Why Intel Stock Spiked 7.4% on Monday Then Slumped

By Johnny Rice – Mar 16, 2026 at 7:13PM ESTKey PointsIntel stock surged as much as 7.4% Monday on a broader chip rally fueled by easing oil fears and Nvidia's annual developer conference. Despite the positive catalysts, Intel gave back all its gains as investors took profits and weighed the risks of AI. Intel (INTC 0.06%) stock had quite a Monday. Shares surged as much as 7.4% before giving it all back, closing where it started. Chip stocks rallied across the board ExpandNASDAQ: INTCIntelToday's Change(-0.06%) $-0.03Current Price$45.74Key Data PointsMarket Cap$229BDay's Range$45.70 - $49.1752wk Range$17.66 - $54.60Volume4.2MAvg Vol101MGross Margin35.24% The early spike came as the broader semiconductor market rallied. President Trump said Sunday he reached out to seven countries to help police the Strait of Hormuz, helping ease investors' fears. Oil prices retreated somewhat from their recent highs, though they remain elevated. Concerns over Taiwan's chip manufacturing dominance have also helped push investors toward domestic alternatives, and Intel is the most obvious beneficiary. Nvidia and Intel partner Intel also got a boost from Nvidia's GTC conference, which kicked off Monday. Intel confirmed over the weekend that it would attend, as investors anticipate further details on the partnership between the two. Nvidia invested $5 billion in Intel last December, and the companies are co-developing custom processors for AI infrastructure. Image source: Company Image. So why did the gains evaporate? Intel is still up more than 100% from the low $20s a year ago, and the stock had already run hard into the event. Investors often take profits right as a major positive catalyst happens. And at the same time, despite the optimism of the conference, investors are still nervous about the possibility of an AI bubble.Read NextMar 15, 2026 •By Harsh Chauhan$100 Invested in This Semiconductor Stock Today Could Be Worth $200 by 2030Mar 9, 2026 •By David Jagielski, CPAHas Intel's Stock Peaked?Mar 5, 2026 •By Adria CiminoThis AI Stock is Now Nvidia's Biggest Holding. Is it a Buy?Mar 5, 2026 •By Jack DelaneyIntel Stock Dropped by More Than 6% in February. Here's What Happened.Mar 4, 2026 •By Billy DubersteinWhy Intel Rallied TodayMar 3, 2026 •By Keith NoonanWhy Intel Stock Is Sinking TodayAbout the AuthorJohnny Rice is a contributing writer for The Motley Fool covering tech stocks. He previously contributed to various financial publications.TMFJohnnyRiceStocks MentionedIntelNASDAQ: INTC$45.75(-0.06%)-$0.03NvidiaNASDAQ: NVDA$183.19(+1.63%)+$2.94*Average returns of all recommendations since inception. Cost basis and return based on previous market day close.