TMTPOST --   Intel   Corporation   is   seeking more companies including another   U.S. tech giant   for   its next lifeline   after multibillion-dollar   equity investment from Nvidia   Corporation   announced,   according to   a report   on Wednesday.

Credit：Intel

Intel has approached   Apple   Inc.   to secure   an   investment and the two companies also haev discussed how to work   more closely together,   Bloomberg   cited people familiar with the matter. The   talks   are reportedly still   in early stages, and it ’ s possible   no agreement comes out   of it.  

It was   said that Intel   has also looked to other companies   about possible investments and partnerships.   Intel   declined to comment on the   report. Apple didn ’ t respond to a request for comment.

Intel shares jumped as   much as 8% on the report   and closed 6.4% higher   on Wednesday, outperforming the U.S. stock market   and the semiconductor sector. The PHLX Semiconductor Index ( SOX ) , an   index composed of the 30 largest U.S. companies primarily involved in the design, distribution, manufacture, and sale of semiconductors,   edged down nearly 0.2%,   and Nvidia shares shed   0.8%.

The news came days after Intel reached   a "historic"   partnership with   its rival Nvidia.   Nvidia on   September   18   said it will invest $5 billion in Intel ’ s common stock at price of $23.28 apiece. The investment,    subject to customary closing conditions   including required regulatory approvals, will enable Nvidia to own a 4% stake in Intel.

Nvidia and Intel will also jointly develop multiple generations of custom data center and personal computer ( PC ) products, focusing on connecting both companies ’   architectures using Nvidia NVLink, the high-speed interconnect for graphics processing unit ( GPU ) and CPU   processors in accelerated systems.

Wall Street   analysts believe   that   the potential deal with Apple,   a longtime   Intel   customer   that started to switched   to in-house processors   in 2020,   would make sense.   

"Intel has already received support from the U.S. government and Nvidia, and by adding Apple, it can establish its future as the key provider of semi fabrication in the U.S.," D.A. Davidson head of technology research Gil Luria   commented.   "Before the U.S. got involved, Intel didn't have any anchor customers for its 14A technology, which put the future of the company in doubt," Luria said in emailed comments. "Now Intel has Nvidia lined up, and if it added Apple, would have the two biggest consumers of semi fabrication lined up to support its U.S. production."

Apple could benefit "from onshoring production of components that would avoid tariffs,"   said Brian   Mullberry, senior   portfolio   manager   at Zacks   Investment Management.   While   a   partnership could be the product of "good will", Mullberry is skeptical as Intel   has not been able   to keep up   with the needs of Apple ’ s   personal computer   business   in the past.