Intel provided a rare spark of optimism for the tech sector, with shares climbing in premarket trading after the chipmaker delivered quarterly results that comfortably outpaced Wall Street expectations. This positive signal arrives as the S&P 500 and Nasdaq track toward their first consecutive weekly losses since March, underscoring a broader sentiment of fragility despite today’s calm.

Lingering geopolitical tensions continue to cloud the outlook, particularly following President Trump’s comments to Axios regarding a potential U.S.-Iran escalation. Market participants are now shifting their focus toward incoming economic data, including fresh readings on manufacturing, services activity, and June home sales. American Express and HCA Healthcare also released their latest figures this morning, adding further layers of complexity to an already jittery trading environment.