Apple Inc. shares gained ground in early Wednesday trading, climbing to around $253 as investors welcomed fresh data showing a 23% surge in iPhone sales in China during the first nine weeks of 2026, even as the broader smartphone market contracted. The modest advance reflected optimism about the company’s ability to capture share in its second-largest market despite ongoing global economic pressures.
As of mid-morning, Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) traded at approximately $252.87 to $253.38, up roughly 0.5% to 0.7% from Tuesday’s close of $251.64. Volume reached several million shares by late morning, with the stock moving in a tight range between $251.60 and $254.98. The day’s open stood near $254 before settling into modest gains. Market capitalization hovered near $3.75 trillion to $3.77 trillion, keeping Apple among the world’s most valuable companies.
The positive momentum followed Counterpoint Research data released last week showing Apple’s iPhone shipments in China rose sharply while overall smartphone sales fell 4% year-over-year. Analysts attributed the gains to aggressive e-commerce discounts, eligibility for government subsidies on the base iPhone 17 model, and tighter supply-chain control that allowed Apple to absorb rising memory chip costs better than many Android rivals. Some competitors raised prices, handing Apple an opening to expand market share without cutting list prices.
China remains critical for Apple, accounting for a significant portion of iPhone revenue. The strong early-year performance bucked industry trends and eased concerns about softening demand in the region, where economic headwinds and competition from local brands like Huawei have pressured Western manufacturers in recent quarters. Executives have highlighted improved channel inventory and targeted promotions as key drivers.
Wall Street sentiment stayed largely constructive. Consensus 12-month price targets clustered around $270 to $287, implying potential upside of 7% to 14% from current levels. Most major firms maintained “Buy” or “Hold” ratings, citing Apple’s resilient Services segment, ecosystem lock-in and long-term artificial intelligence opportunities. Some forecasts project the stock could reach $287 by year-end 2026, with longer-term models pointing to $350-$520 by 2030 under optimistic growth scenarios.
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Apple’s forward dividend of $1.04 per share yields approximately 0.41%, with the ex-dividend date having passed in early February. The company has a long track record of returning capital through dividends and share buybacks, supporting its appeal to income and growth investors alike. Beta around 1.12 indicates slightly higher volatility than the broader market.
Recent trading has been volatile. Shares touched a 52-week high near $288.62 in December 2025 before pulling back amid broader technology sector rotation and concerns over iPhone upgrade cycles. The 52-week low stood at $169.21 in April 2025. Year-to-date performance through late March remained modestly positive despite a choppy start to 2026.
Services revenue continues providing a buffer against hardware softness. The segment, which includes App Store, Apple Music, iCloud and advertising, has grown steadily and now generates high-margin, recurring income. Analysts expect Services to contribute meaningfully to overall results when Apple reports fiscal second-quarter earnings around April 30.
Other developments include plans to introduce paid ads in Apple Maps in the U.S. and Canada this summer, marking a new revenue stream in a space long dominated by Google. The company also announced its annual Worldwide Developers Conference will run online from June 8-12, with expectations for major AI-related software updates and new developer tools.
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Speculation around a foldable iPhone has resurfaced, with some reports suggesting enthusiasm is building for a potential 2027 launch. While Apple has not confirmed timelines, any progress on foldable technology could open fresh growth avenues in a maturing smartphone market.
Challenges persist. Global macroeconomic uncertainty, including elevated interest rates and cautious consumer spending, has weighed on premium device demand. Supply-chain costs for components like memory chips have risen, though Apple’s vertical integration and negotiating power provide advantages. In the U.S., iPhone upgrade cycles remain elongated as consumers hold onto devices longer.
Looking ahead, investors will watch closely for first-quarter results that could provide further color on China momentum and U.S. trends. Guidance for the June quarter and any commentary on AI integration across devices will likely influence sentiment. Analysts project mid-single-digit revenue growth for the year, with Services and emerging categories such as wearables and Vision Pro helping offset any hardware cyclicality.
