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Investor Bill Baruch is betting on Arm Holdings, picking up shares as the chip designer leans deeper into the AI narrative.

Baruch pointed to Arm’s pivot toward AI-focused chips and its recent deal with Meta Platforms as key catalysts, though he noted there’s still more clarity needed on execution.

For now, momentum appears intact, with Arm Holdings continuing to push above the $200 mark, riding the broader semiconductor rally.Intel is approaching a key resistance level last seen during the dot-com era, just below its 2000 peak.The stock is pressing into a zone that capped gains in 2020 and 2021, highlighting a long-term ceiling that has held for decades.On a broader view, Intel has largely traded within a wide range since the mid-1990s, underscoring the significance of the current breakout test as it heads into earnings.Meta Platforms will lay off about 10% of its workforce, roughly 8,000 employees, as it ramps up investments in artificial intelligence.The job cuts are set to begin on May 20, with the company also scrapping plans to fill around 6,000 open roles, according to a memo reported by Bloomberg.The move underscores Meta Platforms’s continued focus on redirecting resources toward AI development.Texas Instruments is having its biggest single-day gain in 25 years after a strong earnings beat, marking a standout move not seen since the dot-com era.The stock is on track for its seventh record close of 2026 and a fifth straight weekly gain, adding roughly $83 billion in market value since late March.The surge comes amid a broader semiconductor rally pushing the PHLX Semiconductor Index toward a 17-day winning streak.While not a typical AI headline name, Texas Instruments pointed to improving demand in data centers and early signs of recovery in industrial and auto segments — suggesting the chip rally is broadening beyond just AI leaders.Oil prices spiked in midday Thursday trading, with benchmarks rallying sharply amid fresh geopolitical concerns.West Texas Intermediate crude futures jumped nearly 4% to cross $96.50, while Brent crude rose about 3.5% to trade above $105 per barrel.The move followed reports that Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stepped down from the negotiating team, raising fears of prolonged tensions and disruptions to global oil supplyStocks making big moves midday include Texas Instruments, American Airlines, and Penn Entertainment.Texas Instruments soared 19% after issuing stronger-than-expected guidance and posting a beat on both earnings and revenue for the first quarter.American Airlines rose more than 4% after topping first-quarter estimates, despite trimming its full-year outlook due to higher fuel costs.Penn Entertainment rallied 15% after reporting better-than-expected results, driven by strength in its regional casinos and interactive business.Semiconductor stocks have added over $3 trillion in market value in just 17 trading sessions, with the PHLX Semiconductor Index on track for a 17-day winning streak and consecutive record highs.Heavyweights like Nvidia and Broadcom have led the surge, alongside Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, while a broad set of names including AMD, Intel, Micron Technology, and Texas Instruments have also posted strong gains.However, the rally has pushed the SOX index to its most extended level above its 200-day moving average since 2000, signaling crowded positioning and raising the risk of a sharp mean reversion in the sector.

Energy trader Pierre Andurand’s largest hedge fund plunged about 52% in the first half of April, wiping out first-quarter gains made on bullish oil bets at the start of the Iran war.

His fund slumped this month through April 17 and is now down almost 37% for the year, a person with knowledge of his returns said, asking not to be identified as they are not public.

It comes after the Andurand Commodities Discretionary Enhanced fund delivered a 31% gain in March, even as other hedge funds were caught off guard by the huge swings in commodities prices and inflation expectations unleashed by the war.

Energy trader Pierre Andurand’s largest hedge fund plunged about 52% in the first half of April, wiping out first-quarter gains made on bullish oil bets at the start of the Iran war.

His fund slumped this month through April 17 and is now down almost 37% for the year, a person with knowledge of his returns said, asking not to be identified as they are not public. It comes after the Andurand Commodities Discretionary Enhanced fund delivered a 31% gain in March even as other hedge funds were caught off guard by the huge swings in commodities prices and inflation expectations unleashed by the war.

Only one person has been approved so far for Donald Trump’s “Gold Card” Visa program granting foreigners US residency for a $1 million fee, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said Thursday.

Lutnick didn’t reveal the identity of the applicant who had been approved. He said in testimony to a US House committee that applications for the visa from “hundreds” more foreigners are under review.

Applicants must go through “an extraordinary vet” and must pay a $15,000 processing fee, he said.Semiconductor stocks have added over $3 trillion in market value in just 17 trading sessions, with the PHLX Semiconductor Index on track for a 17-day winning streak and लगातार record highs.Heavyweights like Nvidia and Broadcom have led the surge, alongside Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, while a broad set of names including AMD, Intel, Micron Technology, and Texas Instruments have also posted strong gains.However, the rally has pushed the SOX index to its most extended level above its 200-day moving average since 2000, signaling crowded positioning and raising the risk of a sharp mean reversion in the sector.American Airlines said surging fuel costs are weighing on its full-year outlook, sharply lowering its earnings expectations.The airline now sees adjusted full-year results ranging from a loss of 40 cents per share to earnings of $1.10, down from its earlier forecast of $1.70 to $2.70 per share.Shares of American Airlines have fallen more than 8% since the start of the US-Iran conflict but rose over 4% in midday trading after better-than-expected first-quarter results, according to LSEG.

