Big Victory for Apple, Trump Reacts to "Unstoppable" China

Company Analysis - A federal judge ruled that Alphabet Inc Class C (GOOG) can continue paying Apple Inc (AAPL) to be the default search engine for Safari, with Google having paid Apple between $15 billion and $20 billion in recent years [14] - The ruling is seen as a best-case scenario for Apple, as it may provide more leverage around search engines and open doors for partnerships with AI-enabled competitors [14] - The ruling is also viewed positively for Alphabet, as it removes an overhang that could allow the company to achieve a higher price-to-earnings (PE) ratio [14] - However, the ruling may not be as beneficial for Google as investors believe, as it requires Google to open its search data to competitors, potentially impacting its market share [14] Industry Context - The geopolitical landscape is shifting, with leaders from China, Russia, and North Korea displaying unity, which may have long-term negative implications for U.S. markets while being positive for markets in China and India [14] - Salesforce Inc (CRM) has replaced 4,000 customer service employees with AI, indicating a trend towards automation in the industry [14]