Apple Inc (AAPL)

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Apple $AAPL has now closed below its 200D moving average for 11 consecutive weeks
By: Barchart | April 26, 2024

• Apple $AAPL has now closed below its 200D moving average for 11 consecutive weeks



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[Investors3]

Verizon ups price for Apple Watch cellular plans
Friday, April 26, 2024 2:58 pm
1 Comment

In an email to customers on Thursday, Verizon announced a $5 per month price increase affecting plans tied to Apple Watch and other connected smartwatches.

Chance Miller for 9to5Mac:

With this price change, Verizon’s smartwatch plan will increase from $10 to $15 per month on most plans. Verizon notes that if your Apple Watch plan currently includes a discount, such as the 50% promotion for customers on Unlimited Plus and Ultimate plans, the price increase will reflect that discount.

In the email being sent today, Verizon says that the price increase will let it “continue improving” its service. The changes will go into effect as of June 3:

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MacDailyNews Take: Ugh.

Related

Verizon offers free iPhone 6 in return for 2-year contract, used iPhone 4, 4s, 5, 5c or 5s in working condition
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https://macdailynews.com/2024/04/26/verizon-ups-price-for-apple-watch-cellular-plans/

[Investors3]

Apple’s forthcoming on-device model is the future of AI
Friday, April 26, 2024 1:10 pm
1 Comment

Apple has revealed some of its plans for the on-device AI that will run on future iPhones, iPads, and other devices and it looks like the future of AI.

Charlie Sorrel for Lifewire:

We’re used to AI that runs on massive server farms, sucking in ten times the electricity of regular cloud servers, and of course, enjoying all the usual privacy risks associated with cloud computing…

“AI models on devices are typically smaller than those in the cloud. Their reduced size requires fewer calculations, faster responses, and less energy consumed in response to user queries. Moreover, queries and their responses do not leave the device, enhancing user privacy. And AI models on devices avoid data movement and communication with cloud and data center servers, which should improve performance and reduce energy use. Taken together, AI on devices could transform user experiences with consumer electronics,” Professor Benjamin Lee, computer scientist at the University of Pennsylvania, told Lifewire via email.

The crucial part here is that training the model takes an insane amount of computing power, but once that model is made, it can be used on regular computers. And if you shrink the model, it might not be as capable, but it can run on smaller computers, and require less power.

This brings us back to Apple’s models, called OpenELM, which are designed to run on iPhones. The entirety of a model can contain trillions of parameters, but Apple provides several smaller options, with 270 million, 45 million, 1.1 billion, and 3 billion parameters. The more parameters, the better the model is at doing the AI thing.

So why is this important? Because it lets Apple run AI on devices that have relatively limited computing power and very limited batteries. By optimizing for specific purposes, models can be much smaller and more efficient. And Apple can design its models to run on the AI hardware it has had in Macs and iPhones for years—the Neural Engine.

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?
MacDailyNews Take: The New York Times last October reported that A.I. could soon need as much electricity as an entire country, so, barring fusion power plants, Apple’s forthcoming on-device model is clearly the future of AI.

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Wednesday, April 17, 2024
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https://macdailynews.com/2024/04/26/apples-forthcoming-on-device-model-is-the-future-of-ai/

[Investors3]

Jim Cramer is bullish on Apple’s Vision Pro; sees potential enterprise boon
Thursday, April 25, 2024 12:02 pm
No Comments

CNBC’s Jim Cramer on Wednesday told investors he’s confident in the success of the Apple Vision Pro and sees uses for the spatial computer outside the consumer space. He suggested the Vision Pro could be an enterprise boon.

Julie Coleman for CNBC:

He said there are real signs of weakness — or “brown shoots” — in the economy, pointing to poor earnings from some transportation companies. But Cramer argued that recent reported weakness about the prosperity of the Vision Pro does not hold weight.

“Talk about a faux brown shoot, that’s outrageous. What a straw man,” Cramer said. “If Apple can sell 400,000 units of a $3,500 product that’s just now having software written for it, then I think they’re doing great.”

Cramer also suggested that Apple could pivot and market the Vision Pro as an enterprise product.

“The construction of factories is the largest business in the world,” he said. “If you could cut waste and test out potential changes on the Vision Pro before you put them in reality — and that’s what’s known as a digital twin — then I say that $3,500 price tag is way too cheap.”

MacDailyNews Note: Here’s the video:

https://macdailynews.com/2024/04/25/jim-cramer-is-bullish-on-apples-vision-pro-sees-potential-enterprise-boon/

[Chartmaster]

Support 166 at 100 week MA, and weekly chart showing bullish stochastics divergence, big bounce on earnings says the chart

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$AAPL 'Cluster' of supportive trendlines?
By: Nautilus Research | April 24, 2024

• $aapl #apple 'Cluster' of supportive trendlines?



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[DiscoverGold]

Apple $AAPL earlier today was named a top pick for 2024 at Bank of America on optimism over the iPhone maker’s upcoming results, as well as its longer-term prospects
By: Evan | April 22, 2024

• Apple $AAPL earlier today was named a top pick for 2024 at Bank of America on optimism over the iPhone maker’s upcoming results, as well as its longer-term prospects

BofA has a $225 price target and a Buy rating on the stock - Bloomberg



Read Full Story »»»

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[drumkids]

Is Apple dumping and moving down more ?

[Agoura Guy]

MORE SELLING AHEAD!!!!!!!!!

SELL SELL SELL!!!!!!!!!

[JJ8]

Apple share price had a DESCENDING TRIPLE BOTTOM BREAKDOWN today, on 18-April-2024.
I see challenging times to most stocks given the potential of ME war involving powerful two nations while others in the area could be in support of one of the nations involved. Things are in suspense as of now but yet explosive to impact the world over. The internal chaotic state of division and the Fed ready to delay easing of interest rates longer in order to help inflation abate is aggravating decline in the stock market.

The bad news is that any fake negative news or small moves by any party could spark military reactions and counter actions getting us to the edge.

Let's hope for the best in this perilous times. Let us be respectful of others' views and be friendly. We are all together in this beautiful vehicle called planet Earth and feel responsible and act responsibly.

Peace & GLTA

[Investors3]

Apple to invest over $250 million to grow its Singapore campus
Thursday, April 18, 2024 9:40 am
2 Comments

Apple on Wednesday announced new expansion in Singapore, with plans to invest over $250 million to grow its campus in Ang Mo Kio. The new expansion is the latest milestone in Apple’s over four decades of work fostering job creation and deep connections with the local community, and will provide space for growth and new roles in AI and other key functions.

Apple opened its first facility in Singapore in 1981 with 72 employees focused on Apple II, and has since grown to include a team of more than 3,600 that contributes to every part of the company. Today, Singapore serves as a central operations centre for Apple in the region, and is a hub for critical roles in software, hardware, services, and support. The country is also home to three vibrant Apple Store locations.

“Singapore is truly a one-of-a-kind place, and we are proud of the connection we’ve built with this dynamic community of creators, learners, and dreamers,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, in a statement. “With our growing campus, Apple is writing a new chapter in our history here. Our Singapore teams have played an important role in enriching the lives of our customers — and we can’t wait for many more decades of innovation to come.”

Across Singapore, Apple supports more than 60,000 jobs through direct employment, its supply chain, and the iOS app economy. The company also works with educational institutions, businesses, and organizations using technology and innovation to build a brighter world.

