Key Takeaways Qualcomm launched Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 to power the Galaxy S26 Ultra globally.The chip adds Oryon CPU, Adreno GPU, and Hexagon NPU to enhance AI, graphics, and camera features.Qualcomm expands with new mid-range Snapdragon chips, targeting broader AI smartphone growth.Qualcomm Incorporated (QCOM) has launched its most advanced mobile chip, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, strengthening its long-running partnership with Samsung Electronics. The new processor, which is an updated ver ...

Group 1 - Apple is in discussions with several Indian banks and global card networks to launch its Apple Pay service in India [1] - The company is negotiating with ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, and Axis Bank, aiming for a service introduction around mid-2026 [1]

Market Overview - U.S. stock futures are indicating a lower opening as investors react to global manufacturing concerns, uncertainty regarding the Federal Reserve's leadership, and a sell-off in precious metals and cryptocurrencies [1][2] - Major indexes are poised for declines following a weak close on Wall Street last Friday, with E-mini S&P 500 futures down approximately 0.7% and Nasdaq 100 futures falling roughly 1% [2] Current Performance of Major Market Indexes - The S&P 500 slipped 0.4% to 6,930.03, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.4% to 48,892.47, and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 0.9% to 23,461.82 [3] - The US500 index fell to 6,871 points, losing 0.99% from the previous session, while the Russell 2000 index declined 2.0% last week [3] Upcoming Market Events - Key economic data releases this week include the U.S. non-farm payrolls report, Manufacturing and Services PMI readings, ADP employment change, and weekly jobless claims [4] - The ISM manufacturing PMI has remained in contractionary territory since March 2025, heightening focus on these indicators [4] Corporate Earnings - Major tech companies reporting this week include Advanced Micro Devices, Amazon, Alphabet, Qualcomm, PayPal, and Super Micro Computer, with Palantir Technologies and The Walt Disney Company reporting today [5] - Analysts project moderate revenue growth for Disney, but there are risks of earnings per share slipping [12] Central Bank Decisions - The Reserve Bank of Australia, European Central Bank, and Bank of England are expected to set new policy rates, while the Federal Reserve recently left its benchmark interest rate unchanged at a range of 3.5% to 3.75% [6] Major Stock News - President Trump's nomination of Kevin Warsh as the next Federal Reserve Chair has introduced uncertainty into monetary policy expectations, impacting precious metals and strengthening the U.S. dollar [7] - Apple reported a record-breaking fiscal Q1 2026 with revenue of $143.8 billion, up 16% year-over-year, driven by iPhone sales and services growth [12] - Tesla shares fell 3.2% despite beating earnings estimates, facing pressure from competition and planning to double AI capital expenditures to $20 billion [12] - The healthcare insurance sector is under pressure due to a proposed minimal increase in Medicare payment rates for 2027, leading to significant declines in shares of UnitedHealth Group, Humana, and CVS Health Corporation [12] - Goldman Sachs saw a surprising 56% surge in 2025, benefiting from its trading desks and exiting consumer banking [12] - Nvidia slipped 2% in premarket trading amid broader tech sector pressure, with other tech companies like Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix also experiencing sell-offs [12]

Earnings Reports - Apple, Microsoft, and Meta Platforms are set to report earnings, with significant attention on their performance amid the AI-driven market [3] - Microsoft is expected to show growth in AI-driven Azure services, while Apple's report will focus on iPhone demand and its AI strategy [4] - Apple is projected to achieve its largest year-over-year revenue increase in four years, driven by the iPhone 17 series and strong performance in emerging markets [5] Federal Reserve and Economic Policy - The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) is anticipated to hold rates steady, with a 99% market expectation for no changes [5] - Chairman Jerome Powell faces scrutiny due to a White House investigation regarding the Federal Reserve's headquarters renovation [6] - The investigation is noted as an unprecedented escalation in the Fed's history, with Powell receiving some backing from the Supreme Court regarding his position [7] Weather Impact - A severe winter storm has disrupted air travel across the U.S., leading to thousands of flight cancellations and affecting nearly 180 million people [8] Trade and Tariffs - Former President Trump has threatened to impose 100% tariffs on Canadian goods if Canada proceeds with a trade agreement with China [9] AI Adoption in the Workforce - A Gallup poll indicates that 12% of U.S. workers now use AI daily in their jobs, a significant increase from previous years [10]

Core Viewpoint - Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is viewed positively by analysts, with varying price targets reflecting strong demand for the iPhone 17 series and growth potential in the coming years [2][3]. Group 1: Analyst Ratings and Price Targets - UBS maintains a 'Neutral' rating on Apple with a price target of $280, citing strong early demand for the iPhone 17 series and a modest pull-forward in unit sales due to rising memory costs [2]. - Goldman Sachs reiterates a 'Buy' rating with a price target of $320, attributing the recent 4% pullback in stock price to short-term concerns rather than long-term fundamentals [3]. Group 2: Sales Projections and Growth Drivers - UBS has increased its iPhone unit sales forecast by approximately 12%-13% to 84.5-85.0 million units, indicating a positive outlook for the December quarter [2]. - Goldman Sachs projects a 9% growth in iPhone revenue for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, with a notable 26% expected surge in shipments to China [3]. - The anticipated launch of the iPhone Fold and software-driven upgrade cycles are identified as key growth catalysts for Apple in the long term [3].

