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 $Intel(INTC)$   performance is one of the clearest examples of this shift. The stock has more than doubled this year and just posted another powerful move, closing up 8.65% and reclaiming a $200 billion market cap. The combination of U.S. government support, SoftBank's $2 billion strategic investment, and deepening ties with Nvidia $NVIDIA(NVDA)$  is transforming market confidence in Intel's long-term roadmap. I see this rally not as a fluke, but as the beginning of a structural re-rating. For a company once left behind in the semiconductor race, Intel is proving that a late comeback can still be explosive when the fundamentals and sentiment align.

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 $Alphabet(GOOGL)$   TPU v9 and $Meta Platforms, Inc.(META)$   Meta's MTIA AI chips. These aren't just rumors; they're pieces of a broader trend showing that major tech giants are willing to give Intel's advanced packaging technologies real consideration. If these deals materialize, Intel's multi-year valuation upside could be far larger than what the market is currently pricing in.

Apple $Apple(AAPL)$  , meanwhile, continues to look unstoppable. With the stock at new all-time highs and iPhone 17 momentum still carrying the brand forward, Apple is on track to reclaim the No. 1 global smartphone spot for the first time since 2011. The upcoming foldable iPhone is shaping up to be a potential category-defining product—thin, powerful, crease-minimal, and running on a next-generation A20 chip. Yes, it may carry a premium ~$2,400 price tag, but Apple has proven time and again that consumers are willing to pay for innovation. Even the EU's antitrust pressure doesn't shake my confidence; Apple has the resources, influence, and ecosystem strength to navigate regulatory noise while continuing to expand its high-margin services and hardware offerings.

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. 

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