US stocks edged higher on Thursday after opening lower, as investors weighed stalled progress in US-Iran peace talks alongside a fresh batch of earnings, including Tesla’s results.The Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500, both coming off record highs, moved up slightly to trade less than 0.1% above the flatline. The Nasdaq Composite also recovered from earlier losses but remained around 0.1% below flat.Markets remained cautious, with sentiment shaped by a mix of geopolitical uncertainty and ongoing earnings updates.Blackstone president Jon Gray said the AI buildout is now the firm’s biggest investment driver, as demand for computing power and energy infrastructure surges.Gray noted that eight of the firm’s top-performing investments in the first quarter were tied to data centers, LNG, and battery storage, highlighting how AI demand is reshaping capital allocation.CEO Stephen Schwarzman added that Blackstone is now the “largest investor in AI-related infrastructure in the world.”The trend comes as AI-linked names such as Nvidia, AMD, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, and Intel rally, alongside data centre and infrastructure players like Vertiv, Schneider Electric, and Eaton.The stock market is in a “balancing act” between earnings optimism and geopolitical risks, according to Art Hogan of B. Riley Wealth.Hogan said the focus had recently shifted toward company-specific earnings, helping support markets, but warned that ongoing conflict headlines could quickly shift sentiment.He added that market reactions remain sensitive, with even a single social media post capable of driving sharp swings, limiting downside moves as investors stay alert to policy signals.

Business activity in the US came in stronger than expected in April, with both manufacturing and services PMI readings beating estimates, according to S&P Global.The manufacturing PMI rose to 54.0 versus a 52.5 forecast, while the services reading came in at 51.3, slightly above expectations of 51.0.Manufacturing activity hit its highest level since May 2022, driven by strong production and new orders, though forward-looking expectations remained relatively subdued.IBM shares fell more than 7.5% after its first-quarter earnings, with Wall Street analysts split on the outlook.Goldman Sachs and Bank of America reiterated buy ratings, citing productivity initiatives helping offset cost pressures, though Goldman trimmed its price target.In contrast, Morgan Stanley and UBS maintained more cautious stances, flagging concerns around AI-related risks to IBM’s software business and a lack of upside to full-year guidance.Donald Trump said he has ordered the US Navy to “shoot and kill” any vessel found laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, marking a sharp escalation in maritime rules of engagement.In a post on Truth Social, Trump said there would be “no hesitation,” adding that US mine-sweeping operations in the region are already underway and being intensified.The move comes amid heightened tensions in the Gulf and rising concerns over disruptions to global oil flows through the critical shipping lane.Initial jobless claims came in slightly above expectations last week, though layoffs remained relatively muted.Data from the US Labor Department showed first-time filings rose by 6,000 to 214,000 for the week ended April 18, topping the Dow Jones estimate of 210,000.Continuing claims, which lag by a week, edged higher to 1.82 million, indicating a modest uptick in ongoing unemployment.American Airlines cut its 2026 earnings forecast, joining peers in lowering outlooks as rising fuel costs drive up expenses.For the first quarter, the airline reported an adjusted loss of 40 cents per share, narrower than the 47-cent loss expected, while revenue came in at $13.91 billion, ahead of estimates of $13.79 billion.Despite the guidance cut, shares of American Airlines rose nearly 2% in premarket trading.Honeywell shares tumbled more than 5% in premarket trade after the company issued a weaker-than-expected second-quarter outlook, citing the impact of geopolitical tensions linked to the Iran war.The company forecast Q2 earnings of $2.35–$2.45 per share, below estimates of $2.56, while revenue is expected between $9.4 billion and $9.6 billion, also missing consensus projections.Honeywell flagged weakness in its process automation and technology segment, pointing to a “challenging geopolitical environment,” while free cash flow fell year-on-year to $100 million, partly due to delayed collections.Netflix announced a fresh $25 billion share buyback programme, signaling a return to capital distribution.The move comes after the company stepped away from a potential deal involving Warner Bros. Discovery’s assets.Shares of Netflix rose more than 1% in premarket trading following the announcement.NewsLive TVMarketPopular CategoriesCalculatorsTrending NowLet's Connect with CNBCTV 18Network 18 Group :©TV18 Broadcast Limited. All rights reserved.