Like all Apple facilities, the expanded campus will run on 100 percent renewable energy. Once complete, the office aims to attain LEED Gold certification. Apple has been carbon neutral for its corporate operations since 2020 and has run all of its facilities using 100 percent renewable energy since 2018.

With a commitment to securing a greener future for all, Apple first contracted for clean energy solutions in Singapore in 2015 with solar panels on 800 rooftops, which helped Apple become the first company in the country to be powered by 100 percent renewable energy.

Support MacDailyNews at no extra cost to you by using this link to shop at Amazon.

MacDailyNews Note: According to Apple, construction is slated to begin later this year to expand Apple’s campus in the Ang Mo Kio district. Two buildings acquired in 2022, located adjacent to the company’s existing offices, will undergo a major upgrade, bringing three unique spaces together to improve collaboration for Apple’s growing teams in Singapore. The addition follows Apple’s investment in upgrading facilities and state-of-the-art labs over the last 10 years, including growing space in its hardware technologies center by 50% since 2019.

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https://macdailynews.com/2024/04/18/apple-to-invest-over-250-million-to-grow-its-singapore-campus/

[Investors3]

Apple to Invest $250 Million in Singapore Expansion, Oracle Commits $8 Billion to Japan Infrastructure, and More News
April 18 2024 - 7:11AM
IH Market News

Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) – Apple plans to invest over $250 million to expand its operations in Ang Mo Kio, Singapore, with two buildings acquired in 2022 undergoing a major upgrade. CEO Tim Cook emphasized the importance of connecting with the local community.

Oracle (NYSE:ORCL) – Oracle announced on Wednesday an investment of more than $8 billion over the next 10 years to meet the growing demand for cloud computing and AI infrastructure in Japan. This investment aims to expand Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) presence across the country and support local engineering teams.

Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) – EU antitrust regulators have concluded that Microsoft’s $13 billion investment in OpenAI does not constitute an acquisition, avoiding a formal investigation. Microsoft still faces scrutiny in other regions, seeking partnerships to avoid investigations.

Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL) – Google is reducing its workforce, without specifying the exact number, as part of its cost containment strategy. Some affected employees may apply for new internal positions.

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) – The European Data Protection Board has suggested that major online platforms, including Meta Platforms, offer users a free option without targeted advertising. This follows requests for analysis of consent or payment models by national privacy regulators.

Walt Disney (NYSE:DIS) – Employees at Walt Disney’s theme parks in California, including those dressed as Goofy and Elsa, have made progress in unionization. Most of the 1,700 workers at the Disneyland Resort seek to join the Actors’ Equity Association, seeking better conditions, including costume replacements and contractual negotiations.

Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) – Amazon announced on Wednesday plans to expand its cashier-less shopping technology to more third-party stores this year, reducing its reliance on its own technology. The “Just Walk Out” system is already used by about 140 stores and will more than double.

MercadoLibre (NASDAQ:MELI) – The Latin American e-commerce giant plans to expand its team by 30% in 2024, adding approximately 18,000 new employees. This increase will bring the total number of employees to about 76,000, excluding temporary and outsourced workers.

Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) – Morgan Stanley recommends buying eBay (NASDAQ:EBAY) and short selling Etsy (NASDAQ:ETSY) in the US e-commerce market. eBay was upgraded to overweight, with a target price of $62, while Etsy was downgraded to underweight, with a target price of $55. Analysts see eBay benefiting from innovation and artificial intelligence, while they are pessimistic about Etsy’s growth trajectory.

Tapestry (NYSE:TPR), Capri (NYSE:CPRI) – The US FTC is preparing to block Tapestry, owner of Coach, from acquiring Capri, which owns Michael Kors, in a deal worth $8.5 billion. Regulatory approvals were granted by the EU and Japan. The FTC will discuss the case, while investors assess possible cuts in fees.

Micron Technology (NASDAQ:MU) – Micron Technology, a memory chip manufacturer, is expected to receive over $6 billion in grants from the US Department of Commerce to fund domestic chip factory projects. The award, which has yet to be finalized, could be announced as early as next week.

Salesforce (NYSE:CRM), Informatica (NYSE:INFA) – Gaurav Dhillon, co-founder of Informatica, criticizes the potential partnership with Salesforce, calling it a setback for CRM. He predicts difficulties for customers due to overlapping integration products and sees Salesforce losing momentum, only seeking to increase revenues. The merger, according to Dhillon, would be a validation for SnapLogic.

Zuora (NYSE:ZUO) – Zuora is considering options, including a potential sale. The software company for managing subscription-based billing is attracting interest from private equity and software companies.

Cadence Design Systems (NASDAQ:CDNS) – Cadence Design Systems presented on Wednesday the latest version of its custom chip-based supercomputer, designed to accelerate the creation of other chips and corresponding software. Companies like Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA) and Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) use Cadence’s software to design complex chips, speeding up the design process.

Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) – Under the leadership of Elon Musk, Tesla seeks to reactivate its controversial $56 billion salary package. The company uses a legal loophole to submit the proposal to shareholders, challenging a previous court decision. Experts debate whether this will open more litigation or if shareholders will retroactively accept the payment. Additionally, Elon Musk provoked uncertainty among investors with cryptic posts following Reuters’ news about the abandonment of the “$25 million Model 2.” Musk’s silence generates unrest, while investors seek clear answers about Tesla’s future. In other news, Tesla dismissed 300 temporary workers in Germany as their contracts expired, part of its global workforce reduction strategy by 10%. The company claims most were transferred to new jobs. Tesla will also lay off 285 employees in Buffalo, New York.

Rivian (NASDAQ:RIVN) – Rivian announced on Wednesday a cut of approximately 1% of its workforce, marking its second round of layoffs this year amid a slowdown in demand for electric vehicles. The company is seeking to reduce costs to achieve a positive gross margin by the end of the year.

Ford Motor (NYSE:F) – Ford is recalling 456,565 compact SUVs and trucks in the US due to weak battery issues, reported by NHTSA on Wednesday. The recall covers Bronco Sport (2022-2024) models and Maverick (2022-2023) trucks. Dealers will recalibrate the control modules free of charge to correct the problem.

Boeing (NYSE:BA) – Two Senate hearings in the US explored Boeing’s safety culture and manufacturing quality after the 737 MAX 9 incident. Concerns arose about the company’s response to whistleblower reports and records related to aircraft issues. Regulators and employees testified about safety concerns. Additionally, the US Department of Transportation is being investigated by the Office of the Inspector General regarding the Federal Aviation Administration’s supervision of Boeing aircraft. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg highlighted the importance of the audit amid growing concerns.

Mobileye (NASDAQ:MBLY) – Mobileye secured orders to provide 46 million of its EyeQ6 Lite chips in the coming years as automakers seek to make cars safer and easier to drive. The system, sold worldwide, includes features such as reading traffic signs.

EVe Mobility Acquisition (NYSE:EVE) – Eve, a manufacturer of electric aircraft, signed a letter of intent with Japanese AirX to sell up to 50 eVTOLs. The deal includes a firm order for 10 units and an agreement for another 40. Financial terms were not disclosed. Embraer (NYSE:ERJ), the parent company of Eve, plans operations by 2026.

United Airlines (NASDAQ:UAL) – United Airlines will receive financial compensation from Boeing (NYSE:BA) due to the grounding of the 737 MAX 9 aircraft, causing a $200 million impact in the first quarter. Boeing will pay through credits for future purchases, following the incident which also affected other airlines, including Alaska Airlines (NYSE:ALK).

