A tech publication writes of the “near certainty” that a company is interested in buying Intel. But it’s not clear which one might fit the bill.

The S&P 500 jumped 1% on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, heading into the long weekend on a high note as prospects rebounded for additional interest-rate cuts in 2025.

The one-time Semiconductor giant's stock has been trading at levels that previously hadn’t been seen since 2015 as Intel has struggled to keep up with the AI chip movement. Shares of Intel are trading almost 70% below their 2021 highs, despite the company’s focus on returning chip manufacturing to the United States.

The latest speculation comes after Bloomberg reported in late November that Qualcomm's ( QCOM) interest in potentially acquiring Intel waned due to complexities associated with a transaction. Qualcomm could still look at acquiring parts of Intel or rekindle its takeover interest at a later time.

Shares of the chipmaker are rising today alongside broader markets, leaving them up more than 8% in January and outpacing the S&P 500.

Intel Corp shares traded higher on the Nasdaq Composite index over reports on potential takeover speculations. Wall Street gained as investors' eye upcoming Trump administration.