Lately, I've been feeling increasingly positive about the direction of the U.S. market. With Japan's rate move stabilizing currencies, expectations of a Fed rate cut rising, and the next Fed chair candidate becoming clearer, the macro backdrop is turning far more supportive. On top of that, SEC Chair Paul Atkins' plan to roll out new IPO-friendly proposals in January signals that the U.S. is preparing for another cycle of capital expansion. To me, this is exactly the kind of environment where growth stocks and tech leaders tend to outperform—and we're already seeing early signs of that.
Intel's $Intel(INTC)$
What excites me even more is Intel's aggressive global expansion. The additional RM 860 million (about $200 million) investment into Malaysia reinforces its long-term commitment to advanced packaging and testing—a segment where Malaysia already holds a global leadership position. Combined with the earlier $7 billion Penang facility, Intel is building a geographically diversified, resilient supply chain that positions it extremely well in the next semiconductor upcycle. Even if U.S. political pressure emerges later, I believe Intel's global presence will ultimately strengthen its competitiveness, not weaken it.
There's also real technical progress: Arc GPUs finally capturing 1% market share may seem small, but it's a sign that Intel is breaking into a space long dominated by Nvidia and AMD. And the pipeline looks even stronger—potentially securing low-end Apple M-series orders in 2027, plus packaging opportunities with Google's $Alphabet(GOOGL)$
Apple $Apple(AAPL)$
Overall, I'm increasingly bullish on both Intel and Apple. Intel is emerging from its turnaround with real momentum, tangible global investments, and growing interest from the world's biggest tech companies. Apple continues its leadership march with new highs, strong demand, and product innovations that can open entirely new revenue streams. With macro conditions improving and investor confidence returning, I believe both companies are positioned to deliver further upside as we move into the next phase of the market cycle.
As a retail investor, I focus mainly on the US and Singapore markets, combining a mix of technical trading and long-term investing strategies. I enjoy analyzing charts, spotting patterns, and making calculated moves based on both market sentiment and fundamentals. While I'm not a professional, I treat my portfolio seriously and continue to learn and grow with each trade. If you're also navigating the markets and enjoy discussing stocks, options, or market trends, feel free to follow me. Let's learn and grow together as a community.
Disclaimer: Investing carries risk. This is not financial advice. The above content should not be regarded as an offer, recommendation, or solicitation on acquiring or disposing of any financial products, any associated discussions, comments, or posts by author or other users should not be considered as such either. It is solely for general information purpose only, which does not consider your own investment objectives, financial situations or needs. TTM assumes no responsibility or warranty for the accuracy and completeness of the information, investors should do their own research and may seek professional advice before investing.