Alaska Airlines (NYSE:ALK) – A problem with Alaska Airlines’ weight and balance calculation system caused the suspension of all flights on Wednesday morning. The FAA lifted the ground stop after the issue was resolved in about an hour, with residual delays throughout the day.

Ryanair (NASDAQ:RYAAY) – Ryanair expects Boeing (NYSE:BA) to deliver 40 new jets by mid-July, announced CEO Michael O’Leary. The plan includes receiving 35 aircraft by the end of June and five more in the first weeks of July, keeping to the revised schedule.

Ibotta – Ibotta, backed by Walmart (NYSE:WMT), is set to raise $577.3 million in its IPO, valued at $2.67 billion. Ibotta will sell 6.6 million shares at $88 each, exceeding the initial price range.

TotalEnergies (NYSE:TTE) – Investors urge TotalEnergies to separate the roles of CEO and chairman to accelerate the transition to renewable energies. The proposal, supported by 19 international investors, seeks an open dialogue on climate issues. The company will decide on the resolution on April 25.

Unilever (NYSE:UL) – Unilever Plc is recalling, as a precaution, some Magnum almond ice cream sticks in the UK and Ireland due to the possibility of containing plastic and metal. The company identified the affected batches and no other country or product is involved.

America Movil (NYSE:AMX) – America Movil announced investments in 5G across all its markets, following its capital expenditure plan of $7.1 billion for this year, after cutting expenses in February. Despite a 55% drop in quarterly profit, results in key markets helped exceed expectations.

Trump Media & Technology Group (NASDAQ:DJT) – Trump Media & Technology Group saw a 1.5% increase before the market opened. On Wednesday, shares of the company owning the Truth Social platform rose 16%, marking its best single-day performance since March 26, following a nearly 30% drop in the previous two sessions.

PowerSchool Holdings (NYSE:PWSC) – PowerSchool shares experienced their biggest drop in eight months, after Spruce Point Capital Management LLC expressed skepticism, predicting a significant fall in share prices. The educational technology company closed Wednesday with a 9.8% loss, extending the year’s cumulative decline to nearly 25%.

Duolingo (NASDAQ:DUOL), Cable One (NYSE:CABO) – Duolingo’s share value increased 6.55% before the market opened, following the announcement of its inclusion in the S&P MidCap 400 on April 22. Duolingo, a language learning provider, will replace Cable One, which is being moved to the S&P SmallCap 600.

UBS Group AG (NYSE:UBS) – Following the acquisition of Credit Suisse, UBS plans another round of job cuts that will affect over a hundred positions in the global investment bank. The cuts are expected to occur in the coming weeks, mainly in wealth management and markets units.

Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) – South African investors are delaying major initiatives pending next month’s election, according to Goldman Sachs. The bank expects a recovery in foreign interest, driven by interest rate cuts and energy improvements.

https://ih.advfn.com/stock-market/NASDAQ/apple-AAPL/stock-news/93679101/apple-to-invest-250-million-in-singapore-expansio

[DiscoverGold]

$AAPL has the most bullish flow today
By: Markets & Mayhem | April 18, 2024

• $TSLA has the most bearish flow again today (large premium).



Read Full Story »»»

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[DiscoverGold]

$AAPL & $MSFT have the most bullish flow today (Small premium)
By: Cheddar Flow | April 17, 2024

• $AAPL & $MSFT have the most bullish flow today (Small premium)

$TSLA has a lot of bearish premium ($40M+ already)



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[DiscoverGold]

Apple Insider Trading Alert: Chief Operating Officer Jeffrey Williams sold 59,162 $AAPL shares worth just over $10 million
By: Barchart | April 15, 2024

• Apple Insider Trading Alert

Chief Operating Officer Jeffrey Williams sold 59,162 $AAPL shares worth just over $10 million.



Read Full Story »»»

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[DiscoverGold]

$AAPL Millions worth of call-sell orders this morning
By: Cheddar Flow | April 16, 2024

• $AAPL Millions worth of call-sell orders this morning

Most of these orders came in at the bid and consist of traders betting on it to remain stagnant or fall lower





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[Investors3]

Apple is nearing production of powerful AI-focused M4 chips for Mac
Monday, April 15, 2024 11:29 am
4 Comments

Apple is nearing production of M4 chips and is planning to release its first Macs with the components later this year, Mark Gurman reports for Bloomberg News.

Mark Gurman for Bloomberg News:

The big focus will be supporting on-device artificial intelligence, which requires a hefty amount of processing power.

The company is planning three main variations of the M4: a base chip dubbed Donan; higher-end versions codenamed Brava that will replace the M3 Pro and M3 Max; and an M4 Ultra dubbed Hidra. At the end of last year, Apple released a regular M3, M3 Pro and M3 Max, but an M3 Ultra hasn’t come to market. (Apple could choose to wait until the M4 line for a new Ultra, but it’s worth noting that an M3 variation does exist internally.)

Here are the Mac models Apple is working on and when it expects to introduce them (as always, release plans could shift):

1. A low-end 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M4, coming around the end of 2024.
2. A 24-inch iMac with the M4, also expected around the end of the year.
3. New 14-inch and 16-inch high-end MacBook Pros with M4 Pro/Max chips, due between the end of 2024 and early 2025.
4. A Mac mini in both M4 and M4 Pro configurations, coming between the end of 2024 and early 2025.
5. New 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Airs, slated for around spring 2025.
6. A Mac Studio with a high-end M4 chip, coming around the middle of 2025.
7. A Mac Pro with an M4 Ultra chip, due in the second half of 2025.

Support MacDailyNews at no extra cost to you by using this link to shop at Amazon.

MacDailyNews Take: Those new MacBook Pros can hopefully debut before this Christmas because they’ll be big sellers!

https://macdailynews.com/2024/04/15/apple-is-nearing-production-of-powerful-ai-focused-m4-chips-for-mac/

[Investors3]

Samsung Surpasses Apple in Q1 Smartphone Market; Salesforce in Talks to Acquire Informatica, and More News
April 15 2024 - 7:06AM
IH Market News

Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) – In the first quarter of 2024, Apple’s smartphone shipments fell by 10%, challenged by Android competitors. Samsung led with a 20.8% market share, reversing Apple’s position. Apple sold 50.1 million iPhones, down by 5.3 million from the previous year. Sales in China declined by 2.1%. Recently, the stock market reacted to the lack of vision for future growth from Apple. This year, the stocks have been punished, but a revamp of its Mac computer line focusing on artificial intelligence resulted in a 4.3% increase in its shares and added $112 billion to its market value. Apple’s ability to fulfill its growth promises will be crucial to sustain this recovery. Investors are closely watching the integration of AI into its products, especially in the iPhone. Additionally, on Friday, Apple refuted claims by Epic Games of violating a court order on the App Store. Apple argues that Epic is seeking profit by trying to control Apple’s business operations. Moreover, Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook, will announce an increase in investments in Vietnam during his visit to Hanoi. The company plans to increase spending on suppliers and support local initiatives for drinking water in schools.

Salesforce (NYSE:CRM), Informatica Inc (NYSE:INFA) – Salesforce is negotiating to acquire Informatica, a data management services developer, in a potential deal below Informatica’s market price of $38.48 per share. Informatica is majorly controlled by Permira and CPPIB. The transaction would be Salesforce’s biggest deal since acquiring Slack in 2020.

Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) – Microsoft faces challenges with its own cybersecurity protection. Recent hacks have exposed vulnerabilities in its infrastructure, leading to criticism and a commitment to reform. The company is prioritizing measures such as quick vulnerability patches and multi-factor authentication, but critics question its motivation and effectiveness.

Rubrik – The cloud and data security startup Rubrik, backed by Microsoft, plans to raise up to $713 million in an initial public offering. The company intends to sell 23 million shares priced between $28 and $31 each.

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) – Since Meta blocked news links in Canada last August, Jeff Ballingall, a right-wing meme producer, noted an increase in clicks on his Canada Proud page on Facebook. The block has led to profound changes in how Canadians interact with political information.

Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL) – Alphabet, the parent company of Google, will temporarily remove news links in California for some users while it studies proposed legislation that would require payment for content. The test aims to explore the impact of the legislation, which Google considers uncertain and detrimental to the local news industry.

Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) – A former Amazon software engineer was sentenced to three years in prison for hacking decentralized finance platforms and stealing millions in cryptocurrencies. Shakeeb Ahmed, 34, exploited flaws in smart contracts to profit fraudulently before being sentenced by Judge Victor Marrero.

Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) – US Republican lawmakers criticized the Biden administration after sanctioned Chinese company Huawei launched a laptop with an Intel AI chip. Despite the 2019 sanctions for violations related to Iran, Intel provided the chip under a special license expiring this year.

Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) – Tesla is exploring locations for showrooms in New Delhi and Mumbai ahead of its sales launch in India later this year. The company plans to start with showrooms and service centers in each city, seeking to expand into new markets while facing challenges in the US and China. In the US and Canada, Tesla reduced the prices of its Full Self-Driving (FSD) subscriptions last Friday to boost adoption, now costing $99 per month in the US and C$99 ($71.88) in Canada.

Nio (NYSE:NIO) – The founder of Nio, a Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer, defended the opening of automotive markets to fair and free competition in a speech in the US, citing Tesla’s success in China. He highlighted competition as a growth driver and criticized protectionist policies. The tension between China and the West over exports of Chinese EVs was also addressed.

CarMax (NYSE:KMX) – CarMax launched a $1.25 billion bond sale shortly after falling short of analysts’ fourth-quarter earnings forecasts. The potential offering, structured by Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, could reach $1.6 billion.

Spirit AeroSystems (NYSE:SPR), Boeing (NYSE:BA) – Spirit AeroSystems, a major supplier to Boeing, is reducing overtime and hiring due to a production drop of the 737 MAX jet. The production has been affected by intensified regulatory checks and a slowdown on the assembly line in Seattle, resulting in deliveries halved in March.

US Steel (NYSE:X) – US Steel, an American company, approved with 98% of votes a $14.9 billion acquisition proposal by Japan’s Nippon Steel. The offer of $55 per share faces growing political opposition in the US and regulatory concerns, even after Nippon promised to maintain jobs and honor existing agreements.

BP Plc (NYSE:BP) – The state-owned oil company of the United Arab Emirates considered acquiring BP, but preliminary discussions did not progress. BP, valued at $110.3 billion, faces challenges including reducing fossil fuel production and shifting to renewable energies. The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) is seeking to expand internationally.

Paramount Global (NASDAQ:PARA) – The hedge fund Barington Capital pressured Paramount Global to end its exclusive talks with Skydance Media. Barington, holding 325,000 shares of Paramount, argued that exploring other bidders would benefit all shareholders, concerned about a deal favoring controlling shareholder Shari Redstone.

Roku (NASDAQ:ROKU) – Roku revealed a second cyberattack affecting 576,000 accounts, adding to the 15,000 previously affected. No sensitive information was compromised. The company identified unauthorized purchases in fewer than 400 cases and implemented two-factor authentication to bolster security.

Kraft Heinz (NASDAQ:KHC) – Kraft Heinz revived the Barbie fever with the launch of “Barbiecue,” a partnership with Mattel (NASDAQ:MAT). The pink condiment, labeled as “Heinz Vegan Mayo with barbecue sauce,” evokes a backyard barbecue. The product will be available in the UK and Spain, with plans for global expansion.

McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) – The wage increase for fast-food workers in California led McDonald’s to reintroduce bagel sandwiches and invest $15 million in local advertising to boost sales. Franchisees, concerned about costs, received support from the company to face the new wage legislation.

United Natural Foods (NYSE:UNFI) – JPMorgan Chase is exploring refinancing the outstanding debt of United Natural Foods, aiming for a loan of at least $600 million to replace the current maturity in October of the next year.

Grifols (NASDAQ:GRFS) – The Spanish pharmaceutical company Grifols plans to add independent administrators to its audit and compensation committees to strengthen its governance, after a drop in share price. Denying accusations of overstating profits, the company aims to simplify its market communication and meet its debt payments by 2025.

Medical Properties Trust (NYSE:MPW) – Shares of Medical Properties Trust surged over 15% before market opening on Monday, following the sale of hospital properties in Utah for $886 million. MPT will retain a 25% stake in the venture. The transactions generated $1.1 billion, aiming to reduce debts and for corporate purposes.

JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:JPM) – Vedanta Ltd. (NYSE:VEDL) hired JPMorgan Chase & Co. to facilitate raising 300 million dollars (25 billion rupees) through rupee-denominated bonds, targeting global private credit investors. The funds would support its commercial operations, with an estimated maturity of three to five years.

BlackRock (NYSE:BLK) – BlackRock reached a record $10.5 trillion in assets in the first quarter, with a 36% increase in profit, boosted by rising global stock markets. This uplift in the markets improved its advisory and investment management fees, as announced by the world’s largest asset manager.

UBS Group AG (NYSE:UBS) – The stricter capital requirements proposed by the Swiss government will affect UBS’s growth capacity, according to Finance Minister Karin Keller-Sutter. The Swiss bank will need to hold more capital if the regulatory package, aimed at preventing collapses like that of Credit Suisse, is implemented.

New York Community Bancorp (NYSE:NYCB) – NYCB appointed Craig Gifford as the new CFO, succeeding John Pinto, in an attempt to rebuild investor confidence following financial troubles. Other appointments include Bao Nguyen as general counsel. Shares have fallen 72% this year, but the bank raised $1 billion from investors, including Steven Mnuchin.

Coinbase Global (NASDAQ:COIN) – On Friday, Coinbase requested two courts for permission to appeal part of its ongoing case with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), seeking to accelerate the trial over whether digital assets are considered investment contracts.

https://ih.advfn.com/stock-market/NASDAQ/apple-AAPL/stock-news/93656662/samsung-surpasses-apple-in-q1-smartphone-market-s

[DiscoverGold]

Apple $AAPL LEAPS Bull
By: Theta Warrior | April 12, 2024

• $AAPL LEAPS Bull.



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[DiscoverGold]

Getting The Jump On AAPL's Short-Covering Rally
By: Carolyn Boroden | April 12, 2024

Sometimes you need to look at the bigger picture to find a setup in the markets. This was the case in AAPL recently.

When I looked at the weekly swings on that chart, I noticed that many of the swings were similar to the others. I measured these prior swings and also ran some other key Fibonacci price relationships. I found a rather healthy Fibonacci price support cluster at the 164.74-167.06. area.

Our charts also showed timing for this low coming on April 10. Bottom line we saw time and price coming together for a possible low in AAPL and all we needed to do was wait for the trade triggers.

