Friday's Final Takeaways: Trump's Fed Chair Pick & Memory Chip Surge

Company Performance - Apple reported a record-breaking first quarter with revenue of approximately $143.8 billion and earnings per share of $2.84, exceeding expectations due to strong iPhone demand and overall market strength [2] - iPhone revenue increased by roughly 23% to an all-time high, while services also reached a record as Apple's installed base surpassed 2.5 billion active devices [2] - CEO Tim Cook indicated strong growth prospects with guidance for double-digit revenue expansion in the next quarter, despite challenges from memory chip cost pressures and supply constraints [3] Market Reactions - The nomination of Kevin Walsh as the new chair of the Federal Reserve led to a strengthening of the dollar and a significant drop in gold prices, reflecting market expectations regarding future Fed policy [5] - The memory sector is experiencing significant growth, with companies like Sandisk and Western Digital reporting triple-digit gains and benefiting from tight supplies and high demand driven by AI and data centers [8] Upcoming Earnings and Expectations - Alphabet is expected to report earnings per share of $2.60, a 20% increase from last year, with revenue projected at $94.7 billion, focusing on search and YouTube ad revenue, AI monetization, and cloud growth [12] - Amazon's earnings per share is anticipated to be $1.98, with rising revenue of $211.53 billion, while investors will closely monitor AWS growth amid strong competition in the retail sector [13] Economic Indicators - Upcoming economic data releases include global manufacturing PMIs, ISM reports, and ADP job numbers, which will be crucial for market reactions and future rate cut expectations [16]