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iShares Global Tech ETF

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The Fund seeks to track the investment results of the S&P Global 1200 Information Technology 4.5/22.5/45 Capped Index; the Underlying Index, which is designed to measure the performance of global equities in the information technology sector.

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애플(NASDAQ:AAPL)의 주가는 큰 기대를 모았던 연례 세계 개발자 회의(WWDC) 2024에 대한 반응으로 첫 날인 월요일에 1.91% 하락 마감했다. 이 행사에서 쿠퍼티노 소재의 이 거대 기술 기업이 인공 지능의 새로운 발전을 발표했다. 무슨 일이 (What Happened): 애플은 WWDC 2024에서 사용자에게 개인화된 생성 AI 경험을 제공한다고 약속하는 시스템 전체 소프트웨어 업데이트인 &#34;애플 인텔리전스(Apple Intelligence)&#34;를 선보였다.

애플 주식, WWDC 첫 날 거의 2% 하락: 매그니피센트 7, 기술주는 상승세 유지

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Apple Inc&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) smartphone sales declined 0.3% year over year in the third quarter, though demand for the iPhone 16 series, launched in September, held steady compared to previous generations, according to the IDC <a target="_blank" href="https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prAP52680124" rel="noreferrer noopener">report</a>.
This performance helped Apple regain its No. 2 position in China&#8217;s smartphone market, achieving a 15.6% market share—just behind Vivo, which led the market with an 18.6% share, boosted by 21.5% growth in shipments.
In a strong comeback, Huawei Technologies Co grew its shipments by 42% yearly to capture 15.3% of the market, following four consecutive quarters of double-digit growth.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41526650/apples-ai-powered-future-iphone-growth-surge-by-2026-with-new-iphone-17-ai-integration-analyst-says" rel="noreferrer noopener">Apple&#8217;s AI-Powered Future: iPhone Growth Surge By 2026 With New iPhone 17, AI Integration, Analyst Says</a>
Huawei&#8217;s advanced China-made processor, which stoked patriotic support amid the tense geopolitical backdrop, has driven the brand&#8217;s premium segment success despite U.S. sanctions.
Xiaomi Corp (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XIACF#OTC">XIACF</a>) (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XIACY#OTC">XIACY</a>) also saw gains, ranking fourth with a 14.8% market share as its shipments increased by 12.8%, fueled by a push in both budget-friendly and high-end segments.
Honor, the former Huawei sub-brand, took fifth place with a 14.6% share, though its shipments declined by 22.5% during the quarter.
The overall Chinese smartphone market, the world&#8217;s largest, grew 3.2% year on year to 68.8 million units in the third quarter, marking a fourth straight quarter of growth. IDC analyst Arthur Guo attributed this rise to a &#8220;significant wave of device upgrades&#8221; driving China&#8217;s smartphone recovery.
The performance coincides with China&#8217;s stimulus plans and the upcoming holiday season.
Meanwhile, Apple offered <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/10/41399541/apple-iphone-16-sees-20-sales-surge-in-china-but-ai-absence-prompts-early-price-cuts" rel="noreferrer noopener">notable promotions for</a> the iPhone 16 in China, with pre-release discounts on platforms like PDD Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PDD#NASDAQ">PDD</a>) Pinduoduo and Alibaba Group Holding (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NYSE">BABA</a>) Taobao. Ahead of Singles&#8217; Day, Apple added further price reductions to attract more buyers.
Apple chief Tim Cook <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/10/41478952/tim-cook-engages-with-chinas-it-minister-as-iphone-maker-aims-to-enhance-local-user-experience-w" rel="noreferrer noopener">recently met with</a> Jin Zhuanglong, China&#8217;s Minister for Industry and Information Technology. The minister reportedly expressed hopes that Apple will grow its presence in China and collaborate with local firms.
The visit marks Cook&#8217;s second visit to China in 2024. He showcased his visits to an organic farm and historic neighborhoods during his trip.
Needham&nbsp;analyst Laura Martin&nbsp;expects iPhone sales <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/41005053/apple-iphone-to-fuel-96-of-2025-revenue-analyst-says-a-safer-bet-than-ai-heavy-amazon-alphabet-micro" rel="noreferrer noopener">to account for</a> 89%-96% of Apple&#8217;s 2025 revenue.
Apple stock gained 35% in the last 12 months. Investors can gain exposure to the stock through iShares Global Tech ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IXN#NYSE">IXN</a>) and Vanguard Information Tech ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VGT#NYSE">VGT</a>).
Price Action: AAPL stock is up 0.85% at $232.52 at the last check on Friday.
Also Read:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/10/41522973/intel-triumphs-in-15-year-legal-battle-eu-court-rejects-record-antitrust-penalty" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Intel Triumphs In 15-Year Legal Battle, EU Court Rejects Record Antitrust Penalty</a></li>
</ul>
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Citigourp Global Markets 2% Protected Notes Linked To The Djia

XIACF

XIACY

Apple's Q3 Smartphone Sales Slip Despite Strong iPhone 16 Demand, Market Share Dropped Slightly