The triggers came on April 11 on both the 15- and 30-minute charts, as a rather strong short covering rally began. We've seen a quick rally of $11.25 so far. Now since the daily chart of AAPL is still having some technical challenges I've suggested using at least a breakeven or better stop for those who took an entry. Even though the potential weekly upside target is up at the 208.46 area, there are quite a few hurdles AAPL will need to clear if this is the case and it is a bit of an uphill battle! There is some healthy upside potential, however, if we can continue to hold above the recent low.





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[Chartmaster]

Bought 3 May 24th 180 calls at 4.60 here today!

[JJ8]

Apples, Amazon and Alphabet- AAA shares! The price up-moves today have raised my Port value by about 2%

Nice and hot day, today. Celebration! GLTA

PS: After 13 trading sessions of Downtrend, today the Daily turned into Uptrend. However, The Weekly is still in Downtrend. This should change to Uptrend to confirm this change hopefully soon, may be tomorrow. We shall see.

[Chartmaster]

Hit bottom yesterday at 167.11 and reversing now! Key Reversal week with Bullish Stochastics Divergence identifies BOTTOM!

[Investors3]

Investors have historically underestimated Apple’s gross margins – BofA
Thursday, April 11, 2024 12:33 pm
1 Comment

“Investors have historically underestimated Apple’s gross margins and it appears that it is happening again,” BofA Securities analyst Wamsi Mohan writes in a note to clients.

Emily Bary for MarketWatch:

Investors have found plenty of reasons to sour on Apple Inc. shares this year, sending them down more than 12% over the course of 2024 to date even as the S&P 500 SPX has advanced 8%.

But what if Wall Street is missing the point on Apple — again? That’s an issue BofA Securities analyst Wamsi Mohan explored in his latest note to clients as he looked at how investors have gotten things wrong on Apple shares in the past.

The company’s long-term margin potential remains compelling, according to Mohan, and if you go back a few years, you can see Wall Street’s tendency to lowball its projections there. For example, in 2018, the consensus view forecast was for 39% gross margins for fiscal 2023, but Apple recorded 44% for that period.

Now, looking forward, he thinks the company could drive about 180 basis points of gross-margin upside on the product side of the business, as well as 150 basis points of upside in services over the coming years.

“Consumers are opting for more higher-end devices (higher price), but we also expect Apple to raise pricing of individual hardware devices over time, which can be accretive to gross margin,” Mohan wrote.

Support MacDailyNews at no extra cost to you by using this link to shop at Amazon.

MacDailyNews Note: Mohan maintains a “Buy” rating and $225 price target on Apple shares.

https://macdailynews.com/2024/04/11/investors-have-historically-underestimated-apples-gross-margins-bofa/#google_vignette

[Investors3]

Hedge Funds show interest in Apple as valuation moderates – JPMorgan
Thursday, April 11, 2024 11:44 am
No Comments

JPMorgan Chase & Co. analysts say that Apple is drawing interest from hedge fund investors as a slump in its shares reduces the stock’s valuation premium amid hopes for AI-linked upgrades to its iPhones and other devices.

Subrat Patnaik for Bloomberg News:

The technology giant’s shares have fallen 13% this year, badly trailing the broader market. The company is grappling with weak sales in China and a Justice Department suit accusing Apple of violating antitrust laws, taking aim at its lucrative services business.

Apple is seen as trailing peers when it comes to artificial-intelligence offerings and the company has been looking for partners like Google to add AI features to its iPhones. This prospect is also boosting sentiment as there’s growing appetite for AI-led iPhone enhancements, according to JPMorgan.

“Hedge fund investors are increasingly warming up to the opportunity of the AI upgrade cycle,” although questions remain around whether that will kick in with iPhones to be introduced later this year or in 2025, analysts led by Samik Chatterjee wrote in a research note Thursday.

MacDailyNews Take: The potential for an iPhone 16 super cycle depends on how well Apple marketing sells its GenAI bandaid (licensing from Google, Baidu, etc.) as it works (for years, likely) to catch up with its own generative AI solution.

https://macdailynews.com/2024/04/11/hedge-funds-show-interest-in-apple-as-valuation-moderates-jpmorgan/

[DiscoverGold]

$AAPL Large uptick of ITM Call LEAPS
By: Cheddar Flow | April 11, 2024

• $AAPL Large uptick of ITM Call LEAPS



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[DiscoverGold]

Apple $AAPL on track for its largest gain of the year. Did it bottom?
By: Barchart | April 11, 2024

• Apple $AAPL on track for its largest gain of the year. Did it bottom?



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[DiscoverGold]

Apple $AAPL its almost like this $200 Million meant something
By: Flowrensics | April 11, 2024

• $AAPL lets mark this level, almost $200M.



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[maent]

Picked up $160 puts yesterday. This means it will be back to $190 in a few days!

[Agoura Guy]

APPLE IS CRUSHING IT!!!!!!!!!

[Investors3]

Apple Watch chief Kevin Lynch moved into company’s AI group
Monday, April 8, 2024 8:55 am
6 Comments

Apple has recently moved Apple Watch project head Kevin Lynch into, and nearly atop, the company’s AI group.

Mark Gurman for Bloomberg News:

One of the “palace intrigue” stories that got overshadowed by the Apple car cancellation is the shifting role of Kevin Lynch, who oversaw the project during the last few years.

For about a decade, Lynch reported to Apple Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams. In addition to handling the car duties, he has run software engineering for the Apple Watch under Williams.

In a curious shift, Lynch has now begun to report to John Giannandrea, Apple’s AI chief. Lynch and Williams continue to oversee the Apple Watch, which raises the question: Why was the move necessary?

People close to the matter believe Lynch’s move is meant to bring order to an area that has befuddled Apple: AI.

With AI, it’s no secret Apple has been struggling to create large language models and other tools that can compete with the industry’s best. If Giannandrea ultimately ends up leaving the company, Lynch — who has been due for a promotion to the senior vice president level — could be primed to take his place.

MacDailyNews Take: Is some accountability for Apple’s current deer-in-the-headlights “we’ll have to license it from Google” situation actually incoming?

Apple pays and has been paying John Giannandrea, Senior Vice President of Machine Learning and AI Strategy, millions upon millions of dollars for years. WTF of any import does he really do? WTF of any import has he really delivered? Have you used Siri lately? Yup, it’s still a steaming pile of dogshit.

Where’s Apple’s generative AI, John? “Too hard; too late; look for partners; gimme my paycheck and stock options.” AAPL shareholders need to start asking real questions of these executives, especially those who are supposed in charge of Apple’s “AI Strategy,” when the company clearly has none. How about some accountability for once? – MacDailyNews, March 18, 2024

The consequences of Apple leaderships’ lack of vision will affect the company for years.

Generative AI chatbots require large, dedicated data centers which will take Apple time (years) to build out, if they are planning on owning this technology instead of just farming it out. – MacDailyNews, March 26, 2024

Related

Apple Watch Chief Kevin Lynch to take the lead on Apple Car development
Friday, July 16, 2021
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Apple Watch software chief Kevin Lynch takes over ‘Project Titan’ electric vehicle project
Thursday, September 9, 2021
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Jony Ive reveals the origin of Apple Watch and why it’s cool to wear something on your wrist again
Wednesday, May 9, 2018
In "News"

https://macdailynews.com/2024/04/08/apple-watch-chief-kevin-lynch-moved-into-companys-ai-group/

[Investors3]

Tesla enlists Apple to prove driver in deadly crash was playing a game on his iPhone
Friday, April 5, 2024 10:58 am
4 Comments

Tesla is relying on technical support from Apple as it seeks to prove that a Model X driver who worked for Apple was playing a video game on his iPhone when he crashed and subsequently died.

