Intel stock closed up 3.3% on the news, after jumping as much as 9.5% when the story first broke. Qualcomm closed down 2.9% after sinking 6% earlier, showing Qualcomm investors didn't like the idea of a tie-up between the two chip giants.

One fund manager sees “more cons than pros” if the companies were to combine, after the Wall Street Journal reported that Qualcomm approached Intel about a possible deal.

A late-Friday report that Qualcomm recently made a "takeover approach" to Intel sent the latter company's shares higher.