In a blog post on Tuesday, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) highlighted the potential of artificial intelligence to enhance market efficiency while also posing risks of increased volatility and cyber threats.
What Happened: The IMF&#8217;s Global Financial Stability Report delves into the role of AI in financial institutions and its potential impact on markets. AI&#8217;s rapid data processing capabilities could revolutionize markets, but its adoption remains limited among investors. The report anticipates growth in AI-driven trading, especially in liquid asset classes like equities and bonds, which could lead to market instability. This was evident during the March 2020 market turmoil involving AI-driven ETFs.
Patent data reveals a surge in AI-related innovations for algorithmic trading, indicating a forthcoming wave of technological advancements. The IMF warns that AI might shift investments to less regulated nonbank financial intermediaries, complicating market oversight. 
To tackle these challenges, the IMF suggests enhancing regulation and supervision of AI-related activities, implementing new volatility response mechanisms, and strengthening oversight of nonbank intermediaries.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/10/41308908/man-who-accidentally-threw-hard-drive-containing-8-000-bitcoins-worth-half-a-billion-dolla?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Man Who Accidentally Threw Hard Drive Containing 8,000 Bitcoins Worth Half A Billion Dollars In Landfill Sues Local City Council For Not Excavating The Site</a>
Why It Matters: The potential impact of AI on financial markets has been a topic of concern for some time. In June, IMF Deputy Chief Gita Gopinath warned about <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/06/39224309/imfs-gita-gopinath-warns-ai-could-disrupt-financial-markets-supply-chains-and-more-policy-actions-no">AI&#8217;s disruptive potential</a> on financial markets and other sectors, emphasizing the need for policy actions to mitigate risks while harnessing AI&#8217;s benefits. Her comments highlighted the importance of monitoring AI&#8217;s adoption and application across various sectors.
Additionally, the 2024 U.S. presidential election has been identified as a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/24/10/41125551/why-the-us-presidential-election-will-be-a-watershed-moment-for-artificial-intelligence-in-trading-f">pivotal moment for AI </a>in trading. The election&#8217;s unpredictability, coupled with AI&#8217;s growing role in forecasting for broker-dealers, suggests that AI could face significant challenges in the coming months. This period may serve as a watershed moment for trading intelligence, as election uncertainty could lead to increased market volatility.
Price Action: At the time of writing during Tuesday&#8217;s after-hours market, AI ETFs were showing mixed activity, as per <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com">Benzinga Pro</a>. First Trust Nasdaq Artificial Intelligence and Robotics ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ROBT#NASDAQ">ROBT</a>) was up y 2.47%, Global X Artificial Intelligence &amp; Technology ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AIQ#NASDAQ">AIQ</a>) was up by 1.28% and iShares Global Tech ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IXN#NYSE">IXN</a>) was up by 2.60%. However, iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IGM#NYSE">IGM</a>) was down by 1.42%.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/10/41306653/anthony-scaramucci-praises-trump-for-shifting-the-crypto-debate-hes-now-forced-the-democra?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Anthony Scaramucci Praises Trump For Shifting The Crypto Debate: &#8216;He&#8217;s Now Forced The Democrats To Come Back Into The Middle&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a> and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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Markets

General

ROBT

IMF Warns AI In Stock Trading Can Boost Efficiency, But Warns Of Increased Market Volatility

Apple Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) is nearing the launch of a budget smartphone by 2025 to regain market share lost to Huawei&nbsp;Technologies Co and Xiaomi Corp (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XIACF#OTC">XIACF</a>) (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XIACY#OTC">XIACY</a>).
Apple iPhone&#8217;s market share in China <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40823119/china-is-eating-apples-lunch-where-smartphone-maker-ranks-vs-asian-competitors" rel="noreferrer noopener">slipped to 14%</a>, down from third to sixth place in the second quarter. Huawei bagged the fourth position, and&nbsp;Xiaomi&nbsp;came fifth.
Vivo&nbsp;emerged as the number one brand, OPPO remained second, and HONOR came third in China. Canalys attributed the local brands&#8217; success to the early discounts and promotions, integration of generative artificial intelligence, and their collaboration with regional supply chains.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41139084/nvidia-expands-ai-offerings-with-new-open-source-models-and-unreal-engine-5-plugins" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nvidia Expands AI Offerings with New Open-Source Models and Unreal Engine 5 Plugins</a>
Apple is nearing production of an updated iPhone SE dubbed V59 that will become its new entry-level model, Bloomberg <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-10-01/apple-readies-iphone-se-4-upgraded-ipad-air-for-early-2025?srnd=homepage-asia&amp;sref=TBDibEcD" rel="noreferrer noopener">cites</a> familiar sources.
Reportedly, Apple will transition to an edge-to-edge screen, removing the old home button design. The new SE phone will likely support Apple Intelligence.
Needham&nbsp;analyst Laura Martin&nbsp;expects 89%- 96% of Apple&#8217;s 2025 revenue to depend <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/41005053/apple-iphone-to-fuel-96-of-2025-revenue-analyst-says-a-safer-bet-than-ai-heavy-amazon-alphabet-micro" rel="noreferrer noopener">on iPhone sales</a>, underscoring the importance of Apple&#8217;s smartphone strategy.
Apple is also considering iPad upgrades. The company&#8217;s new iPad Air models, dubbed J607 and J637, will likely launch in 2025. A new iPad mini, dubbed J410, will be available by the end of 2024.
Apple&#8217;s updated models include a&nbsp;revamped Mac mini, updated MacBook Pros, and iMacs with the M4 processor and Apple Intelligence features.
However, Barclays analyst Tim Long flagged a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41127362/apples-iphone-16-cycle-faces-headwinds-analyst-warns-of-weaker-demand-macro-pressures-potential-earl" rel="noreferrer noopener">potential 3 million</a> iPhone unit cut for the December quarter due to demand weakness.
Apple stock is up over 30% in the last 12 months. Investors can gain exposure to the stock through iShares Global Tech ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IXN#NYSE">IXN</a>)
and Vanguard Information Tech ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VGT#NYSE">VGT</a>).
Price Action: AAPL stock is down 0.23% at $225.69 at the last check on Wednesday.
Also Read:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41124391/qualcomm-partners-with-stmicroelectronics-to-boost-ai-powered-iot-connectivity" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Qualcomm Partners With STMicroelectronics To Boost AI-Powered IoT Connectivity</a></li>
</ul>
Image via Shutterstock