Rachel Graf for Bloomberg News:

Lawyers for the family of Walter Huang, an engineer who was killed on his commute to work, say his former employer is “secretly” maneuvering to support Tesla’s attempt to blame distracted driving for the wreck. A National Transportation Safety Board investigation had failed to reach a definitive conclusion about what Huang was doing in the final seconds before impact.

Based on forensic examinations of Huang’s iPhone, Tesla has said he was playing Sega’s Total War: Three Kingdoms at the time of the crash, though the Huang family’s attorneys say Tesla can’t prove that just because the app was open on his screen.

The two sides are sparring over whether Tesla can call an Apple engineering manager as a witness for a two-month trial set to start next week in state court in San Jose.

Tesla obtained a sworn statement from an Apple engineering manager, James Harding, who analyzed unencrypted telemetry data on Huang’s phone and said it “suggests possible user interaction, which might be a screen touch or button press.”

The Huang family’s lawyers have countered in a court filing that Tesla purposefully hid its questioning of Harding from them until after pretrial fact-finding deadlines. They are now trying to force Apple to provide more information, and the iPhone maker is pushing back, saying that it shouldn’t have to hand over confidential material.

MacDailyNews Take: As per Tesla support:

The currently enabled Autopilot, Enhanced Autopilot and Full Self-Driving features require active driver supervision and do not make the vehicle autonomous… While using Autopilot, it is your responsibility to stay alert, keep your hands on the steering wheel at all times and maintain control of your vehicle… Before enabling Autopilot, the driver first needs to agree to “keep your hands on the steering wheel at all times” and to always “maintain control and responsibility for your vehicle.” Subsequently, every time the driver engages Autopilot, they are shown a visual reminder to “keep your hands on the wheel.”

Related
California highway barrier not repaired before Apple engineer’s fatal Tesla ‘autopilot’ crash
Monday, September 9, 2019
In "News"

Tesla shares crash after Elon Musk smokes pot on live web show, exhibits other bizarre behavior
Saturday, September 8, 2018
In "News"

Elon Musk counts on full self-driving as next Tesla profit driver
Friday, April 21, 2023
In "News"

https://macdailynews.com/2024/04/05/tesla-enlists-apple-to-prove-driver-in-deadly-crash-was-playing-a-game-on-his-iphone/#google_vignette

[Investors3]

Apple CEO Cook sells 196,410 AAPL shares at $169.33
Thursday, April 4, 2024 4:04 pm
10 Comments

According to a recent SEC filing, Apple CEO Tim Cook sold 196,410 shares of Apple (AAPL) on April 2, 2024 at the share price of $169.33, resulting in a total sale of $33,253,045.30.

GuruFocus Research:

Following this transaction, Timothy Cook’s total sales over the past year amount to 436,979 shares, with no recorded purchases in the same period.

The insider transaction history for Apple Inc indicates a trend of insider sells, with 17 recorded over the past year and no insider buys in the same timeframe. On the valuation front, Apple Inc’s shares were trading at $169.33 on the day of the insider’s recent sell, giving the company a market capitalization of approximately $2,619,869.53 billion. The price-earnings ratio stands at 26.43, which is above both the industry median of 23.7 and the company’s historical median price-earnings ratio.

MacDailyNews Note: Cook’s Form 4 SEC filing is here.

Apple Senior VPs Deirdre O’Brien, Jeff Williams, Katherine Adams, and Luca Maestri each also sold 113,309 shares apiece on April 3rd.

Related

Apple CEO Tim Cook sells over over 600,000 AAPL shares netting $65 million
Thursday, September 1, 2016
In "News"

Apple CEO Tim Cook sells 30,000 Apple shares for $3.6 million
Friday, January 20, 2017
In "News"

Tim Cook gets 560,000 Apple shares, Eddy Cue gets 350,000
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
In "News"

https://macdailynews.com/2024/04/04/apple-ceo-cook-sells-196410-aapl-shares-at-169-33/

[DiscoverGold]

Apple $AAPL If $168 goes, look out below
By: TrendSpider | April 8, 2024

• $AAPL If $168 goes, look out below.



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[OldAIMGuy]

Apple's stock should soar later today or tomorrow when everyone who has an I-Phone realizes they've fried their camera trying to take pics of the Solar Eclipse!!
OAG

[JJ8]

I doubled on my shares in my port.

Apple is rank A class of stock among the stocks in the market.

Great minds think alike. Congrats and good luck.

PS: "An apple a day keeps the doctor away"

[JJ8]

Apple Terminates 614 Employees, Disney Unveils June Crackdown on Password Sharing, and More Updates
April 05 2024 - 07:38AM
IH Market News

Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) – Apple is laying off 614 employees in Silicon Valley after ending its secret autonomous electric vehicle project. These are the first significant job cuts since the beginning of the pandemic, mainly impacting satellite offices in Santa Clara, California. Moreover, Hon Hai, known as Foxconn (USOTC:FXCOF), saw an 11.8% increase in sales in March, but first-quarter revenue of NT$1.32 trillion fell 9.6% year-over-year, below the expected NT$1.39 trillion. The decline in iPhone sales, especially in China, directly affected the company as it is the main contracted manufacturer of these devices for Apple. Despite this, the company is diversifying its business, with a growing focus on building server racks for data centers and other equipment for artificial intelligence clusters.

[pepeoil]

I averaged down on this dip, I just hope the dip is over soon

[DiscoverGold]

$AAPL Insider Sake Alert: Insiders at Apple sold over $51 million in shares this week, more than half coming from CEO Tim Cook
By: TrendSpider | April 4, 2024

• $AAPL INSIDER SALE ALERT

Insiders at Apple sold over $51 million in shares this week, more than half coming from CEO Tim Cook.

Not a great vote of confidence with shares trading at five month lows.



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[DiscoverGold]

$AAPL $1 Million Unusual Call Sell Orders. These orders have a near-term expiration and the traders are looking to collect premium on the contracts
By: Cheddar Flow | April 4, 2024

• $TSLA & $AAPL $4M+ Unusual Call Sell Orders

These orders have a near-term expiration and the traders are looking to collect premium on the contracts



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[Investors3]

Taiwan earthquake to hit some chip output, cause Asia supply chain disruptions
Wednesday, April 3, 2024 8:53 am
3 Comments

Taiwan’s biggest earthquake since 1999 is likely to cause some disruption across Asia’s semiconductor supply chain, analysts say, after chipmakers from major Apple supplier TSMC to UMC halted some operations to inspect facilities.

The powerful 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck Taiwan’s eastern coast near Hualien County on Wednesday morning, killing at least nine people and injuring at least 800.

Liam Mo and Brenda Goh for Reuters:

The island plays an outsized role in the global semiconductor supply chain as it is home to the world’s largest chipmaker Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) which supplies chips to the likes of Apple and Nvidia and smaller chipmakers including UMC, Vanguard International Semiconductor, and Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing.

While most of their facilities are not close to the earthquake’s epicenter, many of these firms said they had evacuated some of their manufacturing plants and shut down some facilities for inspections.

