Table of Contents

• EU, Apple & Meta

• Tesla

• U.S. Stocks

Top Stories Today

EU, Apple & Meta

The European Union fined Apple €500 million and Meta €200 million for violating the Digital Markets Act. Apple was penalized for restricting developers from directing users to outside offers, while Meta was punished for requiring users to consent to data sharing or pay for ad-free access. Both companies criticized the decision, with Apple announcing plans to appeal and Meta accusing the EU of unfairly targeting U.S. firms. The ruling comes amid ongoing transatlantic trade tensions, with President Trump threatening tariffs in response to EU digital policies affecting American tech firms.

Tesla

Tesla shares jumped over 5% following Elon Musk’s announcement that he’ll dedicate more attention to the company and after President Trump hinted that Chinese tariffs may be lower than expected. Despite reporting weaker-than-forecast earnings and a sharp decline in automotive revenue and profit, investor sentiment improved during the earnings call as Musk signaled a reduced role in his government duties. Analysts were mixed on the outlook, with some noting hope around software and robotaxi developments, while others maintained cautious views citing ongoing challenges and uncertainties.

U.S. Stocks

Stocks rose Wednesday as easing U.S.-China trade tensions and President Trump’s reassurance that he won’t remove Fed Chair Jerome Powell lifted investor sentiment. The Dow climbed 419 points, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq posted gains of 1.67% and 2.5%, respectively. Markets had surged even higher earlier in the day before pulling back slightly. Trump signaled that the 145% tariff on Chinese imports could be reduced significantly, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent emphasized the potential for a substantial trade agreement. Reports also suggested the administration might lower tariffs to 50–65%, contingent on reciprocal moves by Beijing. China-exposed tech stocks such as Apple, Nvidia, and Tesla rallied on the news, with Musk noting he will soon scale back his government role.

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