Brazil Tariffs, Bitcoin Breakouts, and 5 Stocks Making Noise Right Now

Markets remain relatively quiet on Thursday, supported by strong momentum in cryptocurrencies and ongoing investor optimism surrounding AI and infrastructure.

After a brief slump earlier this week, the Nasdaq returned to record territory, led by semiconductors and data center stocks.

President Trump’s late-Wednesday announcement of a 50% tariff on Brazilian imports added a layer of uncertainty, particularly given the political undertones tied to Brazil’s domestic investigations. 

But investors mostly shrugged, choosing instead to focus on bullish signals from Nvidia and Bitcoin, the latter of which soared past $112,000, its highest level ever.

Tech and crypto stocks led Thursday’s gains, while jobless claims came in roughly in line with expectations, helping to ease inflation concerns.

Traders remain cautious but focused, with FOMC minutes offering little new information and no clear path yet on rate cuts.

Here are five stocks we’re watching closely:

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Intel Corp. | INTC

Price: $23.82

Intel surged more than 7% earlier this week after announcing more than 500 layoffs in Oregon, part of its broader restructuring under new CEO Lip-Bu Tan.

While painful, these cost-cutting moves are seen as essential steps in the company’s turnaround effort.

The stock is still down nearly 30% over the past 12 months, but bulls are pointing to several potential catalysts, such as restructuring, possible asset sales, and new leadership willing to streamline the business.

Intel’s valuation remains deeply discounted relative to its peers, such as Nvidia, with a P/S ratio well under three and a forward P/E in the low teens.

While Intel’s AI chips continue to lag behind Nvidia’s in performance and adoption, the company’s massive footprint, R&D firepower, and renewed focus may give it room to rebound.

For contrarian investors, INTC may be a high-risk, high-reward turnaround story.

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Marathon Digital Holdings | MARA

Price: $19.00

MARA shares were volatile on Thursday after rebounding alongside Bitcoin, which hit a new all-time high.

Despite ongoing concerns about regulatory scrutiny and macroeconomic uncertainty, investors are taking a fresh look at crypto miners.

MARA’s year-to-date performance is in positive territory; however, the company continues to face profitability challenges.

Margins remain pressured, and recent earnings disappointed.

However, some analysts believe the stock may be oversold, especially with sentiment swinging back in favor of crypto assets.

With a market capitalization exceeding $6.5 billion and increased retail interest, MARA appears well-positioned to benefit from renewed institutional investment in the crypto ecosystem.

Still, risk remains high, and a near-term pullback in Bitcoin prices could quickly reverse the rally.

CleanSpark Inc. | CLSK

Price: $12.90

CleanSpark has gained nearly 32% this year and is catching fresh attention from Wall Street analysts, with a consensus ABR of 1.36 (between Strong Buy and Buy).

Still, investors remain cautious following downward EPS revisions over the past month.

The company’s bullish case centers on its exposure to clean Bitcoin mining and its strong position in energy-efficient infrastructure.

With an over $3.5 billion market capitalization and strong institutional support, CLSK could benefit from both cryptocurrency gains and ESG-aligned fund flows.

However, CleanSpark’s valuation is lofty, and any deterioration in earnings quality or Bitcoin volatility could hurt sentiment.

Near-term volatility is likely, but momentum remains on the bulls’ side for now.

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Iris Energy Ltd. | IREN

Price: $17.03

IREN is quickly becoming one of the most compelling dual-plays in Bitcoin mining and AI infrastructure.

The company’s June update highlighted record monthly revenue, a 75% margin on mining hardware, and significant growth in AI Cloud Services, where margins hit a jaw-dropping 98%.

With over 2,400 NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs secured, IREN is positioning itself as a serious contender in AI hosting while maintaining leadership in efficient mining.

The stock has gained more than 62% year-to-date, and the company recently raised $550 million via convertible notes to fund further expansion.

The ability to pivot between AI and mining workloads based on power costs and market conditions gives IREN unique flexibility.

Investors intrigued by infrastructure-heavy tech platforms may find IREN a long-term growth story worth watching.

Cisco Systems | CSCO

Price: $68.76

Cisco shares held firm Thursday as the company reinforced its commitment to Indian manufacturing while remaining cautious on global trade investment.

The company stated that its Indian operations are exceeding expectations, but it’s waiting for tariff clarity before expanding further.

Cisco has been quietly building strength across cybersecurity and AI-integrated infrastructure.

Though legacy hardware sales have slowed, newer products are gaining traction, and revenue growth is expected to accelerate in the coming quarters.

With a 2.37% dividend yield and a growing role in sovereign cloud infrastructure, Cisco offers both income and AI-adjacent upside.

While the stock is nearing its 52-week high, analysts argue that the company’s hybrid strategy makes it well-suited for an uncertain global landscape.

Markets are finding their footing again after a week of tariff-driven volatility.

Investors appear to be leaning into AI optimism and brushing off global trade drama—at least for now.

The Nasdaq’s strength and Bitcoin’s breakout are reminders that momentum can return quickly when sentiment shifts.

Stocks like IREN and CLSK are riding powerful tailwinds, while INTC represents a more cautious value opportunity.

MARA and CSCO offer different paths, one high-beta, one defensive, but both are drawing investor attention.

With uncertainty still looming around global policy and earnings season around the corner, now is the time to stay selective and stay nimble.