Core Viewpoint - Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is viewed positively by analysts, with varying price targets reflecting strong demand for the iPhone 17 series and growth potential in the coming years [2][3]. Group 1: Analyst Ratings and Price Targets - UBS maintains a 'Neutral' rating on Apple with a price target of $280, citing strong early demand for the iPhone 17 series and a modest pull-forward in unit sales due to rising memory costs [2]. - Goldman Sachs reiterates a 'Buy' rating with a price target of $320, attributing recent stock pullbacks to short-term concerns rather than long-term fundamentals, projecting 9% iPhone revenue growth for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 [3]. Group 2: Sales Projections and Market Dynamics - UBS has increased its iPhone unit sales forecast by approximately 12%-13% to 84.5-85.0 million units, indicating a positive outlook for the December quarter [2]. - Goldman Sachs anticipates a 26% surge in shipments to China, contributing to a projected 13% year-over-year growth in fiscal Q1 2026 [3]. Group 3: Long-term Growth Catalysts - Goldman Sachs identifies the upcoming iPhone Fold launch and software-driven upgrade cycles as significant growth catalysts for Apple in the long term [3].

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is one of the 15 Best S&P 500 Stocks to Look For in 2026. On January 12, Reuters reported that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) led the smartphone market with a 20% share worldwide. Apple’s iPhone 17 series had strong sales and gained demand in emerging and mid-sized markets, according to Counterpoint analyst Varun Mishra. The promising sign for Apple is that it reclaimed its top spot in China’s smartphone market after iPhone shipments soared 28% during Q4 2025. The rebound suggests that ...

Research firm Counterpoint has posted its smartphone data for China in the fourth quarter of 2025. Its measurement is shipments rather than sales. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) is the clear winner in the world’s largest smartphone market. It led in both market share and shipment growth. Most importantly, it bested the performance of the local smartphone makers. 24/7 Wall St. Key Points Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) led in both smartphone market share and shipment growth in China in the fourth quarter of 2025. ...

Core Viewpoint - Apple has regained its position as the market leader in China, achieving a 28% year-over-year increase in shipments in the fourth quarter, following a period of decline due to competition from Huawei [1]. Group 1: Market Performance - Apple experienced strong sales from its iPhone 17 series in the fourth quarter, while the iPhone Air had a delayed launch and only captured a low single-digit market share [2]. - In the fourth quarter, Apple held a 21.8% share of the Chinese smartphone market, with Oppo at 15.8%, Vivo at 15.7%, and Huawei at 14.6% [3]. - For the full year, Huawei maintained the top position with a 16.9% market share, while Apple closely followed with 16.7%. However, Apple saw a year-over-year growth of 7.5%, compared to Huawei's 1.7% growth [4]. Group 2: Product Insights - The iPhone Air's slow start was attributed to its late launch and design trade-offs, but it is considered significant for the future of ultra-thin eSIM smartphones in the domestic market [3]. - Apple's product lineup includes not only the iPhone but also Mac computers, iPad tablets, wearable devices like the Apple Watch, and a profitable Services segment encompassing the App Store, iCloud, Apple Pay, and Apple TV [5].

Core Insights - The Mar Vista U.S. Quality Premier Strategy reported a return of +1.80% net-of-fees in Q4 2025, underperforming the Russell 1000® Index (+2.41%) and the S&P 500® Index (+2.65%) [1] - US equities showed strong momentum in 2025, marking the third consecutive year of double-digit gains, with a rapid recovery from a bear market dip in April [1] - Market leadership has narrowed, with mega-cap stocks and AI-driven companies dominating, but signs of broader market participation began to emerge in Q4 2025 [1] Company Insights - Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) had a one-month return of -5.70% but gained 11.11% over the last 52 weeks, closing at $255.52 per share on January 16, 2026, with a market capitalization of $3.76 trillion [2] - Investor concerns regarding tariffs and the performance of Apple Intelligence have diminished, leading to a rebound in Apple shares in Q4 2025 [3] - Strong demand for the iPhone 17 series and services offerings is expected to drive low double-digit top-line growth, with Q3 results exceeding expectations and Q4 guidance indicating resilient margins [3]