INTEL BEATS EARNINGS AS STOCKS SLIDE ON IRAN TENSIONS

Intel Corp. reported earnings that exceeded expectations and provided an optimistic outlook for current-period sales, signaling the chipmaker is capitalizing on the artificial intelligence infrastructure expansion. The company's shares surged on the positive guidance. Despite Intel's strong performance, U.S. stocks retreated as Iran-related jitters pressured broader market sentiment. The decline reflected a flight to safety among investors amid heightened geopolitical risk. The market close featured analysis from major institutional players, including executives from Raymond James, Zscaler, Stifel, and portfolio managers from Janus Henderson and PIMCO. The session highlighted a divergence between tech strength—particularly in AI-benefiting sectors—and broader market caution tied to international concerns.