Wall Street's main indexes fell in choppy trade due to rising Treasury yields and weak services activity in China, while gains in energy stocks limited losses; however, expectations of a pause in Fed monetary tightening boosted growth stocks.
China has reportedly ordered officials at central government agencies to not use Apple's iPhones and other foreign-branded devices for work or bring them into the office, potentially impacting foreign companies operating in China as tensions between the US and China escalate.
Apple Inc. experienced a significant decline in its stock price after reports emerged that Chinese government agencies have banned the use of iPhones and other foreign-branded devices by their staff.
Stocks sold off and U.S. Treasury yields rose for the second consecutive day, while Germany's manufacturing orders experienced a significant decline; Apple signed a long-term agreement with Arm, boosting anticipation for Arm's upcoming IPO; the European Commission designated Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, ByteDance, Meta, and Microsoft as "gatekeepers" under its new Digital Markets Act; Goldman Sachs updated its conviction list, adding a new company with projected revenue growth and removing another after a significant drop in shares; and markets are focusing on stubborn inflation and the threat of higher interest rates, causing stocks to be pressured and technology stocks to be particularly affected.
Apple stocks fell 3.6% after China reportedly banned officials from using or bringing iPhones and other foreign-branded devices into the office, signaling Beijing's push to reduce dependence on American technologies.
Apple shares fell during out of hours trading on Thursday, following reports that China has banned government employees from using iPhones, posing a potential threat to Apple's sales and global supply chain.
Asian stocks fell as trade data indicated weakness in the Chinese economy and regional technology shares were hit by the possibility of more U.S. restrictions on China after a supposed Chinese chip breakthrough.
Big tech, including Apple, faced pressure as concerns grew over China potentially expanding its iPhone ban, while equity futures fell due to strong jobless claims figures, reinforcing the case for the Federal Reserve to maintain elevated interest rates.
Apple's recent sell-off due to concerns about a Chinese crackdown on iPhone usage among government workers should not deter investors from the tech giant.
Despite reports of China banning iPhone use for government employees, CNBC's Jim Cramer advises investors not to sell Apple, citing the company's ability to adapt and potentially find a compromise with China.
Asian shares fell and the dollar's rally stalled as the greenback weakened against most major currencies; concerns over Apple's iPhone sales in China and the expansion of a ban on iPhones in sensitive departments in China to government-backed agencies and state companies also weighed on sentiment.
Shares of major Apple suppliers dropped following reports of China widening curbs on iPhone use by state employees, raising concerns about sales in one of Apple's biggest markets.
The US economy is displaying resilience with jobless claims at their lowest since February and increased consumer spending on travel and experiences, despite challenges such as the resumption of student loan payments and oil production cuts by Saudi Arabia and Russia. Apple's stock has also been affected by the Chinese government's expanding iPhone ban, reflecting the broader tensions between the US and China.
Rumors of an iPhone ban for government employees in China caused major market benchmarks, including Apple (AAPL), to experience a down week and sparked concerns over tensions between the US and China.
Renewed curbs on the use of Apple devices by government officials in China have raised concerns among Apple's investors and heightened geopolitical tensions between the US and China.
Apple's bet on China has come back to haunt CEO Tim Cook as Beijing's recent ban on state employees using foreign-branded smartphones, including the iPhone, could cost the company $19 billion in revenue and has prompted questions about the worth of Apple's appeasement of the Chinese Communist Party.
Dow Jones futures, along with S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq futures, were unchanged after hours as the stock market rally experienced losses, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq dropping below the 50-day line, while energy stocks led and software retreated. Apple stock fell after unveiling the iPhone 15 and other products, while stocks such as Salesforce, Alphabet, General Electric, Shopify, and Nvidia remained in or near buy areas. The CPI inflation report and Adobe earnings are potential market catalysts.
Apple is facing growing troubles in China, with tensions rising between the US and China, the ban on government employees using iPhones, and China's economic woes, prompting the tech giant to shift its focus to India as a potential market for growth.
The article does not mention any specific stock recommendations. However, it discusses Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) extensively and highlights the author's positive view towards the company's valuation and growth prospects.
The author's core argument is that while Apple's growth has slowed, its elevated valuation is justified due to factors such as its superior competitive position, strong brand and connection with consumers, solid prospects for future growth, and strong financial position.
Key information and data mentioned in the article include:
- The Wall Street Journal reported that the Chinese government had banned iPhones for government employees, but the Chinese government later denied this report.
- If the ban had been true, analyst Dan Ives estimated it would be a hit of half a million iPhones, but he referred to it as "more bark than bite."
- Apple's growth has slowed, but its high valuation is justified due to its many advantages, including its competitive position and strong financials.
- Apple's valuation is less dependent on current earnings and more focused on long-term prospects.
- Apple's revenue is comparable to other massive companies, but it still has room for growth, especially in the high-margin services segment.
- Apple's dependence on China is both a risk and an advantage, as China is also dependent on Apple.
- The Chinese economy is facing challenges, and a cooperative relationship between the US and China would benefit Apple and the global economy.
- The author believes that Apple's strong management and adherence to secrecy and compartmentalization give it a unique edge.
- The author suggests that expectations for Apple may be too low if globalization is not receding as expected.
The U.S. stock markets closed in the red as the Federal Reserve kept the federal funds rate unchanged, leading to losses in sectors such as communication services and information technology, while Asian stocks fell due to concerns over higher U.S. interest rates.
Summary:
US stock indexes closed lower as investors awaited monthly employment data and looked for insights into future interest rate directions, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average down 0.03%, the S&P 500 down 0.13%, and the Nasdaq Composite down 0.12%; in Asian markets, Japan's Nikkei 225 declined 0.28%, Australia's S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.41%, China's markets were closed for a holiday, and Hong Kong's Hang Seng index gained 1.40%; European markets, including the STOXX 600, Germany's DAX, France's CAC, and the UK's FTSE 100, all saw gains; and in commodities, Crude Oil WTI and Brent were down, Natural Gas was up, and Gold, Silver, and Copper all saw increases.
