Decoding the Markets: Intel’s US-Made AI Chips & Other Top Financial Stories

This week’s been a wild ride in the markets, with enough twists and turns to make your head spin. We’re diving deep into some of the most talked-about events, from the shimmering allure of gold potentially hitting $3,000 an ounce to Charles Schwab’s game-changing move to 24/7 trading.

But that’s not all – we’re also unpacking Intel’s big bet on US-made AI chips, Supermicro’s ambitious revenue targets, and everything in between. Ready to decode the headlines and see what it all means for your portfolio? Let’s get started!

Gold Market: $3,000/oz Target in Sight

Bank of America (BofA) strategists have reiterated their projection that gold prices could reach $3,000 per ounce by 2025. Spot gold was priced at $2,498.87 per ounce. The forecast hinges on increased non-commercial demand, which would require U.S. interest rate cuts, increased inflows to physically backed exchange-traded funds (ETFs), higher London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) clearing volumes, and ongoing central bank purchases.

Potential Impacts

• Global Markets: Elevated gold prices could influence investment strategies, prompting shifts towards precious metals as a safe-haven asset.
• Financial Sectors: Mining stocks and gold-backed ETFs may see increased interest.

Investor Reactions

Investors are closely monitoring U.S. jobs data and Federal Reserve actions for insights into potential rate cuts. The market is torn between assessing the depth of potential Fed rate cuts in September and anticipating further cuts in subsequent meetings.

Short-term vs. Long-term Effects

• Short-term: Gold prices may fluctuate based on immediate economic data and Fed announcements.
• Long-term: Sustained geopolitical instability and economic uncertainty could drive gold prices higher, aligning with BofA’s $3,000/oz target.

Intel to Manufacture AI Chips in the U.S.

Intel (INTC) is taking steps to enhance chip manufacturing in the U.S., with plans to build new semiconductor manufacturing facilities across the country. This initiative responds to the increasing demand for high-performance AI chips and aims to reduce reliance on overseas production.

Potential Impacts

• Global Markets: A localized and secure manufacturing network can mitigate supply chain disruptions.
• Financial Sectors: Increased investment in U.S.-based chip manufacturing could boost the semiconductor industry and related sectors.

Intel’s Response

Intel is investing billions to establish new fabrication plants in states like Ohio and Arizona. These facilities will increase production capacity and ensure a reliable chip supply for local and global markets.

Supermicro’s AI-Driven Revenue Target: $40 Billion by FY26

Supermicro (SMCI) projects $40 billion in revenue for FY26, driven by innovation in AI server infrastructure, Blackwell GPU systems, and liquid-cooled data center solutions. The company announced Q2 2025 net sales between $5.6 billion and $5.7 billion, reflecting a 54% year-over-year (YoY) growth.

Q2 2025 Revenue Growth

Supermicro’s Q2 2025 net sales reached between $5.6 billion and $5.7 billion, a 54% increase year-over-year.

AI-Driven Growth

Supermicro’s surge in revenue is largely attributed to its dominance in AI server infrastructure.

Coca-Cola (KO) Outpaces Sector with Strong Performance

Coca-Cola’s stock (KO) saw a surge, gaining almost 5% and reaching a new yearly high of over $67, a level not reached since late October 2024. The spike followed the release of the company’s Q4 earnings report, which exceeded analysts’ forecasts.

Key Figures

• Earnings per share: $0.55 vs. $0.52 expected
• Gross revenue: $11.5 billion vs. $10.7 billion forecasted
• Free cash flow: $10.8 billion
• 2025 organic revenue growth projection: 5–6%

Technical Insights

Coca-Cola’s shares formed a substantial bullish gap at the market’s opening. The price extremes indicate the creation of an upward channel.

Charles Schwab (SCHW) Offers 24-Hour Trading to All Retail Clients

Charles Schwab has launched 24-hour trading access for all retail clients, allowing the trading of S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100 stocks. Schwab’s retail clients can trade a wider range of securities 24 hours a day, five days a week.

Key Details

• Schwab has $10.10 trillion in client assets and six million daily trades.
• Stocks include shares of companies in the S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100, as well as hundreds of exchange-traded funds.

Potential Impacts

• Market Structure Impact: The expansion could fragment liquidity across more trading hours, potentially affecting spread widths and execution costs during both regular and extended hours.
• Competitive Dynamics: This move raises the bar for other retail brokers, potentially triggering an industry-wide race to expand trading hours and capabilities.
• Global Market Integration: Enhanced 24/5 trading could accelerate the convergence of U.S. and international market trading patterns, particularly for dual-listed securities and their derivatives.

BYD’s “God’s Eye” Driver-Assistance Tech Shakes Up EV Industry

BYD released its latest “God’s Eye” intelligent driving system, available in three core variants. This update aims to equip every BYD car with high-end intelligent driving technology.

Key Features

• The “God’s Eye” ADAS will be available in three variants with up to three LiDAR sensors.
• The entry-level system, “God’s Eye C,” relies on a three-camera cluster and is powered by the DiPilot 100 system with 100 TOPS computing power.

BYD’s Vision

BYD Chairman Wang Chuanfu emphasized that intelligent driving will become an indispensable configuration for buying a car in the next 2 to 3 years.

Musk’s Bid to Slow Down OpenAI Capital Raise

Elon Musk has offered to buy the non-profit part of OpenAI for $97.4 billion. This move comes as OpenAI is trying to shift to being for-profit and raise tens of billions for its data center initiative, Stargate.

Key Points

• OpenAI is planning to convert to a public benefit corporation that is for-profit, with a non-profit division.
• OpenAI is in the midst of trying to raise $30-40 billion at a valuation of $300-340 billion.
• Much of that money would then be ploughed into Stargate, the $500 billion joint venture to develop AI data centers in the US.

Goldman Sachs Ends IPO Diversity Pledge

Goldman Sachs (GS) is reversing its policy that barred companies with all-white, male boards from going public, dropping the diversity requirement it set in 2020.

Reasons for the Change

The move comes as the new Trump administration has beefed up efforts to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (“DEI”) initiatives from companies.

Goldman’s Stance

Even after rescinding its IPO diversity pledge, Goldman (NYSE:GS) will persist in helping companies find diverse board members.