Intel has forecast uncertain Q4 sales and revenue estimates of around US$15.7 billion. Analysts buttonholed by Bloomberg had estimated around $15.9 billion.

The forecast has raised concerns that manufacturers won’t need to replenish the chip inventories they have built in recent months.

Q3 net profit for the world’s largest semiconductor maker rose to $3.38 billion compared with $3.11 billion a year earlier.

Revenue rose 9.1 percent to $15.8 billion while adjusted gross margin widened to 65 percent from 64 percent.

The company’s client computing which sells PC chips posted Q3 sales of $8.89 billion a gain of 4.5 percent.

Intel’s datacentre division which includes clients such as Amazon had revenue of $4.54 billion +9.7 percent.