TSMC, whose facilities in Hsinchu, Tainan and Taichung have experienced varying degrees of disruptions, may have to delay some shipments and increase wafer input to compensate for this, consultancy Isaiah Research said in a note.

TSMC’s Tainan operations for advanced process nodes, such as 4/5nm and 3nm, were temporarily suspended, they said. In addition, the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography equipment crucial for these advanced nodes was halted at the site for a period of 8-to-15 hours.

Barclays analysts said some highly sophisticated semiconductor fabs need to operate seamlessly 24/7 in a vacuum state for several weeks and the halts would disrupt the process, pushing up pricing pressure in the sector.

Support MacDailyNews at no extra cost to you by using this link to shop at Amazon.

MacDailyNews Take: Sounds like Taiwan’s chip industry will right itself relatively quickly, but, unfortunately, expect the death and injury toll to rise as at least 26 buildings have collapsed.

https://macdailynews.com/2024/04/03/taiwan-earthquake-to-hit-some-chip-output-cause-asia-supply-chain-disruptions/#google_vignette

[Investors3]

Apple’s high-yield savings APY decreases from 4.5% to 4.4% on April 3rd
Monday, April 1, 2024 7:08 pm
1 Comment

Apple Card customers taking advantage of the high-yield Apple Savings account will see their APY decrease for the first time from 4.5% to 4.4% on April 3rd. The savings account originally offered a 4.15% APY and it was raised to 4.5% earlier this year; it features no fees and no minimum balance requirements

Joe Rossignol for MacRumors:


Starting on April 3, the Apple Card savings account’s annual percentage yield (APY) will be lowered to 4.4%, according to data on Apple’s backend discovered by MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris.

4.4% will still be a competitive rate compared to many other popular high-yield savings accounts, which typically offer rates between 4.25% and 5.25%.

When the Apple Card’s savings account first became available, it offered an APY of 4.15%. The rate then increased three times, first to 4.25%, then to 4.35%, and finally to 4.5%. The drop to 4.4% will be the first time the rate has gone down.

The account allows Apple Card holders to earn interest on their Daily Cash cashback balance, and on funds deposited via a linked bank account or an Apple Cash balance. The maximum balance allowed is now $1,000,000, up from a previous limit of $250,000.

Support MacDailyNews at no extra cost to you by using this link to shop at Amazon.

MacDailyNews Nate: To open a high-yield Savings account in Apple’s Wallet app, tap on your Apple Card, tap on the circle with three dots at the upper right of the screen, tap Daily Cash, and select Set Up Savings.

Related

Apple’s new high-yield Savings account delivers high APYs and convenient perks
Tuesday, May 30, 2023
In "News"

Apple Card’s new high-yield Savings account now available with 4.15 percent APY
Monday, April 17, 2023
In "News"

Apple Card users’ Savings accounts earn 4.15% APY, more than 10 times the U.S. national average
Monday, April 17, 2023
In "News"

https://macdailynews.com/2024/04/01/apples-high-yield-savings-apy-decreases-from-4-5-to-4-4-on-april-3rd/#google_vignette

[Investors3]

Apple, other major tech firms again lose lawsuit challenging US patent-review policy
Monday, April 1, 2024 4:13 pm
No Comments

Apple and other major tech companies have failed to convince a California federal court that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office unlawfully implemented a rule that reduced the number of patent-validity reviews the office considers.

Blake Brittain for Reuters:

U.S. District Judge Edward Davila in San Jose said late Sunday that the USPTO was not required to hold a notice-and-comment period before creating the rule, rejecting a lawsuit from Apple, Google, Intel, Cisco, and Edwards Lifesciences or a second time.

The USPTO’s Patent Trial and Appeal Board conducts inter partes reviews (IPR), in which it reconsiders the validity of patents by request. The process is often used by big tech companies that are frequently targeted with patent lawsuits to contest patents they are accused of infringing.

An internal rule gave the agency’s judges greater discretion to deny IPR petitions. Tech companies sued the USPTO in the California federal court in 2020, arguing the rule undermined the role IPR plays in “protecting a strong patent system” and violated federal law.

Support MacDailyNews at no extra cost to you by using this link to shop at Amazon.

MacDailyNews Note: The case is Apple Inc v. Vidal, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, No. 5:20-cv-06128.

https://macdailynews.com/2024/04/01/apple-other-major-tech-firms-again-lose-lawsuit-challenging-us-patent-review-policy/

[pepeoil]

I am going to average down with these cheapies below $170. Lessss gooooooo apple

[pepeoil]

One of the only losers I have. Lol. POS aapl

[Investors3]

Stock market’s ‘Magnificent Seven’ is really now the Fab Four as Apple, Alphabet, and Tesla sputter
Monday, April 1, 2024 9:40 am
2 Comments

Even as the stock market is heads higher, the “Magnificent Seven” trade is beginning to fizzle, with Apple, Alphabet, and Tesla sputtering through the first quarter of 2024.

Hardika Singh for The Wall Street Journal:

The S&P 500 climbed 10% in the first quarter, its best start to a year since 2019, even though two of its biggest constituents suffered double-digit declines. Apple shares fell 11% in the first three months of the year, while Tesla dropped almost 30%. Alphabet shares sputtered for much of the period before making a run in the past three weeks and ending up 8%.

The other four big tech stocks in the group known as the Magnificent Seven — Nvidia, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Amazon.com — continued their meteoric run and outpaced the broader market. Some market strategists have dubbed them the new Fab Four.

Nvidia continues to be a stock-market star. The graphics-chip maker has indicated demand for the computing power that underlies AI remains astronomical. Its shares have jumped more than 80% to start the year, after more than tripling in 2023.

Meta shares, meanwhile, have soared partly thanks to Meta’s investments in artificial intelligence that have made targeted ads smarter. The social-media company recently said it would pay its first shareholder dividend. Microsoft stole the crown of biggest U.S. company from Apple earlier this year, with a valuation that topped $3 trillion, and Amazon has sharply improved its profitability.

[Apple] is facing another weak iPhone demand cycle, and investors are worried that Apple is behind in the current wave of excitement around AI.

Bespoke Investment Group data show Apple shares underperformed the S&P 500 over the 200 days through Tuesday by the widest margin since October 2013.

MacDailyNews Take: As we just wrote:

Apple was caught flat-footed, due to a lack of vision on the part of leadership. They were, uh, focused elsewhere. Apple’s traditional data center network is not fit for generative AI. It will take years and billions of dollars to catch up just to where GenAI leaders (OpenAI, Microsoft, Alphabet, etc.) are today.

So, the only solution is to partner with a Google for the real GenAI stuff while pretending (marketing) really hard that some on-device AI Apple has whipped up in a few months is “insanely great Apple innovation” that’s at the heart of Apple’s 2024’s AI announcements when it’s really just an adjunct. Apple will tout their homegrown on-device AI and act like it’s powering everything when, in reality, it’s Google (or whichever is licensed) that’s powering most of it. Watch Apple make a big show of its on-device AI at WWDC and run many ads touting it from June onwards.

Apple hopes to buy time for the data center buildouts and investments that will be required for them to someday own their own AI technology and not have to license it from the likes of Google.

This is what happens after a decade plus with a caretaker CEO at the helm after he hits the last page of his iteration playbook, yet attempts to stay in the game for too long.