For retail investors, Apple remains a core holding in many portfolios, offering exposure to consumer technology, premium branding and innovation. The stock’s defensive qualities — strong balance sheet, consistent cash flow and loyal customer base — have historically helped it weather downturns better than many peers.
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Broader market context also matters. Technology stocks have shown resilience amid mixed economic signals, but rotation into value names and concerns over valuations have occasionally pressured high-multiple names like Apple. The company’s price-to-earnings ratio remains elevated compared with historical averages, reflecting expectations for future growth.
As trading continued Wednesday, shares held modest gains, suggesting investors are giving Apple credit for its China performance while awaiting more concrete signals of a broader recovery. The stock rarely moves dramatically on single sessions, but sustained positive data from key markets could catalyze a rebound toward analyst targets.
Apple’s ecosystem strength — seamless integration across iPhone, Mac, iPad, Watch and Services — continues differentiating it from competitors. Loyalty metrics remain high, with many users staying within the platform for years. New product cycles, including potential AI enhancements and refreshed hardware, are expected to drive interest later in 2026.
In summary, Apple’s shares traded modestly higher early Wednesday on the back of encouraging China sales figures that highlighted the company’s competitive resilience. While near-term challenges in consumer spending and component costs linger, the combination of Services growth, ecosystem advantages and strategic moves in key markets keeps Apple well-positioned for long-term success. Investors will continue monitoring quarterly results and product pipeline updates for further direction.
Retail investors trimmed stakes in 96 Nifty Midcap 150 stocks amid weak performance, with many declining sharply over six months, signaling fading confidence and cautious sentiment toward select midcap companies.
Naturgy Energy Group, S.A. (GASNY) Shareholder/Analyst Call March 24, 2026 5:00 AM EDT
Company Participants
Francisco Reynés Massanet – CEO & Executive Chairman Manuel García Cobaleda – Secretary of the Company and the Board
Conference Call Participants
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Fernando de la Camara Garcia
Presentation
Francisco Reynés Massanet CEO & Executive Chairman
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Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you. Thank you so much for being here. If you allow me, before I officially start this AGM, I would like to share with you a video that summarizes joint and in-depth work that we have done this year and after being shared and approved by the AGM has to do with our corporate purpose. Our corporate purpose has been defined as a goal that aims to facilitate the relationship that we all have with energy on a daily basis. By trying to improve the relationship with our employees, collaborators, public authorities, regulators, suppliers and especially so with the over 20 million customers that we have distributed through our geographies. So without further ado and before we officially start, allow me to show you this video that summarizes our commitment.
[Presentation]
Francisco Reynés Massanet CEO & Executive Chairman
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Ladies and gentlemen, shareholders, just like in previous years, I’m honored as the Chairman of the Board of Directors to welcome you to this ordinary AGM that the company holds, as we have in the past, both remotely and in person simultaneously. I would especially like to thank the presence of the members of the Board of Directors who are here present and also the representatives of the most significant shareholders. Especially this year, I have the honor of welcoming the representatives of Sonatrach, Mr. Eddine Daoudi and Mr. [ Atallah ] who are also with us here today. One more proof of that commitment and the fruitful relationship and long-lasting relationship we’ve had for over 40 years. Therefore, we officially open this
Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for standing by, and welcome to PDD Holdings Inc. Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2025 Earnings Conference Call. [Operator Instructions] Please be advised that today’s conference call is being recorded. I would now like to hand the conference over to your host today. Sir, please go ahead.
Unknown Executive
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Thank you, operator, and hello, everyone, and thank you for joining us today. PDD Holdings earnings release was distributed earlier and is available on our website at investor.pddholdings.com as well as through the Globe Newswire services. Before we begin, I would like to refer you to our safe harbor statement in the earnings press release, which applies to this call as we will make certain forward-looking statements. This call also includes discussions of certain non-GAAP financial measures. Please refer to our earnings release, which contains a reconciliation of non-GAAP measures to GAAP measures.
