Apple Earnings Soar on iPhone 17 Pro Sales, But Investor Excitement Remains Tepid
Apple’s latest earnings report highlights the power of the iPhone 17 Pro, whose 8x zoom and premium features have captured consumer attention worldwide. The Cupertino-based company posted a 16% year-on-year increase in its fiscal first-quarter revenue, surpassing Wall Street expectations. Apple also forecasted current-quarter revenue to exceed estimates, signaling strong momentum heading into 2026.
However, despite these impressive numbers, investors’ response was muted. Apple shares rose only about 0.5% in extended trading, a reflection of concerns that the tech giant is lagging behind competitors in artificial intelligence. This cautious sentiment contrasts sharply with Meta Platforms, whose shares jumped more than 10% after investors applauded signs that its AI investments were starting to pay off.
Other major tech stocks showed mixed results. Microsoft struggled under its spending plans and slower cloud growth, causing a 10% drop in its stock—the company’s worst day since March 2020—erasing $357 billion in market capitalization. This decline contributed to a 0.72% fall in the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite, while the S&P 500 dipped slightly, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose modestly.
Beyond tech, global markets experienced notable volatility. Cryptocurrencies tumbled, with bitcoin losing over 5% to hit a nearly two-month low. Conversely, gold rebounded to record highs before settling as traders took profits, and oil prices surged more than 3% amid geopolitical tensions, including potential U.S. action against Iran.
In other headlines, Amazon is in talks to invest up to $50 billion in OpenAI, Denmark praised high-level discussions with the U.S. over Greenland, and Norway’s sovereign wealth fund posted record profits of $247 billion in 2025, driven by tech and banking stocks. Meanwhile, U.S. trade deficits soared in November, and India prepares to unveil its Union Budget, potentially impacting global markets.
source: cnbc