Intel’s next-generation 14A manufacturing process is reducing chip defects faster than any node the company has developed since its highly regarded 22-nanometer technology from the early 2010s, Chief Financial Officer David Zinsner told investors this week, as the chipmaker also reported increasingly concrete interest from potential foundry customers.

Zinsner made the comments during a fireside chat with Deutsche Bank analyst Melissa Weathers at the bank’s 2026 Technology Conference on Aug. 26. “When you look at the defect density, 14A is tracking better than the target curve we had for 14A,” Zinsner said, according to a transcript reported by Tom’s Hardware. “It is also doing better than any of the previous nodes in terms of how quickly we are bringing down the defects. In fact, we have not seen this performance since 22nm, which is arguably one of the best nodes Intel has ever put out.”

Defect density refers to how many flawed structures appear on a wafer during a chip’s manufacturing process, a figure that is typically high when a new node is introduced and is gradually reduced as the process matures. A lower defect density generally increases the likelihood that a completed chip functions correctly, though actual manufacturing yield also depends on additional factors including chip size, circuit design and the specific type and distribution of defects present, meaning defect density alone is not a direct stand-in for final yield.

Zinsner’s comparison to Intel’s 22-nanometer process, which entered mass production with the company’s Ivy Bridge chips in the early 2010s and is widely regarded as one of Intel’s most successful manufacturing nodes, was based specifically on the speed of defect reduction at a similar point in each node’s development timeline, roughly two years before planned mass production, rather than a claim that 14A has already matched 22-nanometer’s absolute defect levels. Some industry analysts have also noted that improvements in wafer inspection equipment over the past decade and a half have changed how defects are measured and detected, adding another layer of nuance to any direct historical comparison.

Intel 14A represents the company’s next major advance beyond its current 18A node, retaining the fundamental shift to gate-all-around transistors and backside power delivery that Intel introduced with 18A while further refining both technologies. The new node introduces RibbonFET 2, the second generation of Intel’s gate-all-around transistor architecture, along with PowerDirect, an advancement of the PowerVia backside power delivery concept that routes power through the back of the wafer rather than alongside signal lines on the front. According to Intel’s own published targets, 14A is expected to deliver 15% to 20% more performance at the same power consumption compared with 18A, or alternatively 25% to 35% lower power consumption at equivalent performance, along with up to 30% higher transistor density. Those figures represent Intel’s internal development targets rather than measurements from finished, volume-production chips.

Beyond the defect data, Zinsner said discussions with potential external foundry customers for 14A have shifted meaningfully in tone over recent months. “We are now seeing demand from our internal customers on 14A [and] they are actually probably the most cynical bunch out of anybody,” Zinsner said, according to Tom’s Hardware’s reporting. “The fact that they are now designing products on 14A was a good confidence boost for us as well. Then, engagements with customers externally, from a foundry perspective has significantly increased.” He added that Intel Chief Executive Lip-Bu Tan and other company leaders are now meeting with potential customers on a weekly basis, and that those conversations have moved past reviewing technical performance data toward more concrete questions about available manufacturing capacity and supply timelines.

Intel’s 0.9 process design kit for 14A, a set of tools external and internal chip designers use to build products for the node, is expected to be released in October, according to a summary of the conference published by Investing.com. The company has said risk production, an early manufacturing phase used to validate a process before full-scale output, is planned for 2027, with high-volume manufacturing targeted for 2028.

Despite the more positive tone surrounding 14A’s technical progress, Intel has not yet announced a major, binding external customer contract for the node, a milestone the company has previously described as critical to its long-term foundry strategy. Intel disclosed in its 2025 annual report that it might need to pause or discontinue development of 14A and subsequent processes if it could not secure a significant external customer commitment, given the substantial capital costs associated with operating leading-edge manufacturing nodes. By the company’s second-quarter 2026 report, that language had softened somewhat, with Intel committing to complete 14A development while citing progress on technical milestones relevant to prospective large customers.

Zinsner’s remarks came alongside a broader set of updates on Intel’s finances and manufacturing strategy. The company raised its 2026 capital expenditure guidance to 20 billion dollars from a previous range of 18 billion to 20 billion dollars, following a roughly 23 billion dollar equity offering. Intel also said its existing 18A process is yielding ahead of internal targets and detailed plans to expand manufacturing capacity across multiple facilities, including more than doubling output at its Fab 52 site in Ireland next year and accelerating work at its Fab 62 facility in Arizona.