Joining us today are Mr. Chen Lei, our Co-Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer; and Mr. Zhao Jiazhen, our Co-Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer.
Our VP of Finance, Ms. Liu Jun, is unfortunately on medical leave. Delivering the prepared remarks today will be Mr. Li Jiong, our Finance Director. Jiazhen and Lei will make some general remarks on our performance for the past quarter and our strategic focus. Jiong will then walk us through our financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2025.
Shares of RPSG Ventures surged as much as 20% to their day’s high of Rs 721 on the BSE on Wednesday after United Spirits announced the sale of its wholly owned subsidiary Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for over Rs 16,600 crore.
The RCB deal is being viewed as a key valuation benchmark for the IPL ecosystem, effectively resetting the valuation framework for other franchises. The ripple effect was visible in stocks such as RPSG Ventures and Sun TV, which own Lucknow Super Giants and Sunrisers Hyderabad, respectively.
According to Nuvama Institutional Equities, the $1.8 billion RCB transaction sets a new high-water mark for IPL franchise valuations. It implies a more than twofold jump over the $900 million valuation of the Gujarat Titans and is also higher than the Rajasthan Royals’ recent $1.6 billion valuation.
The brokerage noted that this reflects a sharp re-rating of IPL assets, with franchise valuations rising nearly 25 times since inception in 2008, driven by strong global investor interest, including private equity funds and US-based sports owners. Nuvama added that the deal establishes a strong benchmark for the sector and points to potential upside for other listed franchise owners such as Sun TV and RPSG Ventures.
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RPSG Ventures is in focus as its 51% stake in Lucknow SuperGiants is valued at nearly 250% of the company’s own market cap, even after a holding-company discount.
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The RCB franchise has been acquired by a consortium that includes the Aditya Birla Group, The Times of India Group, Bolt Ventures led by David Blitzer, and a Blackstone fund. The transaction, valued at about $1.8 billion, sets a fresh benchmark for IPL franchise valuations and highlights the growing appeal of T20 cricket assets. Also read: Buy on the cannons, sell on the trumpets? How stock market investors can deal with Iran war stressFor United Spirits Limited, a subsidiary of Diageo plc, the deal marks nearly a 16-fold return compared to its original bid in 2008. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including approvals from the Board of Control for Cricket in India, the IPL Governing Council and other regulatory authorities. The BCCI will receive 5% of the deal value as a transfer fee.
The bidding process attracted strong interest from multiple groups. The winning consortium outbid a rival offer from Adar Poonawala of Serum Institute and Aditya Mittal of ArcelorMittal.
Other participants included Premji Invest alongside EQT, as well as a separate group comprising Ranjan Pai of Manipal Group, KKR and Temasek, which were involved in the early stages of bidding.
Financially, RCB reported revenue of Rs 504 crore and EBITDA of Rs 186 crore for FY25, according to United Spirits’ annual report. The franchise has already nearly matched those figures in the first half of FY26, posting revenue of Rs 478 crore and EBITDA of Rs 225 crore, surpassing the full-year FY25 EBITDA.
The Times of India Group is the publisher of The Economic Times.
(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)
Smallcap counter Sammaan Capital – which was in news today after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cleared decks for Abu Dhabi-based International Holding Company (IHC) to acquire a controlling stake – witnessed a bulk deal where French multinational bank Societe Generale bought shares worth Rs 76 crore. In another major deal, ace investor Mukul Agrawal sold shares worth Rs 8 crore in a microcap Siyaram Recycling Industries, which had fallen 72%.
Sammaan Capital
Societe Generale bought 50.6 lakh shares in Sammaan Capital at a price of Rs 149.92 per share. It was a premium of 8% over the Tuesday closing price of Rs 138.51 on the NSE. Today, its shares settled nearly 6% higher at Rs 146.30. The stock has been a market outperformer with 23% returns over a 1-year period and is currently trading above its 50-day and 200-day simple moving averages (SMAs) of Rs 145 and Rs 144, respectively, according to Trendlyne data.
