New York, March 3, 2026, 11:33 (EST) — Regular session
Shares of Intel Corp dropped 4.8% to $43.34 by late morning Tuesday, as chip names lost ground while investors cut risk across Wall Street. Intel had finished Monday at $45.50. The stock saw a range from $44.14 down to $42.18 so far, with roughly 39.9 million shares traded.
This isn’t about Intel’s news. Crude’s jump is steering the action. Rising energy costs often push up inflation expectations, nudging interest-rate bets higher—which usually spells trouble for tech stocks sensitive to rates.
Tehran is warning it could strike ships attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, a major artery for the world’s oil supply, according to Reuters, as regional tensions escalate. “The main concern is that oil prices go to over $100 a barrel and stay there,” said Robert Pavlik, senior portfolio manager at Dakota Wealth. Reuters
Other chip stocks weren’t spared. Nvidia lost 1.4%. Advanced Micro Devices gave up 3.8%, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing shed 4.8%.
Intel and Ericsson unveiled plans at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona for what they’re calling an “AI-native 6G” approach—a next-gen mobile network design with AI at its core. Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan described the goal as unifying “RAN, Core and edge AI.” That’s radio access network, which connects devices to cell towers, together with the core infrastructure behind it. Newsroom
Intel plans to show off live-network AI inference using its Xeon 6 platforms during the event, highlighting network upgrades designed to sidestep expensive “rip-and-replace” overhauls. According to the company, its booth will be open from March 2-5. Newsroom
Intel, in a separate MWC post on Tuesday, highlighted 14 demos at its booth—some in partnership with Ericsson and Samsung. “Our focus is straightforward: help operators turn infrastructure into opportunity,” said Kevork Kechichian, Intel executive vice president and head of the data center group. Newsroom
Telecom headlines didn’t provide much of a buffer on a day dominated by crude oil moves. Chip stocks? Volatility hits and things get rough fast, as cash pulls out in a hurry.
If oil tumbles or there are indications the conflict is under control, that could steady the tape. The flip side? Energy prices climb, rate-cut bets get pushed further into the future, and chip stocks like Intel stay under pressure.
Intel is slated to present at Morgan Stanley’s Technology, Media & Telecom Conference on Wednesday, with the session scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Pacific, the company’s investor calendar shows. intc.com
