Apple poised to hit $4T valuation thanks to iPhone sales

Apple is on track to become the first company to reach the $4 trillion stock market valuation, thanks to investor enthusiasm for the company's long-awaited AI enhancements to rejuvenate sluggish iPhone sales.

The company has pulled ahead of Nvidia and Microsoft in the race to the monumental milestone, thanks to a 16% jump in shares since early November that has added about $500 billion to its market capitalisation.

Apple's stock was trading at around $255 a share just after the opening Bell on Monday, putting its market capitalization at $3.86 trillion.

Reference Sources

1. cnbc - Here's what it will take for Apple stock to keep notching new highs in 2025
2. newyorkpost - Apple poised to hit $4T valuation thanks to iPhone sales
3. bussinesstimes - Apple approaches US$4 trillion valuation as investors bet on AI momentum
4. usatoday - Appleapproaches$4trillion valuationasinvestorsbetonAI momentum
5. quartz - Apple could hit a $4 trillion market cap by early 2025

US launches probe into Chinese semiconductor industry

The US government has launched an investigation to determine the extent to which Beijing is implementing “Anti-Competitive and Anti-Market Means ” in the semiconductor industry, in order to “dominate the global market”.   

The investigation will be conducted under Section 301 of the US Trade Act and accuses China of using “extensive Anti-Competitive and Non-Market means, including setting and pursuing market share targets, to achieve indigenisation and self-sufficiency”, nearly two-thirds of American products contain chips from China, which is worrying.

The probe aims to protect American and other semiconductor producers from China’s massive state-driven buildup of domestic chip supply.

Reference Sources

1. eurodayfr - USA: investigation into China's “anti-competitive” practices in semiconductors
2. thestarmy - China opposes U.S. investigation into Chinese semiconductor industry: commerce ministry
3. ft - US launches probe into Chinese semiconductor industry
4. newyorkpost - Biden launches new Chinese chips trade probe, will hand off to Trump
5. yahooen - Yahoo Finance

Albanian Prime Minister Says TikTok Ban Was Not a 'Rushed Reaction to a Single Incident'

Tiktok has been accused of fueling violence among youths.

Albania's Prime Minister, Edi Rama, has announced a one-year ban on Tiktok in the country, blaming the Chinese-owned video platform for inciting violence and bullying, especially among children.

Authorities have held 1,300 meetings with teachers and parents since the November stabbing death of a teenager by another teenager after a quarrel that allegedly started on the video hosting platform.

The company said it had "found no evidence that Tiktok was responsible for the stabbing." The ban on Tiktok comes amid a wider debate in Albania about the impact of social media on young people.

Reference Sources

1. usnews - Albanian Prime Minister Says TikTok Ban Was Not a 'Rushed Reaction to a Single Incident'
2. euractiv - Albania announces shutdown of TikTok for at least a year
3. voanews - Albanian PM says TikTok ban was not 'rushed reaction to a single incident'
4. euronews - Albania to ban TikTok for one year, blaming it for inciting youth violence and bullying
5. politico - Teen’s murder drives Albania to ban TikTok for a year 

The CommonWealth English daily news digest is a service curated by CommonWealth English team with the help of AI tools.

Have you read?

• Daily News Digest: Trump Tells the European Union To Make a ‘Large Scale’ Purchase of US Oil and Gas or Face Tariffs
• Daily News Digest: U.S. Government Shutdown Looms as House Fails To Pass Trump-Backed Funding Bill 
• Daily News Digest: Japan’s Honda and Nissan to Reportedly Begin Merger Talks
• Daily News Digest: Japan’s Softbank Plans To Invest $100 Billion in US Over the Next Four Years

Uploaded by Ian Huang