The Federal Trade Commission has opened a formal antitrust investigation of Intel.

The focus of the FTC’s investigation is on anti-competitive practices aimed at shutting out arch rival Advanced Micro Devices.  As the NY Times editorial points out, Intel has not faired well in the face of international anti-trust scrutiny. Tech Trader Daily also picked up the story.

This is a prediction that the FTC, following its investigation, will issue an adverse ruling against Intel. The prediction will be judged to have not occurred if the FTC issues either no ruling or a benign ruling.