Apple To Launch Budget iPhone in 2025, Aims for Market Share Gains from Huawei and Xiaomi

Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) has appointed Carolina Dybeck Happe <a target="_blank" href="https://blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2024/09/12/microsoft-names-new-executive-vice-president-and-chief-operations-officer/" rel="noreferrer noopener">as its new</a> EVP and COO.
Happe served at GE as SVP and CFO from 2020 until September 2023. Reuters reports that she was pivotal in leading the company&#8217;s turnaround and helped complete the spin-off of energy infrastructure unit GE Vernova in April 2024 after she stepped down from her role as CFO.
Microsoft&#8217;s move coincides with its pursuit of the lead in the cloud services market by solidifying its moat against Amazon.Com Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) Amazon Web Services.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40707618/whats-going-on-with-amd-stock-on-wednesday" rel="noreferrer noopener">AMD Taps Former Nvidia Exec to Lead AI Vision, Bolstering Strategic Growth</a>
The hiring also followed the CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRWD#NASDAQ">CRWD</a>) <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40791329/microsoft-plans-major-cybersecurity-summit-after-global-it-outage-hits-8-5m-devices-earlier-this-yea" rel="noreferrer noopener">outage that hampered</a> Microsoft devices, Reuters cites D.A. Davidson analyst Gil Luria.
Microsoft made <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38664730/googles-deepmind-co-founder-mustafa-suleyman-shares-his-exciting-first-month-at-microsoft-truly-tran" rel="noreferrer noopener">another critical hiring</a> earlier this year. In March 2024, the company poached the co-founder of&nbsp;Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) Google&nbsp;DeepMind&nbsp;AI lab co-founder Mustafa Suleyman from Inflection AI to lead Microsoft&#8217;s AI division.
Microsoft gained over 27% in the last 12 months. Investors can gain exposure to the stock through iShares Global Tech ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IXN#NYSE">IXN</a>) and Vanguard Information Tech ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VGT#NYSE">VGT</a>).
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Microsoft Stock Prediction For 2024</h2>
Equity research analysts on and off Wall Street typically use earnings growth and fundamental research as a form of valuation and forecasting. But many in trading turn to technical analysis as a way to form predictive models for share price trajectory.
Some investors look to trends to help forecast where they believe a stock could trade at a certain point in the future. Looking at Microsoft, an investor could make an assessment about a stock's long term prospects using a moving average and trend line. If they believe a stock will remain above the moving average, which many believe is a bullish signal, they can extrapolate that trend into the future using a trend line. 
For Microsoft, the 200-day moving average sits at $412.21, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, which is below the current price of $427.0. For more on charts and trend lines, <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">see a description here.</a>
Traders believe that when a stock is above its moving average, it is a generally bullish signal, and when it crosses below, it is a more negative signal. Investors could use trend lines to make an educated guess about where a stock could trade at a later date if conditions remain stable.
Price Action: MSFT stock traded lower by 0.19% at $426.21 premarket at the last check on Friday.
Also Read:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40687996/microsofts-ai-pcs-stumble-with-game-compatibility-report" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Microsoft&#8217;s AI PCs Stumble With Game Compatibility: Report</a></li>
</ul>

Management

AMZN

CRWD

GOOG

GOOGL

Microsoft Hires Former GE CFO Carolina Dybeck Happe As COO To Boost Cloud And AI Focus

