Intel shares jump as SoftBank buys $2bn stake

Singapore  — Intel shares rose more than 5% in after-hours trading after Japanese investment giant SoftBank announced a $2 billion stake in the US chipmaker.

SoftBank will pay $23 per share, equivalent to about 2% of Intel’s outstanding stock. Both companies described the move as a commitment to boosting semiconductor innovation in the United States.

The investment was announced just as reports surfaced that the Trump administration is considering taking a 10% equity stake in Intel, by converting government grants into shares to support its planned manufacturing hub in Ohio. The White House has not confirmed the deal.

Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan met President Donald Trump last week, days after Trump publicly called for his resignation over past ties to China. Analysts said government backing could be a lifeline for Intel, which remains one of the few American firms able to manufacture advanced chips at scale, despite losing ground globally to Samsung and TSMC.

SoftBank’s move is seen as a vote of confidence in Intel’s turnaround efforts, while Washington’s potential stake underscores the political and strategic weight behind securing the US chip supply chain.