KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 8 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia closed almost flat on Tuesday as buying interest rotated away from index heavyweights towards smaller-cap construction stocks, with sentiment affected by geopolitical uncertainty, said an analyst. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) eased 0.39 of a point to 1,714.40 from Monday’s close of 1,714.79. The benchmark index opened 1.65 points lower at 1,713.14 and moved between 1,710.44 and 1,714.50 throughout the trading session. The broader market was almost evenly balanced, with decliners leading gainers 548 to 546, while 598 counters were unchanged, 1,107 were untraded and 25 were suspended. Turnover expanded to 4.13 billion units valued at RM3.14 billion from 3.60 billion units valued at RM2.45 billion on Monday.
1. iPhone Sales Drive Record Growth
Apple posted its fastest quarterly revenue growth in over three years, with iPhone 16 sales leading the charge. Tariff fears unexpectedly boosted Q3 numbers as consumers rushed to buy devices ahead of anticipated price hikes, driving some Apple retail stores to report “unbelievable” revenue spikes.
2. Tariff Impact Was Net Positive
Instead of hurting margins, US tariffs created a pull-forward effect. Shoppers, spurred by viral headlines predicting extreme price jumps, accelerated purchases. Analysts expect some Q4 normalization, but the launch of new iPhones in late September should offset any slowdown.
3. Services Segment Continues to Outperform
Apple’s services revenue rose 13% to US$27.4 billion, beating expectations and underscoring the segment’s role as a key growth driver despite regulatory headwinds on App Store practices.
4. Mac Strength, Wearables Weakness
Mac sales surged, beating forecasts with US$8.05 billion in revenue as new MacBook Air and Mac Studio models gained traction. Wearables, however, fell 8.6% YoY, signaling consumer fatigue with incremental upgrades. Demand for next-gen AirPods Pro and a more compelling Apple Watch Ultra refresh is evident.
5. China Comeback
Greater China sales climbed 4.4% to US$15.4 billion, marking Apple’s return to growth in the critical market after seven quarters of decline. The rebound highlights strong demand for the iPhone 16e and improving brand momentum.
6. Looking Ahead
Apple’s Q4 guidance points to mid- to high-single-digit revenue growth, stronger than consensus. Investors should watch for:
The impact of the next iPhone launch in September
Continued resilience in services
Whether wearables can regain momentum with upcoming product refreshes
Investor View: Apple’s Q3 performance underscores its pricing power and ability to navigate macro shocks. With strong iPhone and services growth and a China rebound, the company is well-positioned heading into the critical holiday quarter.
Comments
Post a Comment