On Tuesday, Brussels accused Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) of engaging in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/05/38787304/microsoft-faces-heightened-eu-scrutiny-over-teams-software-report" rel="noreferrer noopener">anti-competitive behavior</a> by bundling its Teams app with its Office suite.
The EU&#8217;s charge sheet alleges that this bundling gives Teams an undue advantage, harming competitors such as Atlassian Corp&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TEAM#NASDAQ">TEAM</a>) Slack and Zoom (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ZM#NASDAQ">ZM</a>), Reuters reports.
On Tuesday, the European Union issued a formal charge sheet to Microsoft, outlining concerns that integrating Teams with Office unfairly disadvantages other video conferencing apps.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/06/39428719/whats-going-on-with-nvidia-stock-friday" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nvidia CEO Predicts $1 Trillion Overhaul for AI Data Centers</a>
Margrethe Vestager, the EU&#8217;s executive vice president for competition policy, stated that if Microsoft&#8217;s conduct is confirmed, it would be illegal under EU competition rules.
In April, Microsoft attempted to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/04/38017994/microsoft-decouples-teams-from-office-globally-in-response-to-antitrust-concerns-report" rel="noreferrer noopener">address regulatory concerns</a> by proposing to unbundle Teams from Office products beyond Europe.
Microsoft aims to settle the case to avoid formal charges and a potential fine of up to 10% of its annual global revenues.
Meanwhile, the company is also <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/04/38299939/eu-clears-microsofts-13b-openai-investment-from-formal-probe-a-relief-for-tech-giants" rel="noreferrer noopener">facing heightened scrutiny</a> over its $13 billion partnership with OpenAI, with Brussels considering a full probe.
The European Commission is focusing on Microsoft and investigating other major tech companies.
Over the last decade, Microsoft doled out $1.71 billion (1.6 billion euros) in EU antitrust fines.
Microsoft stock gained over 36% in the last 12 months. Investors can gain exposure to the stock via SPDR Select Sector Fund &#8211; Technology (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLK#NYSE">XLK</a>) and iShares Global Tech ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IXN#NYSE">IXN</a>).
Price Action: MSFT shares are trading higher by 0.08% at $447.63 at&nbsp;the last check on Tuesday.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/06/39318448/microsoft-is-betting-big-on-ai-outpacing-rivals-with-new-strategy" rel="noreferrer noopener">Microsoft Is Betting Big on AI, Outpacing Rivals with New Strategy</a>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo via Shutterstock

Government

Regulations

Eurozone

Legal

TEAM

EU Charges Microsoft with Anti-Competitive Practices Over Teams Bundling

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/aapl#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) has regained its position as the world&#39;s most valuable company, topping Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/msft#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>). This achievement marks a significant milestone, driven by Apple&#39;s recent announcement related to its generative AI initiative called &quot;Apple Intelligence&quot;.
These potential AI initiatives generated optimism about future iPhone generations and likely revenue increases. Apple Intelligence will be available for the iPhone 15 Pro, iPads, and Macs running Apple&#39;s M1 series chips and newer models starting this fall. This could even result in a rebound in iPhone sales following recent declines in fiscal performance.
<h3>Market Capitalization and Recent Performance</h3>
Thanks to investor optimism surrounding its growth prospects, particularly in AI, Apple just logged its best three-day run since 2020, per Bloomberg. Following a robust rally, Apple closed with a market capitalization of $3.285 trillion on Jun 13, 2024, narrowly surpassing Microsoft at $3.282 trillion.
This is the first time since January that Apple has exceeded Microsoft in market value, reflecting recent reshufflings among Wall Street&#39;s top stocks. In fact, earlier in the week, Apple briefly fell behind Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/nvda#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) in market capitalization. However, investors have shown confidence in Apple&#39;s potential as a likely AI winner, fueling its recent gains.
<h3>Analyst Insights</h3>
Bank of America analyst Wamsi Mohan highlighted the potential of AI functionalities to drive a significant upgrade cycle for Apple, potentially raising average selling prices and boosting revenue in the coming years, as quoted on Bloomberg.
<h3>Price Target</h3>
Based on short-term price targets offered by 30 analysts, the average price target for Apple comes to $206.96. The forecasts range from a low of $164.00 to a high of $275.00. And the current price of Apple is $214.24.
<h3>What Lies Ahead?</h3>
So far, Apple&#39;s AI initiatives have been well-received by investors. However, stiff competition awaits Apple in the AI space. Stocks with more direct exposure to AI, such as Microsoft, Amazon.com Inc., Alphabet Inc., and Meta Platforms Inc., have shown stronger performance in 2024. Nvidia, in particular, has seen immense gains due to its prominent role in AI development.
Plus, Apple&#39;s association With ChatGPT has received a mixed response. Ben Wood, chief analyst at CCS Insight, and Tesla chief Elon Musk believe that ChatGPT integration may create deeper problems for the firm, as quoted on BBC.
Investors should note that Apple&#39;s competitors have faced several AI hiccups during the initial phase of the rollout. Apple might also experience similar hiccups. Hence, it is better to track the company with the ETF approach. The basket approach minimizes the company-specific concentration risks.
Apple-heavy ETFs include the likes of Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (ARCA:XLK), iShares Global Tech ETF (ARCA:IXN) and iShares U.S. Technology ETF (ARCA:IYW). Incidentally, these ETFs have solid exposure to Microsoft&mdash;the second-most valuable company and an AI winner.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2288265/etfs-in-focus-as-apple-reclaims-most-valuable-title?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-etf_news_and_commentary-2288265">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

