Intel Shares Soar on AI-Fueled Outlook; US-Iran Peace Talks Stalemate | Bloomberg Brief 4/24/2026

Watch on YouTube ↗  |  April 24, 2026 at 11:22  |  42:24  |  Bloomberg Markets
Speakers
Matt Bloxham — Head of Research, The Block
Vonnie Quinn — Anchor, Bloomberg
Sonja Marten — Chief Economist, DZ Bank

Summary

Intel shares surge over 20% pre-market after an AI-fueled sales forecast beat, boosting Nasdaq futures. Oil prices climb amid a stalemate in US-Iran peace talks and the Strait of Hormuz blockade. DZ Bank's Sonja Marten warns markets may be overoptimistic given geopolitical risks and discusses central bank rate paths. TSMC also rises on Taiwan regulatory easing for single-stock fund limits.

  • Intel's Q2 outlook beat by 14% above consensus, driven by AI inference demand for CPUs.
  • Intel pre-market gains exceed 20%, lifting tech and Nasdaq futures.
  • Oil (Brent) above $107 as US-Iran standoff continues, Strait of Hormuz effectively shut.
  • TSMC up after Taiwan eases single-stock fund holding caps, unlocking potential inflows.
  • Sonja Marten of DZ Bank says markets are overoptimistic and carry trades are very risky.
  • Fed seen unlikely to cut rates; ECB and Bank of England expected to hike on inflation.
  • DeepSeek's new AI models match top performance at lower cost, pressuring incumbents.
  • Geopolitical uncertainty remains high with no clear exit from Iran conflict.
Trade Ideas
Matt Bloxham Head of Research, The Block 15:10
Intel turnaround fueled by AI inference demand
Intel's turnaround is accelerating as AI shifts from training to inference, driving demand for its CPUs. The Q2 forecast beat by 14% above consensus, and Elon Musk signaling plans to work with Intel on chip development add to the positive momentum. The rally is justified by improving fundamentals and the stock should extend gains.
INTC HIGH
Matt Bloxham Head of Research, The Block 35:12
TSMC gains from regulatory easing and AI demand
TSMC benefits from Taiwan's easing of single-stock fund holding limits, which could unlock billions of dollars of inflows. The company remains at the heart of the AI trade with strong fundamentals, and the regulatory change is a technical catalyst for further upside.
TSM MED
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This Bloomberg Markets video, published April 24, 2026, features Matt Bloxham discussing INTC, TSM. 2 trade ideas extracted by AI with direction and confidence scoring.

Speakers: Matt Bloxham  · Tickers: INTC, TSM