KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 5 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia closed lower on Friday amid mixed regional market performance as investors turned cautious over a possible rate hike by the Bank of Japan (BOJ) and upcoming US economic data that may influence the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) interest rate decision next week. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) pared most earlier losses to settle 4.55 points easier, or 0.28 per cent, to 1,616.52 from Thursday’s close of 1,621.07. The benchmark index, which opened 0.37 of-a-point lower at 1,620.70, moved between 1,609.67 and 1,621.25 throughout the day. The broader market was negative, with decliners outpacing advancers 604 to 439. A total of 550 counters were unchanged, 1,151 untraded, and 18 suspended. Turnover declined to 3.17 billion units worth RM2.24 billion from 4.48 billion units worth RM2.75 billion yesterday. Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd vice-presiden...
Apple Inc. reported mixed quarterly results as a surprise sales decline in China weighed on investor sentiment, tempering enthusiasm ahead of what could be the company’s strongest holiday season yet.
While total revenue beat analyst expectations, iPhone supply constraints and weaker Chinese sales underscored lingering global challenges. Shares slipped 0.4% to US$270.53 in New York on Friday, despite having climbed 8.4% year to date.
“China weakness is a concern,” said Barclays analyst Tim Long, noting that Apple’s services business, its key growth engine, also faces regulatory and competitive risks.
China Drag Dampens Results
Revenue from Greater China dropped 3.6% to US$14.5 billion, missing projections of US$16.4 billion. Analysts attribute the shortfall to fierce competition from local smartphone brands and Apple’s slower rollout of AI features in the market.
However, CEO Tim Cook expressed optimism that sales would rebound in the December quarter, forecasting a 10%–12% increase in total revenue, outpacing market expectations of 6%.
iPhone and Services Remain Pillars
Revenue from the iPhone climbed 6.1% to US$49 billion, just shy of forecasts. Supply issues limited growth, but demand for the high-end iPhone 17 Pro and new iPhone Air boosted average selling prices.
The services segment remained Apple’s fastest-growing business, up 15% to US$28.8 billion, exceeding expectations. This segment continues to offset hardware volatility, though Apple faces pressure over App Store rules and its US$20 billion annual search deal with Google, which recently survived a legal challenge.
Financial Performance and Segment Highlights
Apple’s fourth-quarter revenue rose 7.9% to US$102.5 billion, with earnings per share of US$1.85, topping analyst estimates. The Mac division grew 13% to US$8.73 billion, while wearables revenue slipped 0.8% to US$9.01 billion, a milder drop than feared.
Tariff costs added US$1.1 billion in expenses during the quarter and are expected to rise to US$1.4 billion in the next period.
Looking Ahead
CFO Kevan Parekh said Apple anticipates its “best iPhone quarter ever”, supported by robust demand and easing supply constraints. Despite ongoing macro risks, including trade tensions and AI development delays, Apple’s diversified revenue mix and brand loyalty position it for a resilient holiday season.
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