See also:
• Work on Apple Vision Pro began under Steve Jobs – August 23, 2023
• Contrary to popular belief, Steve Jobs knew about Apple Watch – February 13, 2023

Related

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Thursday, August 31, 2023
In "News"

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In "News"

https://macdailynews.com/2024/04/01/stock-markets-magnificent-seven-is-really-now-the-fab-four-as-apple-alphabet-and-tesla-sputter/#google_vignette

[Investors3]

Loop Capital slashes Apple price target to $170 on weak iPhone sales
Monday, April 1, 2024 2:09 pm
1 Comment

Citing reduced iPhone orders amid demand weakness, especially in China, a Wall Street investment firm on Monday slashed its price target on Apple stock.

Patrick Seitz for Investor’s Business Daily:

Loop Capital analyst Ananda Baruah reiterated his hold rating on Apple stock and cut his price target to 170 from 185.

“We now project Apple overall revenue and EPS (earnings per share) to decline year over year in calendar 2024 for the first time since 2016,” Baruah said in a client note.

Consensus estimates for Apple’s March-quarter results are at “some risk,” while Street estimates for Apple’s June quarter are facing a “material risk,” he said…

In a separate report Monday, Loop Capital analyst John Donovan said his firm’s supply chain checks in Asia indicate that Apple has “sharply” cut its iPhone builds.

Apple cut its iPhone orders forecast for 2024 to 199 million units, down 7% to 8% from previous targets, Donovan said..

MacDailyNews Note: So far this year, Apple stock has fallen more than 11%.

https://macdailynews.com/2024/04/01/loop-capital-slashes-apple-price-target-to-170-on-weak-iphone-sales/

[Investors3]

Several senators overseeing anti-Apple regulations controversially hold shares
William Gallagher | Apr 01, 2024

Several members of Congress overseeing Big Tech issues are accused of owning significant quantities of Apple stock, which could present conflicts of interest.

As Big Tech firms, most especially including Apple, come under increasing scrutiny from governments worldwide, Senator John Ossoff (D-Ga) is accused of effectively being in collusion with Apple because he may own stocks in the company. The New York Post makes vague claims that unspecified "watchdogs" are concerned over conflicts of interest, but the publication appears to be the accuser.

It's hard to be certain whether the accusation comes from The New York Post itself, or whether there are any actual "watchdogs" accusing Ossoff and other members of Congress. That's because the publication's article is hyperbolic and so bordering on hysterical that it's difficult to find the facts for all the noise.

Nonetheless, the publication's position is that Senator Ossoff, who has campaigned against congressional stock trading, is among the almost one in five in the Senate "who own or likely own" Apple stock. That phrasing is not entirely as woolly as it sounds, because the publication is counting senators who, like Ossoff, have put their stocks into a blind trust.

"You can't put Apple stock in a blind trust and pretend you don't have Apple stock," Richard Painter, former White House chief ethics lawyer under President George W. Bush, told The New York Post. "This blind trust business, it doesn't work unless you actually sell the underlying assets."

Reportedly, at least 14 other members of Congress have stocks in Apple. Those include Democratic Senators John Hickenlooper, Thomas Carper, Jacky Rosen, Ron Wyden and Sheldon Whitehouse, as well as Senator Ossoff.

They also include Republican senators Kate Britt, Tommy Tuberville, John Boozman, Susan Collins, Markwayne Mullin, Tim Scott, Bill Hagerty and Shelley Moore Capito.

But speaking specifically about Senator Ossoff, Painter said that he had demonstrated "really bad judgement" by not selling his Apple stake upon taking office. It seems like general rule should apply to anybody taking office — which is what the blind trust regulation that Ossoff is championing will at least partially address.

Ossoff is said by the publication to have owned between $1 million and $5 million in Apple stocks before setting up a blind trust in 2021. In this case, the imprecision in the details appears to be down to the publication, with other sources say Apple represented half of Ossoff's net work before taking office.

Senator Ossoff is obviously not part of the Department of Justice's antitrust case against Apple. He is, though, a majority member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee On Privacy, Technology, and the Law.

In that capacity, he voted in favor of advancing legislation through the pair of bills, the American Innovation and Choice Online Act (AICOA) and the Open App Markets Act. Neither bill made it through to law, allegedly following lobbying by firms including Apple.

The two bills both concentrated on anti-steering regulations, which would prevent firms from giving preferential promotion to their own services. The AICOA bill would also have at least encouraged Apple to allow sideloading and third-party app stores.

Both of the bills were delayed being put forward, for lack of sufficient support, which ultimately ultimately defeated them, too. Very similar legislation has subsequently been passed into law in the European Union, though.

The New York Post says that while Ossoff publicly backed both bills, in private he raised concerns about them. Specifically, he questioned the bills' impact on user security and data privacy, just as Apple has done.

"Having to deal with a senator who regularly repeated Apple talking points — as if it wasn't obvious they were Apple talking points — was bad enough," a unnamed source told the publication. "But it was even worse that in all likelihood he owned millions of dollars in Apple stock as he was doing it."

A spokesperson for Senator Ossoff told The New York Post that this criticism was "laughable." The spokesperson declined to comment on whether the senator's blind trust still included Apple shares.

https://appleinsider.com/articles/24/04/01/several-senators-overseeing-anti-apple-regulations-controversially-hold-shares?utm_medium=rss

[DiscoverGold]

$AAPL Worst monthly performance since September 2023, first close below long-term wedge support...
By: TrendSpider | March 29, 2024

• $AAPL Worst monthly performance since September 2023, first close below long-term wedge support...



Read Full Story »»»

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[Investors3]

Apple turns to longtime Steve Jobs disciple Phil Schiller to defend its ‘walled garden’
Wednesday, March 27, 2024 9:33 am
7 Comments

Apple Fellow Phil Schiller, Apple’s former chief marketing officer and longtime Steve Jobs acolyte has emerged as one of the most ardent public defender of the company’s “Walled Garden” ecosystem.

Aaron Tilley for The Wall Street Journal:

[Apple’s ecosystem is] a vision of electronic devices that work seamlessly together and protect user security and privacy.

Once seen as a virtue, Apple’s vision has increasingly come under attack, from regulators in the Justice Department, the European Union and other jurisdictions as well as from rivals…

In legal filings, public announcements and courtrooms, Apple has made it clear that it isn’t going to go down without a fight, and more often than not, Schiller has been the one to deliver the message.

“I have no qualms in saying that our goal is going to always be to make the App Store the safest, best place for users to get apps,” Schiller recently told Fast Company. “I think users — and the whole developer ecosystem — have benefited from that work that we’ve done together with them. And we’re going to keep doing that.”

Although Schiller retired from his role as chief of marketing in 2020, he continues as an “Apple Fellow,” a transition that led some Apple watchers to wonder whether he was close to retirement. Instead, he has become the public face of Apple’s efforts to defend itself…

People close to Schiller describe his three main hobbies as cars, Boston sports teams and Apple, where he is still known to work nearly 80 hours a week, respond to emails almost immediately and answer phone calls at any time.

“Of the people still at Apple, he is one of the few that still carry the torch of Steve Jobs’s vision,” said Tim Bajarin, a longtime Apple analyst who has known Schiller since his return to the company.

MacDailyNews Take: Kudos to those left at Apple who carry the torch of Steve Jobs’ vision!

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https://macdailynews.com/2024/03/27/apple-turns-to-longtime-steve-jobs-disciple-phil-schiller-to-defend-its-walled-garden/