Trading Ideas

iShares Dow Jones US Technology Sector Index Fund

NVDA

ETFs in Focus as Apple Reclaims Most Valuable Title

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) shares closed 1.91% lower on Monday in reaction to the highly anticipated Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2024, where the Cupertino tech giant unveiled new <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/06/39256948/tim-cook-announces-apple-intelligence-for-iphones-calls-it-next-big-step-tremendously-excited">advancements in artificial intelligence.</a>
What Happened: At WWDC 2024, Apple introduced &#8220;Apple Intelligence,&#8221; a systemwide software update that promises to offer a personalized generative AI experience for users. 
The new iOS 18, powering its flagship devices, allows for a more customizable iPhone home screen and includes enhanced versions of its in-house apps. Siri, the voice assistant, will now better understand natural language, process contextual information and perform actions within apps.
The AI features will be integrated with the latest device software, enabling users to summarize text and generate content such as personalized birthday animations. Privacy remains a core focus, with most AI processing happening on the device itself rather than in the cloud.
Apple also announced a partnership with Microsoft Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NYSE">MSFT</a>)&#8217;s OpenAI to bring ChatGPT to its devices and showcased the latest operating system for its Vision Pro mixed-reality headset and iPhone. Vision Pro will be available in eight additional countries, including Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and the U.K. starting in June.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Why Are Apple Shares Falling After WWDC 2024?</h1>
The market had higher expectations from Apple, particularly in terms of monetizing the announced innovations. 
No new products were launched, except for the expansion of Vision Pro into new markets. Apple&#8217;s strategy to integrate Siri with ChatGPT highlights the existing gap compared to OpenAI in the realm of large language models (LLMs).
Historically, Apple&#8217;s stock performance during past WWDC events has been lackluster. Over the past 10 editions, Apple shares have more often closed down rather than up following these events.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Apple WWDC</th>
<th>AAPL %chg on WWDC</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>June 4, 2014</td>
<td>-0.7%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>June 8, 2015</td>
<td>-0.7%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>June 13, 2016</td>
<td>-1.5%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>June 5, 2017</td>
<td>-1.0%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>June 4, 2018</td>
<td>+0.8%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>June 3, 2019</td>
<td>-1.0%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>June 22, 2020</td>
<td>+2.6%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>June 7, 2021</td>
<td>+0.0%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>June 6, 2022</td>
<td>+0.5%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>June 5, 2023</td>
<td>-0.8%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>June 10, 2024</td>
<td>-1.9%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Not A Broader Tech Selloff</h1>
Monday&#8217;s decline in Apple shares appears company-specific, as the broader tech sector showed gains.
Among the &#8220;Magnificent Seven,&#8221; only Apple and Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) experienced declines, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100, as tracked by the Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), rose by 0.3%.
Key exchange-traded funds with significant exposure to Apple also showed gains:
<ul>
<li>Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLK#NYSE">XLK</a>) up 0.1%</li>
<li>iShares Global Tech ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IXN#NYSE">IXN</a>) up 0.2%</li>
<li>Vanguard Information Technology ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VGT#NYSE">VGT</a>) up 0.3%</li>
</ul>
Read Now: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/06/39257592/economist-warns-crash-of-a-lifetime-is-coming-predicts-s-p-500-to-plummet-86-from-t">Economist Warns &#8216;Crash Of A Lifetime&#8217; Is Coming, Predicts S&amp;P 500 To Plummet &#8216;86% From The Top&#8217;</a>
Photo: Courtesy Apple

Apple Shares Slide Nearly 2% On WWDC 24 Day: Magnificent 7, Tech Stocks Hold Gains

Apple Inc&#8217;s&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) iPhone sales in China increased by 52% year-on-year in April, Reuters cites from industry reports. The stock price gained after the report.
The iPhone maker&#8217;s results follow a softer performance earlier this year in the leading smartphone market. Apple battled rivalry in the premium market from local rivals like&nbsp;Huawei Technologies Co.
According to the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT),&nbsp;smartphone sales in China increased by 25.5% to 22.7 million units in April,&nbsp;Reuters notes.
Apple&#8217;s shipments in China increased by 12% in March, marking a significant improvement from the first two months of 2024, when the company noted a 37% decline in sales.&nbsp;
The growth reflected price discounts from Apple and its Chinese retailers to boost sales.
Previously, analysts expected&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/03/37941515/apples-iphone-sales-faces-sharp-decline-in-china-amid-rising-competition" rel="noreferrer noopener">iPhone sales to</a>&nbsp;continue their downward trajectory, with projections that they would lead the market&#8217;s decline by over 20%.
Meanwhile, Apple made every effort to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/05/38708040/apple-reverses-sales-decline-in-china-with-impressive-march-shipment-growth" rel="noreferrer noopener">boost ties with&nbsp;</a>China, including launching a new Apple store in Shanghai, and company chief Tim Cook attended the China Development Forum in Beijing.
Apple stock gained over 7% in the last 12 months.&nbsp;Investors can gain exposure to the stock via&nbsp;IShares Global&nbsp;Tech ETF&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IXN#NYSE">IXN</a>) and&nbsp;IShares U.S.&nbsp;Technology ETF&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IYW#NYSE">IYW</a>).
Price Action: AAPL shares traded higher by 1.67% to $193.15 premarket at the last check on Tuesday.
Image Source &#8211; Apple

Movers

What's Going On With Apple Stock On Tuesday?

