Midday Need to Know: AMD surges, Houthis threaten Saudi Red Sea & more

U.S. stocks were mostly higher Monday as investors positioned ahead of major technology earnings and semiconductor shares rebounded. The S&P 500 rose 0.4%, while the Nasdaq also firmed, helped by renewed strength in chips. The article centers on AMD, which is drawing attention after a reported Azure AI partnership expansion with Microsoft that could sharpen its competitive stance versus Nvidia in AI hardware. Broader market tone was constructive, with semis recovering and tech leadership in focus, while geopolitical tensions in the Red Sea and around Saudi shipping routes added an oil-market risk backdrop. Overall, the piece implies a supportive near-term setup for AMD and the semiconductor group, though macro and geopolitical uncertainties remain a source of volatility.