Nifty spent the week consolidating in a narrow range and ended on a negative note, with its broader technical structure remaining largely unchanged. The index oscillated within a 302-point range between 24,076.85 and 24,378.60, reflecting the continued absence of a clear directional trigger. Volatility eased further, with India VIX declining 4.64% to 10.68, keeping volatility expectations subdued.

Nifty eventually closed at 24,175.65, registering a mild weekly loss of 76.35 points (-0.31%). The index continues to consolidate within its established range, with the 23,900–24,000 zone remaining an important support area. On the upside, a significant cluster of moving averages continues to restrict meaningful gains.

Nifty is currently caught between these support and resistance zones, and unless either boundary is decisively breached, the index is likely to remain rangebound. A sustained move below 23,900 could invite incremental weakness, while a convincing move above the cluster of major moving averages in the 24,400–24,750 region would be required for the index to regain directional strength.

The coming week is likely to see a quiet to cautiously positive start, although the broader trading range may continue to dominate price action. Immediate resistance is expected at 24,330 and 24,500, while supports are likely at 24,000 and 23,900.

The weekly RSI stands at 49.11, remaining neutral and showing no meaningful bullish or bearish divergence against price. The weekly MACD remains below the zero line but above its signal line, while the positive histogram indicates that downside momentum has moderated. The latest weekly candle has a relatively small bearish body but does not indicate indecision. Pattern analysis also continues to point to an extended consolidation.

Nifty remains below a key long-term moving-average cluster, with the 100-week MA at 24,428, the 200-DMA at 24,652 and the 50-week MA at 24,729. Their proximity creates a formidable 24,400–24,750 resistance zone, making this area crucial for any sustainable breakout. On the downside, the 23,900–24,000 zone continues to provide an important floor. Until either side is decisively breached, the existing range should be respected.
Given this setup, aggressive directional exposure may not be rewarding while Nifty remains trapped within its defined boundaries. Fresh buying should remain selective and stock-specific, particularly as the index approaches the overhead moving-average cluster, while existing gains should be protected at higher levels. Conversely, short positions should not be chased while the 23,900–24,000 support zone remains intact.The preferred approach for the coming week is therefore to remain selective, keep position sizes measured and wait for a confirmed breakout or breakdown before adopting a stronger directional view.

In our Relative Rotation Graphs® analysis, we compared various sectors against the CNX500 (Nifty 500 Index), which represents over 95% of the free-float market capitalisation of all listed stocks.

The Relative Rotation Graph (RRG) shows that the Nifty Media, Auto and Realty indices are in the leading quadrant. These sectors may relatively outperform the broader benchmark, the Nifty 500 Index.

The Nifty Pharma Index is in the weakening quadrant but is showing an improvement in relative momentum. The Midcap 100 Index is also in the weakening quadrant and may see some continued slowdown in its relative performance.

The Nifty Infrastructure and Energy indices remain in the lagging quadrant. The Metal and PSE indices are also in the lagging quadrant but are showing a sharp improvement in relative momentum against their benchmark.

The Nifty Financial Services, Nifty Bank, IT, Services Sector and PSU Bank indices are in the improving quadrant. Among these, the IT Index is showing strong rotation and is likely to continue doing so.

(Important Note: RRG charts show the relative strength and momentum of a group of stocks. In the above chart, they show relative performance against the Nifty 500 Index (broader markets) and should not be used directly as buy or sell signals.)

MIAMI — Mia Dio was crowned Miss Universe Cuba 2026 on Thursday night, capping a comeback story built on a facial paralysis diagnosis, a viral red-carpet prank and a second attempt at the title after falling short the year before.

