- Coming soon: the Fed’s Jan. 28 decision, AMD’s Ryzen chip debut on Jan. 29, followed by AMD earnings on Feb. 3.
Advanced Micro Devices ended Friday’s session 2.35% higher at $259.68 but dipped roughly 0.3% in after-hours trading, which is still ongoing past the 4 p.m. ET close.
AMD ended the week on a strong note, acting as a release valve for investors targeting AI chip demand without jumping into the largest players. The stock has surged over 27% across nine consecutive sessions—one of its most impressive streaks in years.
Next week’s calendar is crowded, with the Federal Reserve set to announce its decision on Wednesday, plus a stream of tech earnings that investors will watch closely for clues about data-center spending. “At the end of the day, earnings are the driver,” said Franklin Templeton strategist Chris Galipeau. Reuters
Intel stole the spotlight late this week with its latest outlook. The chip giant admitted it’s fallen short of meeting demand for server CPUs powering AI data centers. It projected revenue between $11.7 billion and $12.7 billion for the current quarter, slightly below the $12.51 billion consensus from analysts, per LSEG data. “In the short term, I’m disappointed that we are not able to fully meet the demand in our markets,” CEO Lip-Bu Tan told analysts. Reuters
Intel’s shares dropped 15.6% by Friday’s close, dragging the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index down roughly 1%. That came despite gains in both the Nasdaq and S&P 500.
AMD had a smaller boost of its own. Client chief David McAfee announced the Ryzen 7 9850X3D will drop on Jan. 29, priced at $499 MSRP, pitching it as “built for gamers who demand smooth, relentless performance.” Tech sites noted the updated chip nudges the price up slightly from the previous model, maintaining a clear focus on gaming power. X (formerly Twitter)
The backdrop isn’t exactly smooth. Reuters flagged this week that soaring memory-chip prices are squeezing consumer electronics firms. IDC now forecasts the PC market will shrink by at least 4.9% in 2026, which could hit demand for client processors. “Manufacturers might absorb some costs but … it is certainly going to show up as higher prices for consumers,” said Emarketer analyst Jacob Bourne. Reuters
AMD is set to release its fiscal fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 results on Tuesday, Feb. 3, after the market closes. The company will host a conference call at 5:00 p.m. EST to discuss the numbers.
The stock faces familiar, pressing questions: can data-center strength make up for softness in PCs? And will AMD’s outlook align with the spending habits of top cloud clients? Traders are also watching Nvidia, the go-to name for AI accelerators, alongside Intel’s progress in easing supply chain issues.
Key events are just days away: the Fed’s Jan. 28 decision, AMD rolling out its Ryzen 7 9850X3D on Jan. 29, and the company’s earnings report coming after the U.S. close on Feb. 3.
