Wednesday brought a mix of economic, corporate, and political developments across the United States, with major movements in the technology, manufacturing, and financial sectors.
Intel shares gained on reports of early-stage talks with AMD to become a foundry customer, signaling potential growth for the chipmaker’s manufacturing division.
Meanwhile, US manufacturing continued to expand in September, albeit at a slower pace, while the government shutdown persisted amid failed Senate votes.
Investors also monitored the stock market’s resilience and policy actions from the Trump administration affecting infrastructure projects in New York City.
Intel shares rise amid talks with AMD
Intel shares surged 6% on Wednesday following reports from Semafor that the company is in early discussions to bring Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) on board as a customer for its chip-manufacturing operations.
If finalized, the deal would signal confidence in Intel’s efforts to revitalize its manufacturing division, which has lagged behind rivals such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC
Shares rose to $35.16, extending year-to-date gains above 75%, though some of the intraday gains were pared.
Over the past seven weeks, Intel has secured backing from the White House, Nvidia, and SoftBank, and is reportedly in talks with Apple for additional support.
While Intel’s facilities remain less advanced than TSMC, several US companies have directed production of less-complex chips to domestic foundries, aligning with the Trump administration’s push to strengthen American semiconductor manufacturing.
US manufacturing growth slows in September
The U.S. manufacturing sector expanded for the ninth consecutive month in September, though at a slower pace, according to S&P Global.
The Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) fell to 52.0 from 53.0 in August, still above the 50-point threshold that separates growth from contraction.
Slower demand growth contributed to a buildup of finished goods inventories, while output continued to rise.
Exports declined for the third straight month, affected by tariffs on sales to Canada and Mexico.
Input cost inflation eased but remained historically elevated, and tariff-related vendor delays threatened production and could push prices higher.
Despite these challenges, manufacturers remained cautiously optimistic about sales over the next year.
Senate fails to pass funding bills; shutdown continues
The U.S. Senate failed to pass stopgap funding bills on Wednesday, prolonging the government shutdown.
The Democratic proposal was rejected on a 47-53 party-line vote, while the Republican bill received support from two Democrats and one Independent, but faced opposition from Republican Senator Rand Paul.
Vice President JD Vance expressed optimism that the government shutdown would be brief, citing early signs of compromise among moderate Democrats. Vance confirmed the administration would prioritize essential services but warned that some layoffs could occur to reduce expenditures.
Trump administration pauses NYC infrastructure projects
The Trump administration put approximately $18 billion in New York City infrastructure projects on hold, including the Hudson Tunnel Project and Second Avenue Subway, to prevent federal funding from being allocated according to “unconstitutional DEI principles,” according to OMB Director Russell Vought.
This funding freeze comes after Donald Trump’s threats that Zohran Mamdani won’t get money from the administration if he gets elected as Mayor in New York City.
US stock markets rise despite shutdown
Despite the ongoing government shutdown, US equities rose on Wednesday.
The S&P 500 gained 0.34% to reach a new intraday high, while the Nasdaq Composite climbed 0.42% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.09%.
Gains were led by health-care stocks, including Regeneron Pharmaceuticals and Moderna.
Investors appeared optimistic that the funding lapse would be short-lived, though concerns about inflation, a slowing labor market, and elevated valuations remain.
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