The acquisition of a 66.65% controlling stake will be made via Avenir Investment RSC, which is owned and controlled by IHC.
Avenir Investment RSC proposed to invest nearly Rs 8,850 crore by the way of preferential issue. This is one of the largest investments by a Middle Eastern entity in India’s financial services sector.
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After the completion of the preferential issue, Avenir Investment will hold nearly a 41.23% stake in the company, while the rest will be acquired through an open offer, Sammaan Capital, formerly called Indiabulls Housing Finance, said in an exchange filing.
Siyaram Recycling Industries
Mukul Agrawal sold 21 lakh shares via a separate bulk deal where the buyer was Param Value Investments. The shares were purchased at a price of Rs 38.20 apiece, a 4.3% premium over the Tuesday closing price of Rs 36.64.Today, its shares settled at Rs 38.28, up by Rs 1.64 or 4.5% over the last closing price.
Agrawal held 22 lakh shares representing 10.10% stake in the company according the September shareholding data on the BSE.
The stock price has seen a 72% erosion in the past year.
(Disclaimer: The recommendations, suggestions, views, and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times.)
BASFBAS 2.40%increase; green up pointing triangle said it is raising prices sharply for more of its products, adding to a rash of price hikes among chemical makers as raw-materials costs soar due to the U.S. and Israel’s war with Iran.
The German group said Wednesday it would lift prices of commodity amines in Europe by up to 30%, with some price tags rising even more markedly. Amines are used as solvents and catalysts in an array of industries, from pharmaceuticals to personal care and agrochemicals.
Rep. Lisa McClain, R-Mich., joins ‘Mornings with Maria’ to discuss President Donald Trump’s Iran talks, the Strait of Hormuz deadline and GOP support for a $200 billion Pentagon funding push.
JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon said on Tuesday that the U.S. is becoming more like Europe in terms of defense procurement, and it’s holding the country back.
Dimon spoke at the Hill & Valley Forum, which is an annual meeting that brings together policymakers, defense leaders, tech builders and investors to discuss national security, emerging technology and U.S. competitiveness.
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He said he was “deeply frustrated” by what he sees as excessive bureaucracy in the defense procurement process at the Department of War that inhibits its ability to respond quickly and adapt during a conflict.
“We’ve become like Europe, we’re unable to move and change – change budgeting, change procurement. You know, let people do what they need to do,” Dimon said.
JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon expressed frustration with what he sees as a lack of adaptability in the defense procurement process. (Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images for America Business Forum)
Dimon added that the bureaucracy’s rules and compliance processes as well as Congress’ involvement create barriers to the ability of defense contractors to deliver on time and on budget.
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He added that the defense industrial base and policymakers need to be more adaptable as he sees a need to increase defense spending given threats around the world.
“Of course, you also know that there’s going to be a lot more spent on the military, which we really need to do,” he said. “We just want to be part of helping their supply chain.”
Dimon said the U.S. will likely need to spend more on defense in the years ahead given geopolitical threats. (U.S. Air Force/Senior Airman Trevor Gordnier/51st Fighter Wing/DVIDS)
Dimon added that he thinks the involvement of more private companies in the defense industrial base could foster more rapid development and deployment of new technologies. Some private companies like Anduril and SpaceX are emerging as significant defense contractors in their areas of expertise.
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As the competition between the U.S. and China intensifies and the threat of conflict over Taiwan grows, Dimon said that the dependencies that the U.S. government and American corporations developed for components from China were harmful over the long-term.
Dimon said the U.S. defense industrial base has been too slow to adapt to changes and is becoming like Europe’s. (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
However, that experience could be informative for the U.S. if a conflict with China ever arises, as it could attempt to emulate aspects of what China has done in terms of critical industries.