The world&#39;s largest software maker &mdash; Microsoft (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/msft#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) &mdash; reported strong third-quarter fiscal 2024 results, beating earnings and revenue estimates. driven by strong demand for cloud and artificial intelligence offerings. 
Buoyed by robust results, shares of MSFT jumped as much as 5% in after-market hours. Investors could tap the opportune moment in this software leader through ETFs having double-digit exposure to Microsoft. These are Select Sector SPDR Technology ETF (ARCA:XLK), MSCI Information Technology Index ETF (ARCA:FTEC), iShares Global Tech ETF (ARCA:IXN), Vanguard Information Technology ETF (ARCA:VGT) and iShares Dow Jones US Technology ETF (ARCA:IYW).
<h3>Earnings in Focus</h3>
Earnings per share came in at $2.94, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.81 and were 20% higher than the year-ago earnings. Revenues grew 17% year over year to $61.9 billion, edging past the consensus estimate of $60.63 billion. 
Intelligent Cloud revenues jumped 21% year over year. Sales of Office 365 Commercial and Dynamic 365 climbed 15% and 23%, respectively. Sales of the flagship Azure computing platform grew 31% year over year. 
The software maker invested billions of dollars into AI in a bid to turbocharge its growth, particularly its cloud computing services, and is now reaping the fruits. About 7% of the increase in Azure revenues came from AI. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said on a call that 65% of Fortune 500 companies are using the Azure service that delivers OpenAI&#39;s technology to businesses. Demand for generative AI will continue to fuel Microsoft&#39;s cloud business. 
Microsoft is now emphasizing AI transformation through its new offerings like Microsoft Copilot. &quot;Microsoft Copilot and Copilot stack are orchestrating a new era of AI transformation, driving better business outcomes across every role and industry&quot; Nadella said. 
Microsoft expects revenues of $63.5-$64.5 billion for fiscal fourth-quarter 2024. The Zacks Consensus Estimate is pegged at $64.49 billion.
<h3>ETFs in Focus</h3>
Select Sector SPDR Technology ETF (ETF:XLK) 
Select Sector SPDR Technology ETF is the most popular and liquid ETF in the technology space, with AUM of $61.8 billion and an average daily volume of 7 million shares. It offers broad exposure to the technology sector and follows the Technology Select Sector Index. Select Sector SPDR Technology ETF holds about 65 securities in its basket, with Microsoft occupying the top position at 23.5%. 
Select Sector SPDR Technology ETF charges 9 bps in fees per year from investors and has a Zacks ETF Rank #1 with a Medium risk outlook. 
MSCI Information Technology Index ETF (FTEC) 
MSCI Information Technology Index ETF is home to 303 technology stocks with AUM of $9.1 billion. It follows the MSCI USA IMI Information Technology Index. Microsoft is the top firm with an 18.3% allocation. 
MSCI Information Technology Index ETF has 0.08% in expense ratio, while volume is solid at 253,000 shares a day. It carries a Zacks ETF Rank #1 with a Medium risk outlook. 
iShares Global Tech ETF (ETF:IXN) 
iShares Global Tech ETF provides exposure to electronics, computer software and hardware, and informational technology companies by tracking the S&amp;P Global 1200 Information Technology 4.5/22.5/45 Capped Index. Holding 117 stocks in its basket, Microsoft occupies the top spot with a 20.1% share. 
iShares Global Tech ETF has amassed $4.2 billion in its asset base and trades in a good volume of 223,000 shares a day, on average. The expense ratio is 0.41%. 
Vanguard Information Technology ETF (ETF:VGT) 
Vanguard Information Technology ETF manages about $61.3 billion in its asset base and provides exposure to 313 technology stocks. It currently tracks the MSCI US Investable Market Information Technology 25/50 Index. Here, MSFT occupies the top position with an 18.3% share. 
Vanguard Information Technology ETF has an expense ratio of 0.10%, while volume is solid at nearly 434,000 shares. It has a Zacks ETF Rank #1 with a Medium risk outlook. 
iShares U.S. Technology ETF (ETF:IYW) 
iShares U.S. Technology ETF provides exposure to U.S. electronics, computer software and hardware, and informational technology companies. It tracks the Russell 1000 Technology RIC 22.5/45 Capped Index, holding 131 securities in its basket. Of these, Microsoft occupies the top position in the basket, with 18.6% of the assets. 
iShares Dow Jones US Technology ETF has AUM of $15.8 billion and charges 40 bps in fees and expenses. Volume is good as it exchanges nearly 909,000 shares a day. IYW has a Zacks ETF Rank #1 with a Medium risk outlook.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2263342/etfs-to-buy-as-cloud-ai-power-microsoft-s-q3-earnings?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-etf_news_and_commentary-2263342">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

