Closing Bell: UnitedHealth Surges, Intel Higher, Applied Materials Sinks

On this episode of Stock Movers:

Listen for comprehensive cross-platform coverage of the US market close as heard on Bloomberg Television, Bloomberg Radio, and YouTube with Scarlet Fu, Vonnie Quinn, Carol Massar and Emily Graffeo.

- UnitedHealth (UNH) shares jumped after funds piled into the company, which has been hampered by a federal probe into its business practices and weakening results. Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc. was among the investors, buying 5 million shares in the second quarter, according to a filing. David Tepper’s Appaloosa Management LP also invested, boosting its holdings of the health insurance giant by 2.3 million shares. The investments were a welcome reprieve for a company that had seen its stock fall 46% this year. The shares rose as much as 12.65% Friday, the most since March of 2020.

- Intel (INTC) were still rallying on word the Trump administration is considering buying a stake in the troubled chipmaker. The latest reporting from Bloomberg is that the US government is considering using funds from the US Chips Act to take a stake in Intel Corp., according to people familiar with the discussions, part of efforts to rescue the embattled chipmaker and shore up domestic semiconductor manufacturing. The government’s talks focus on using Chips Act funding to at least partially finance an equity stake in Intel, the people said, while emphasizing that discussions are in early stages and other options could be under consideration. It’s unclear if the approach would involve converting some or all of Intel’s existing Chips Act grants into equity, allocating new funding from a broader pool or combining Chips Act money with other financing streams.

- Applied Materials (AMAT) the largest American producer of chipmaking gear, plunged after giving a disappointing sales and profit forecast, renewing concerns that the US trade dispute with China is weighing on demand. Revenue will be approximately $6.7 billion in the fiscal fourth quarter, the company said in a statement Thursday. Analysts had estimated $7.32 billion on average. Profit will be about $2.11 a share, excluding some items, compared with a projection of $2.38. The company is seeing less demand from customers in China, Chief Executive Officer Gary Dickerson said in an interview. It also faces delays in approval for exporting technology to that country, he said. Moreover, large customers are putting off some purchases in the face of prolonged negotiations around tariffs and other economic issues.

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