“We should acknowledge [China has] done some things magnificently well,” Dimon said, noting the country’s manufacturing of cars, drones, ships and batteries. “We should look at our own shortcomings and then be prepared, if they ever become an adversary, to face off against them.”
President Donald Trump said he’s considering sending the National Guard to U.S. airports, two days after the administration sent Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to several major U.S. airports following hourslong waits for travelers because of the partial government shutdown.
In a Truth Social post on Wednesday, Trump blamed Democrats for the shutdown, which began Feb. 14.
“Thank you to our great ICE Patriots for helping. It makes a big difference,” he wrote in his post. “I may call up the National Guard for more help.”
Travelers wait in line at a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoint at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) in Atlanta, Georgia, US, on Monday, March 23, 2026.
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Elijah Nouvelage | Bloomberg | Getty Images
More than 11% of TSA officers called out on Wednesday and more than 450 have quit since the shutdown started, the Department of Homeland Security said.
Elevated absences of Transportation Security Administration officers, who are required to work though they’re not getting paid during the shutdown, have contributed to long lines at major U.S. airports, including in Atlanta, Houston and New York.
Read more about the impact on air travel
DHS, which oversees both ICE and and TSA, said the ICE agents will “support airports facing the greatest strain” but the department didn’t respond to requests for comment on what the ICE agents’ duties are. ICE agents are getting paid in the shutdown.
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Airlines have been warning customers about potentially long security lines, while executives grow increasingly frustrated with lawmakers about the impasse. On Tuesday, Delta Air Lines said it suspended its airport escorts and other special services for members of Congress and their staff because of the ongoing partial shutdown of the DHS.
The shutdown comes as Democrats in Congress have demanded changes to how federal immigration enforcement operates in exchange for releasing DHS funding after two U.S. citizens were shot and killed by ICE officers in Minneapolis.
A Los Angeles jury on Wednesday found Meta and Google liable in a closely watched trial accusing social media platforms of designing their products to get young users addicted, awarding the plaintiff $3 million in damages.
The verdict came after nine days, roughly 43 hours of deliberations.
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The case centered on a now 20-year-old California woman identified as K.G.M., who said social media platforms encouraged addictive use when she was a minor and contributed to depression and suicidal thoughts.
Her lawsuit alleged that companies behind several major platforms designed their products in ways that encouraged compulsive use among young people.
Supporters of “K.G.M.” pose with signs outside the Los Angeles Superior Court during a social media trial over whether platforms were deliberately designed to be addictive to children in Los Angeles, Feb. 25, 2026. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP Via Getty Images / Getty Images)
TikTok and Snap, the parent company of Snapchat, were originally named as defendants but settled ahead of trial, leaving Meta and Google-owned YouTube as the remaining companies in the case.
The trial had been closely watched as one of the first to test in front of a jury whether social media companies can be held legally responsible for alleged harms tied to youth use of their platforms.
Jurors were asked to determine whether Meta or YouTube should have known their platforms posed a danger to children, whether the companies were negligent in designing their products, and if so, whether their services were a “substantial factor” in causing the plaintiff’s mental health issues.
On Monday, jurors told the judge that they were having difficulty coming to a verdict with one of the two defendants and asked how to move forward. They were given their previous instructions, with the judge suggesting they read the details out loud before they were sent back for more deliberations.
Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg departs the court after taking the stand at a trial in a key test case accusing Meta and Google’s YouTube of harming kids’ mental health through addictive platforms, in Los Angeles, Feb. 18, 2026. (REUTERS/Mike Blake / Reuters Photos)
The verdict came a day after a jury in New Mexico ordered Meta to pay $375 million after finding the company misled users about the safety of its platforms and allegedly enabled child sexual exploitation.
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This is a breaking news story; check back for updates.
FOX Business’ Kelly Saberi contributed to this report.
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