Earnings

FTEC

ETFs to Buy as Cloud, AI Power Microsoft's Q3 Earnings

Citigroup&nbsp;analyst Tyler Radke maintained&nbsp;Microsoft Corp&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) with a Buy and lowered the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MSFT/analyst-ratings" rel="noreferrer noopener">price target from $480 to $475</a>.
The analyst remained positive on Microsoft ahead of third-quarter results as his quarterly inputs point to strengthening Azure growth trends boosted again by AI services, with solid CoPilot interest, though more bite-sized deals initially.&nbsp;
Radke&#8217;s strong inputs and a more positive PC backdrop against conservative guidance should yield room for upside across key KPIs (including Azure, which should reaccelerate), while he expects continued cost discipline to drive strong EPS upside.&nbsp;
BofA Securities&nbsp;analyst Brad Sills reiterated a Buy rating on Microsoft with a price target of $480.
Following a round of calls with nearly a dozen key Microsoﬅ partners, the analyst expects a healthy 1% upside to his third-quarter revenue estimate of $60.5 billion, stemming from sustained strength in Azure and M365.&nbsp;
The analyst expects FX to provide a 50bps tailwind to revenue growth, primarily in line with expectations heading into the quarter.&nbsp;
He expects a 1% upside to his estimate for Azure growth of 28.0% cc, given positive system integrator partner feedback suggesting stable, healthy migration of new workloads to the cloud platform, relative strength in the Microsoﬅ security stack, and ramping usage of Azure AI and Microsoﬅ security stack.
Sills expects a $220 million upside to his PBP segment revenue estimate to $19.5 billion from better Commercial Office growth, driven by better ASP (average selling prices) on sustained E3/E5 strength and early traction with M365 copilot. Channel feedback suggests some uptick in Copilot activity, primarily in the pipeline, but also early adoption.&nbsp;
The analyst expects $50 million of downside to his MPC revenue estimate of $14.9 billion, driven by weaker PCs in the calendar first quarter.&nbsp;
IDC reported preliminary first-quarter PC growth of +2% Y/Y versus its prior expectation for +4% Y/Y when Microsoﬅ provided guidance.
Sills noted that the next AI catalyst for Microsoﬅ shares will prove that critical AI-related product cycles are gaining traction via incremental growth metrics such as M365 Copilot users or via accelerating Commercial Office ASP (from 6% to 7%). Microsoﬅ&#8217;s shares are pricing in AI-driven revenue and FCF acceleration, per the analyst.&nbsp;
However, he noted the multiple holding with an AI cycle that is gaining momentum given the scale of the AI opportunity (IDC sizes the AI market to $944 billion by 2027). As per Sills, the stock should then compound at the FCF growth rate, accelerating toward the low 20s, with incremental contribution from AI in the coming quarters. The analyst noted Microsoﬅ as a top pick in soﬅware.
Microsoft stock gained over 40% in the last 12 months. Investors can gain exposure to the stock via&nbsp;IShares Global Tech ETF&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IXN#NYSE">IXN</a>) and&nbsp;Vanguard Information Tech ETF&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VGT#NYSE">VGT</a>).
Price Action: MSFT shares traded lower by 1.5% at $405.40 on the last check Thursday.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38294517/linkedin-unveils-premium-pages-new-subscription-plan-offers-exclusive-growth-tools-for-small-busines" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LinkedIn Unveils Premium Pages, New Subscription Plan Offers Exclusive Growth Tools For Small Businesses</a>
Photo via Shutterstock

Analyst Color

Price Target

Reiteration

Analyst Ratings

Microsoft's Strategic Emphasis on AI and Cloud Services Signals Strong Future Performance: Analysts

Microsoft Corp&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) has unveiled a new hub in London for its recently established&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/23/11/36031993/microsoft-marks-its-largest-uk-investment-with-major-focus-on-ai-development" rel="noreferrer noopener">consumer AI division</a>, led by AI scientist and engineer Jordan Hoffmann, who the company recruited from the notable AI startup Inflection AI.&nbsp;
This move follows Microsoft&#8217;s investment in Inflection AI last year and CEO Satya Nadella&#8217;s introduction of a consumer AI division three weeks ago. Inflection AI&#8217;s founders, including Mustafa Suleyman of Deepmind fame, are leading the division, TechCrunch&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://techcrunch.com/2024/04/08/microsoft-ai-gets-a-new-london-hub-headed-up-by-former-inflection-and-deepmind-scientist-jordan-hoffmann/" rel="noreferrer noopener">reports</a>.&nbsp;
Also Read:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/11/36021642/microsoft-president-makes-startling-revelations-on-arrival-of-advanced-ai" rel="noreferrer noopener">Microsoft President Makes Startling Revelations on Arrival of Advanced AI</a>
Hoffmann, a former Deepmind research scientist who transitioned to Inflection AI in 2022, has been recognized by Suleyman as an &#8220;exceptional AI scientist and engineer.&#8221;
Hoffmann is set to head the London unit, with Suleyman reporting directly to Nadella from the U.S.
Microsoft plans to seek new AI talents to join Hoffmann at its Paddington office, focusing on developing new language models and related infrastructure.&nbsp;
This initiative is part of Microsoft&#8217;s broader £2.5 billion ($3.15 billion) investment in the U.K. over the next three years, promising to expand its data center footprint and train over a million people for the AI economy.&nbsp;
The investment will expand the data center footprint to include sites in London and Cardiff, potentially extending to northern England, and deliver over 20,000 of the most advanced GPUs to the U.K. by 2026.&nbsp;
Additionally, the company has committed to a multimillion-dollar initiative to train one million individuals in the skills needed to develop and operate AI.
The U.K. is a leading country in AI R&amp;D investment and hosts&nbsp;Google&#8217;s&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) DeepMind, which signals a potential talent competition between major AI players.&nbsp;
Microsoft stock gained 47% in the last 12 months. Investors can gain exposure to the stock via&nbsp;IShares Global Tech ETF&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IXN#NYSE">IXN</a>) and&nbsp;Vanguard Information Tech ETF&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VGT#NYSE">VGT</a>).
Price Actions:&nbsp;Microsoft shares traded higher by 0.24% at $426.59 on the last check Monday.
Also Read:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/04/38017994/microsoft-decouples-teams-from-office-globally-in-response-to-antitrust-concerns-report" rel="noreferrer noopener">Microsoft Decouples Teams from Office Globally in Response to Antitrust Concerns: Report</a>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo via Shutterstock

