NEW YORK, Feb 8, 2026, 05:49 EST — The market has closed.
- Intel jumped 4.9% to finish Friday at $50.59, catching a strong wave of gains across chip stocks.
- Intel has told certain customers in China to brace for wait times of as long as six months for server CPUs, Reuters reported.
- Tech stocks now face their next hurdles: U.S. jobs numbers on Feb 11, followed by inflation data on Feb 13.
Intel Corp climbed 4.9% to close at $50.59 on Friday, reclaiming the $50 level for the week as chip stocks powered a broad rally across the U.S. market.
This shift is catching attention as investors hunt for signs that the AI surge is fueling demand across the hardware stack—not just for headline-grabbing graphics chips. Intel’s shares have begun behaving more like those of an AI supply-chain player again, despite the company still being deep in turnaround mode.
According to a Reuters report on Friday, Intel and Advanced Micro Devices have both notified customers in China about a crunch in server CPU supply—the crucial chips powering data-center servers. Intel cited delivery wait times stretching as long as six months for certain CPUs. The company attributed the squeeze to surging demand from rapid AI adoption, saying this has pushed “traditional compute” orders higher. Intel also told clients inventory would hit its “lowest level in Q1,” but anticipated supply conditions should start easing by the second quarter. 1
Intel surged Friday, catching a tailwind from renewed appetite for semiconductor stocks after Amazon and Alphabet flagged increased capex tied to data centers and equipment in their AI buildout push. The Dow punched through 50,000 for the first time ever. Nvidia and AMD rallied hard too. “I think there’s enough evidence that there’s real demand for AI products,” said Baird investment strategy analyst Ross Mayfield. 2
Intel surfaced again late Friday, this time tied to an AI hardware deal. Sources told Reuters that Vista Equity Partners is heading up a funding round of more than $350 million for SambaNova Systems, an AI chip startup. Intel is throwing in around $100 million, possibly bumping that to $150 million. The investment centers on inference chips—hardware crucial for running trained AI models and a space where Nvidia still calls the shots. Reuters previously reported that Intel and SambaNova had talked about an acquisition, but those discussions hit a wall. 3
Intel is moving into the GPU business for data centers, CEO Lip-Bu Tan said earlier this week, and has brought on Eric Demmers from Qualcomm to spearhead the project. “It’s tied in with the data center,” Tan told Reuters. 4
The outlook for chipmakers remains solid. The Semiconductor Industry Association expects worldwide semiconductor sales to reach $1 trillion this year, following a 25.6% jump in 2025 to $791.7 billion, as AI-driven investments from major tech firms drive growth. “My orders are completely full,” SIA CEO John Neuffer told Reuters. 5
Chip funds caught the risk-on wave. The iShares Semiconductor ETF and VanEck Semiconductor ETF each notched gains of roughly 5% in the latest session, leaving the broader tech sector behind.
But there’s a flip side to Intel’s tight supply: while it can keep prices firm, it also risks missed shipments and irritated customers. Reuters flagged manufacturing and capacity snags affecting the broader sector. Meanwhile, Intel keeps bleeding server share and faces pressure to deliver on its product roadmap, all while ramping up spending.
As Monday brings markets back online, all eyes will be on Intel to see if shares can stick above $50. Traders are squaring up for a week packed with fresh macro numbers: the U.S. Employment Situation hits Wednesday, Feb. 11, then the Consumer Price Index drops Friday, Feb. 13. Both releases have a reputation for shaking up bond yields—and that tends to ricochet through chip sector valuations. 6