The 25-year-old, whose full name is Mia Angelina Donadio Cancio, won the crown during the pageant’s final gala at the Dennis C. Moss Cultural Arts Center in Cutler Bay, Florida, prevailing over a field of 19 finalists that had been narrowed down from more than 100 applicants. She succeeds Lina Luaces, who placed the crown on Dio’s head to close out her own reign, and will represent Cuba at the 75th Miss Universe competition, scheduled for Nov. 24 at the Jose Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Dio, who represented Isla de la Juventud in the competition, previously competed for the Miss Universe Cuba title in 2025, reaching the Top 5 and winning Miss Popularity despite suffering facial paralysis just days before that year’s final gala. She has said the paralysis resulted from a Botox injection she had received to treat temporomandibular joint disorder, a condition that had been causing her jaw pain and migraines, according to the outlet Latin Times.

In an interview with HOLA! Americas following her win, Dio described the emotional weight of the moment. “A lot of people didn’t think I would make it to the top. They didn’t see me as the winner, but in my heart, I felt like this was my year,” she said. Reflecting on her decision to compete again after falling short in 2025, she added that she had to weigh which outcome scared her more: trying again, or living with the uncertainty of never knowing what might have happened had she not returned to the stage.

Dio’s path to this year’s crown included an unconventional beginning. According to reporting from Latin Times, she first drew public attention in February 2025 after slipping onto the magenta carpet at the Premio Lo Nuestro awards in Miami and convincing photographers and other attendees that she was a celebrity, a stunt captured on video that went viral and eventually helped build the following that carried into her pageant career. She has since built a social media presence exceeding 5 million followers, according to reporting from CiberCuba, using that platform to discuss beauty, entertainment and, increasingly, Cuban political issues.

That advocacy featured prominently in Dio’s remarks following her win. She described her grandfather, Jose “Pepe” Cancio, as a veteran of Brigade 2506, the Cuban exile group that took part in the 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion, and said his cousin, Silvita Iriondo, was a member of the activist group Brothers to the Rescue and survived the group’s 1996 attacks. “When I think about my identity, I have never questioned my Cuban roots. I have never doubted that part of my purpose is to contribute, in whatever way I can, toward change,” Dio told HOLA! Americas.

Dio has continued that message publicly since her crowning. According to CiberCuba, she raised her hand to form the shape of an “L” while receiving the crown, later explaining on social media that the gesture stood for “Liberty” as a tribute to the Cuban people, and said she plans to invite audiences at the Miss Universe final in Puerto Rico to make the same gesture with her regardless of their nationality.

Miss Universe Cuba National Director Prince Julio Cesar, who has led the pageant’s organization for more than two decades, oversaw this year’s competition, which brought together members of the Cuban community, media figures and industry sponsors for the final gala, according to a report from Luxevarie.

Speaking about the broader field of contestants she competed against, Dio praised the camaraderie among the 19 finalists rather than framing the competition as adversarial. “I competed alongside 19 women, and that represents 19 shared dreams. I truly believe every one of them is deserving of a crown because they have all grown so much, and the competition was always respectful and fair,” she told HOLA! Americas, adding that contestants regularly helped one another backstage, including lending shoes and safety pins when needed.

Dio’s victory places her at the center of what CiberCuba described as a competition she had been considered among the frontrunners for throughout much of this year’s process, having held the second position in a June ranking of contestant popularity based on social media engagement. With the crown secured, she said her focus now shifts to preparing for the international stage in Puerto Rico, where she will aim to build on the legacy of predecessors including Luaces and 2024 titleholder Marianela Ancheta as Cuba’s representative at this year’s Miss Universe competition.

The combined market valuation of seven of the top-10 most-valued firms eroded by Rs 1.13 lakh crore last week, with Bharti Airtel and Reliance Industries emerging as the biggest laggards, in-tandem with a bearish trend in equities.

Last week, the BSE benchmark Sensex declined 276.32 points, or 0.35 per cent, and the NSE Nifty dipped 76.35 points, or 0.31 per cent.

“Indian equity markets ended the week on a cautious note, extending their recent corrective phase as concerns over global interest rates, geopolitical uncertainty and volatility surrounding the new closing auction session weighed on investor sentiment,” Ajit Mishra — SVP, Research, Religare Broking Ltd, said.

Although markets recovered sharply on Friday, supported by strong buying in IT stocks following upbeat global technology cues, the benchmark indices remained under pressure for the third consecutive week, he added.

While Reliance Industries, Bharti Airtel, HDFC Bank, Bajaj Finance, Larsen & Toubro, Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), and Hindustan Unilever faced erosion from their market valuation, ICICI Bank, State Bank of India, and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) were the winners.

