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Apple investors seek clarity on tariffs, AI strategy as iPhone sales decline

Apple investors seek clarity on tariffs, AI strategy as iPhone sales decline

Mint29-04-2025
Company's AI strategy seen as conservative, lagging Android competitors
Tariff threats may lead to higher costs, analysts warn
Apple stock down 16% year to date
April 29 (Reuters) - Apple is expected to face a string of questions over the delayed roll-out of key AI features and the impact of the Sino-U.S. tariff standoff on its business, when it reports results on Thursday.
Even as Apple benefited from a rush of orders for its recently launched lower-priced iPhone 16e in the January-March period ahead of potential tariffs, Wall Street analysts still expect the company will report a small fall in iPhone sales. That would mark a second straight quarter of declines.
The Trump administration has so far spared electronics from tariffs, but Washington has signaled that some levies could come in the coming weeks. The uncertainty has sent shares of Apple, which makes 90% of its products in China, down more than 16% this year, and wiping off over $600 billion from its market value.
Apple will try to mitigate tariffs by shifting production of U.S.-bound iPhones to India, Reuters has reported. Analysts expect the company to spread some of the tariff costs through its supply chain, while keeping price increases to a minimum to avoid losing market share.
"Tariffs are a sword of Damocles for Apple – dangling, disruptive and politically charged," said Eric Schiffer, chairman of Patriarch Organization, a California-based private equity firm that holds Apple shares.
Unlike rivals such as Samsung and Alphabet's Google, Apple has also been slow to roll out some important AI features it promised last year at its developer conference.
Improvements to voice assistant Siri, a common ask from users and investors, have been delayed to 2026, and Apple pulled a commercial that promoted AI functionalities that were not yet available.
AI features are especially important in China, where Apple has been losing market share to domestic rivals such as Huawei. Apple has partnered with Alibaba to offer AI services in China but hasn't offered a timeline for their roll-out.
IPhone shipments in China fell 9% in the March quarter, the only major smartphone maker to post a decline in the region, according to data from research firm IDC.
Despite these challenges, strong demand for the $599 iPhone 16e in India helped Apple take the top spot for global smartphone sales in the quarter, according to Counterpoint Research.
Apple's cautious, privacy-first approach to AI deployment has slowed its roll-out and left the company playing catch up, said Jacob Bourne, analyst at eMarketer.
"With tariffs threatening cost structures, Apple faces pressure to move faster on AI innovation and supply chain realignment - both of which are capital intensive".
Overall, Apple's revenue is expected to rise 4.2% in the January-March period, its fiscal second quarter, roughly matching the pace in the first quarter. Growth will likely be driven by upbeat iPad demand and growth in the services business.
IPad sales are expected to rise 9.1% in the second quarter, while the services business, Apple's biggest revenue generator after the iPhone, will likely grow 11.8%.
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Trump announces Asia trade deals, offers relief to some, others await
Trump announces Asia trade deals, offers relief to some, others await

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  • Business Standard

Trump announces Asia trade deals, offers relief to some, others await

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Sensex jumps over 500 points, Nifty 50 reclaims 25,200; what is driving the Indian stock market higher?
Sensex jumps over 500 points, Nifty 50 reclaims 25,200; what is driving the Indian stock market higher?

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Sensex jumps over 500 points, Nifty 50 reclaims 25,200; what is driving the Indian stock market higher?

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Singapore, Japan, South Korea lead 2025 passport rankings; US hits lowest rank in 20 years, visa access now down to 182 nations
Singapore, Japan, South Korea lead 2025 passport rankings; US hits lowest rank in 20 years, visa access now down to 182 nations

Time of India

time22 minutes ago

  • Time of India

Singapore, Japan, South Korea lead 2025 passport rankings; US hits lowest rank in 20 years, visa access now down to 182 nations

The 2025 Henley Passport Index, which ranks passports based on visa-free access to destinations across the world, has pushed the United States to its lowest position in 20 years. The US now shares the 10th rank with Iceland and Lithuania, offering visa-free access to 182 countries. Singapore has maintained its lead at the top with access to 193 destinations, followed closely by Japan and South Korea. A steady decline for the US passport In 2006 and again in 2014, the United States held the number one position on the Henley Passport Index. But over the past two decades, it has consistently dropped in rankings. Between 2019 and 2024, the US passport hovered between the 6th and 7th spots. In 2025, it has dropped to 10th place — its lowest ever in the history of the index. According to the index's data methodology, which counts multiple countries with the same score as occupying a single rank, there are now 33 countries that effectively outrank the United States. This slide coincides with domestic policy changes, including the Trump administration's earlier travel bans and current immigration crackdowns. Global mobility led by Asian and European nations Singapore holds the top rank for 2025, granting its citizens visa-free access to 193 destinations. Japan and South Korea follow at number two with access to 190 countries. European countries continue to dominate the top tiers: Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain, and Finland are in third place, offering visa-free travel to 189 destinations. Countries like Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden take the fourth position with access to 188 countries. Greece, Switzerland, and New Zealand are tied at fifth with 187 destinations. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom has slipped to sixth place with visa-free access to 186 destinations. Australia, Czechia, Hungary, Malta, and Poland rank seventh, and Canada, Estonia, and the UAE occupy the eighth position. The UAE in particular has made significant progress, jumping 34 ranks in the past decade — from 42nd to 8th. What's behind the US drop? The US passport now offers visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 182 out of 227 destinations worldwide. This drop is not just symbolic — it reflects a decline in international mobility for US citizens. In addition to policy-related shifts, the US recently introduced a new "visa integrity fee" for incoming international visitors. The fee, which will be at least $250 and is applicable to all visitors requiring non-immigrant visas, has drawn criticism from groups like the US Travel Association. They argue that such policies could discourage inbound travel and further isolate the country. Christian H. Kaelin, chair of Henley & Partners, said the consolidation seen at the top of the rankings highlights the importance of sustained diplomatic efforts. 'Nations that proactively negotiate visa waivers and nurture reciprocal agreements continue to rise, while the opposite applies to those that are less engaged in such efforts,' he said. Where does your passport rank? The 2025 Henley Passport Index ranks the world's passports according to the number of destinations they can access visa-free. The rankings are based on exclusive data from the @HenleyPartners rankings 👉 The mobility gap is widening While some countries move up, others are left far behind. At the bottom of the Henley Index are Afghanistan (25 destinations), Syria (27), and Iraq (30). This creates a gap of 168 destinations between the most and least powerful passports in the world — underlining the growing global inequality in freedom of movement. Passport power: Full top 10 rankings 1. Singapore – 193 destinations2. Japan, South Korea – 190 destinations3. Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain – 189 destinations4. Austria, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Sweden – 188 destinations5. Greece, New Zealand, Switzerland – 187 destinations6. United Kingdom – 186 destinations7. Australia, Czechia, Hungary, Malta, Poland – 185 destinations8. Canada, Estonia, United Arab Emirates – 184 destinations9. Croatia, Latvia, Slovakia, Slovenia – 183 destinations10. Iceland, Lithuania, United States – 182 destinations

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