Intel’s better-than-expected quarterly earnings led a busy Friday on Wall Street, while Tesla and Alphabet remained under pressure after their latest results left investors focused on margins, demand and artificial intelligence spending. Oil prices eased back below $100 a barrel, and SpaceX delayed its Starship test flight for the second time in a week.

The moves showed how earnings season is increasingly being judged not only on headline profits, but also on whether companies can defend margins while funding large technology investments.

Intel Reports Stronger Quarter

Intel reported quarterly earnings that exceeded analysts’ expectations, helped by stronger demand for data centre products and increased interest in its AI-related chips.

The company also cited progress in its foundry business, a key part of its broader restructuring plan and its effort to compete with rivals including TSMC. The foundry push is central to Intel’s attempt to become a larger contract manufacturer for advanced chips, not just a designer of its own processors.

The results gave investors another signal that Intel’s turnaround strategy may be gaining traction.

Intel continues to face intense competition from Nvidia and AMD, particularly in areas tied to artificial intelligence and advanced semiconductors. Even so, the quarter allowed the chipmaker to regain some credibility with the market after a difficult stretch.

Intel’s stock was among the day’s biggest gainers, making it one of the few bright spots for the company in a challenging period.

Tesla Extends Decline After Earnings Miss

Tesla shares continued to fall after the company’s earnings report missed expectations. Investors remained focused on weaker vehicle margins and signs of slower demand for electric vehicles.

The company is also committing significant spending to artificial intelligence, robotics and autonomous driving. Some investors have become more cautious as they wait for those initiatives to produce clearer financial results.

CEO Elon Musk has defended the strategy, saying AI and autonomy are central to Tesla’s future. For now, however, the market remains focused on the company’s near-term financial performance.

The continued share decline highlights how quickly confidence can weaken when results fall short of expectations, particularly for companies valued partly on long-term growth plans as well as current earnings.

Alphabet Results Beat Forecasts, but AI Spending Draws Attention

Alphabet reported earnings that came in ahead of forecasts, supported by solid performance in Google Cloud and digital advertising.

Despite the stronger results, the company’s shares faced pressure after Alphabet announced a large increase in spending on AI infrastructure. The announcement divided investors, with some viewing the investment as necessary for maintaining competitiveness and others seeking clearer evidence of returns before supporting additional capital spending.

The reaction reflects a broader debate across large technology companies: demand for AI services is rising, but the infrastructure needed to support them can require heavy upfront investment before the financial benefits are fully visible.

Oil Falls Back Below $100

Oil prices slipped below $100 a barrel after briefly moving above that level earlier in the week. The pullback provided some relief to equity markets.

Still, tensions in the Middle East continued to unsettle energy markets. Any additional disruption to supply or shipping could quickly push prices higher again.

Inflation concerns linked to energy costs also remain in focus, keeping oil a key risk factor for investors in the months ahead. Energy prices can affect transport, manufacturing and consumer costs, which is why oil moves often feed into broader market expectations.

SpaceX Postpones Starship Test Flight Again

SpaceX announced another delay to its Starship test flight, marking the second postponement in a week. The delay pushes back a significant step in the company’s space programme.

Setbacks are common during spacecraft development, but the consecutive delays have drawn attention. Investors are watching for an updated launch schedule and any potential effects on future missions.

SpaceX remains one of the most closely followed private aerospace companies, with high expectations tied to its satellite operations and deep-space programmes.