The valuation of Bharti Airtel tumbled Rs 40,500.85 crore to Rs 11,74,462.30 crore.
Reliance Industries’ valuation eroded Rs 40,056.32 crore to reach Rs 17,38,119.27 crore.The market valuation of HDFC Bank dropped Rs 11,558.35 crore to Rs 11,09,600.70 crore and that of Bajaj Finance fell Rs 10,086.05 crore to Rs 6,70,535.57 crore.

Larsen & Toubro’s market capitalisation (mcap) declined Rs 6,473.45 crore to Rs 5,55,987.49 crore and that of LIC dipped Rs 3,162.5 crore to Rs 5,32,817.81 crore.

The mcap of Hindustan Unilever edged lower by Rs 1,550.73 crore to Rs 4,72,361.83 crore.

However, the mcap of TCS jumped Rs 16,643.2 crore to Rs 8,48,079.71 crore.

The valuation of ICICI Bank climbed Rs 4,475.28 crore to Rs 10,22,805.73 crore and that of State Bank of India went up Rs 599.99 crore to Rs 9,65,568.75 crore.

Reliance Industries remained the most-valued firm, followed by Bharti Airtel, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, State Bank of India, TCS, Bajaj Finance, Larsen & Toubro, LIC and Hindustan Unilever.

Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) infused Rs 30,919 crore in Indian equities in August, extending their buying streak to a second straight month, amid improving corporate earnings, resilient economic activity, stable rupee and easing geopolitical concerns.

The inflow follows Rs 20,200 crore invested in July, marking a sharp turnaround after four consecutive months of heavy selling.

FPIs had withdrawn Rs 49,340 crore in June, Rs 32,963 crore in May, Rs 60,847 crore in April and a massive Rs 1.17 lakh crore in March. Prior to the selling streak, they had invested Rs 22,615 crore in February, according to CDSL data.

The two straight months of buying, following the worst six-month stretch in years, offer the first indication of a possible trend reversal.

However, foreign investors remain net sellers in Indian equities in 2026, with withdrawals of Rs 2.23 lakh crore so far. This is higher than the Rs 1.66 lakh crore outflow recorded during the entire 2025.

“The important factors driving the FPI flows into India are the reversal of the chip trade, the stability in the rupee and, more importantly, the improving earnings growth in India,” V K Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist, Geojit Investments, said.
The continuation of foreign buying in August was supported by improving domestic fundamentals as well as a relatively favourable global backdrop.”Corporate earnings showed signs of improvement during the June quarter, helping ease concerns around the earnings slowdown that had weighed on foreign investor sentiment earlier. Resilient economic activity and strengthening credit growth also reinforced confidence in India’s medium- to long-term growth prospects,” Himanshu Srivastava, Principal, Manager Research, Morningstar Investment Research India, said.

Global factors also turned relatively supportive during parts of the month.

Easing geopolitical concerns aided risk sentiment, while expectations of softer US interest rates and a rotation of global capital away from the crowded AI and semiconductor trade in markets such as Korea and Taiwan created room for incremental allocations towards India, he added.

However, tensions in West Asia and uncertainty over crude oil prices continued to remain an overhang.

“Cash flows suggest returning conviction; futures suggest lingering caution. The trend may be turning, post AI and war-related worries receding,” Manish Bhandari, CEO and Portfolio Manager, Vallum Capital, said.

Going ahead, investors will closely monitor movements in Brent crude prices and developments surrounding US-Iran tensions. Escalating US-Canada trade tensions could further add to market uncertainty and keep investors cautious, Pabitro Mukherjee, Deputy Vice President-Research, Bajaj Broking, said.

Elevated US bond yields also remain a key concern, with markets awaiting upcoming inflation data ahead of the Federal Reserve’s policy meeting in mid-September.

On the domestic front, Q1 GDP growth and inflation data will remain key indicators to watch for institutional flows, he added.

Foreign investor interest also extended to the debt market. They invested Rs 627 crore through the Fully Accessible Route (FAR) and Rs 289 crore through the Voluntary Retention Route (VRR). However, they pulled out Rs 2,318 crore through the general route.

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