Microsoft's £2.5B UK Investment Fuels AI Talent Hunt and Data Center Expansion

Apple Inc&#8217;s&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) CEO, Tim Cook, inaugurated a new store in Shanghai, showcasing the tech giant&#8217;s ongoing commitment to China as a critical market and manufacturing hub.&nbsp;
The store opening, which took place amid an atmosphere of enthusiastic applause, marked Cook&#8217;s&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/03/37479073/apples-iphone-sales-dip-24-in-china-falls-to-fourth-place-behind-vivo-and-huawei" rel="noreferrer noopener">presence in Shanghai</a>&nbsp;as part of a highly publicized visit.&nbsp;
The opening of Apple&#8217;s eighth store in Shanghai was part of Cook&#8217;s efforts to fortify Apple&#8217;s relationship with China, where he engaged with local celebrities, tasted local cuisine, and met with critical suppliers like&nbsp;BYD Co&nbsp;and&nbsp;Lens Technology Co, Bloomberg&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-03-21/apple-ceo-opens-new-shanghai-store-in-show-of-china-commitment?srnd=technology-vp&amp;sref=TBDibEcD" rel="noreferrer noopener">reports</a>.
Cook&#8217;s visit underscores his and Apple&#8217;s commitment to maintaining and strengthening ties with China.&nbsp;
This commitment is evident in his meetings with suppliers and his promotion of Apple products, despite the challenges posed by geopolitical tensions, the Chinese government&#8217;s restrictions on iPhone usage among state agencies, and the competitive threat from Huawei Technologies Co.
In the first six weeks of the year, iPhone sales in China plummeted by 24%, pushing Apple to the fourth spot among the country&#8217;s smartphone vendors, according to Counterpoint Research.&nbsp;
Vivo, hailing from Dongguan and known for targeting the budget-friendly market, surpassed Apple and became China&#8217;s leading smartphone seller. While both companies saw sales declines amidst a 7% contraction in&nbsp;
China&#8217;s overall smartphone market,&nbsp;Huawei Technologies Co.&nbsp;saw its market share jump to 16.5% thanks to its Mate 60 Pro series and a rise in nationalist buying trends.&nbsp;
Amid a general market slowdown affecting iPhone performance, Apple initiated rare discounts on its website in January, and online resellers cut prices by as much as $180.&nbsp;
Despite these efforts and steep discounts on the iPhone 15 series by resellers, Apple&#8217;s sales in China fell by 13% to $20.8 billion in the December quarter, marking a significant downturn.
The year 2023 saw Apple diversifying&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/23/02/31085106/apples-chinese-suppliers-sped-to-migrate-production-beyond-country-vietnam-and-india-key-beneficiari" rel="noreferrer noopener">production beyond China</a>&nbsp;in India and Vietnam to dodge geopolitical tensions.&nbsp;
The iPhone maker has gained 8.4% in stock value in the last 12 months. Investors can gain exposure to the stock via Fidelity MSCI Information Technology Index ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FTEC#NYSE">FTEC</a>) and IShares Global Tech ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IXN#NYSE">IXN</a>).
Price Action:&nbsp;AAPL shares are trading lower by 3.58% at $172.27 on the last check Thursday.
Also Read:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/10/35154858/apple-rival-huawei-doubles-smartphone-sales-as-us-restrictions-prepare-to-kick-in" rel="noreferrer noopener">Apple Rival Huawei Doubles Smartphone Sales As US Restrictions Prepare to Kick In</a>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo via Shutterstock

Tim Cook Launches New Apple Store in Shanghai as iPhone Struggles in China

Microsoft Corp&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) has&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/01/36590298/microsoft-grapples-with-security-concerns-over-beijing-ai-lab" rel="noreferrer noopener">come under fire</a>&nbsp;from a second U.S. Senator, intensifying the scrutiny over its operations in China, especially after a Bloomberg Businessweek investigation revealed the extent of Bing search engine&#8217;s censorship within the country.&nbsp;
Senator Marco Rubio, a Republican from Florida, criticized Microsoft&#8217;s compliance with the Chinese government&#8217;s censorship demands, stating that no U.S. company should defend such actions.&nbsp;
This criticism follows revelations that Bing has increasingly filtered out content related to human rights, democracy, climate change, and more to align with Beijing&#8217;s policies, Bloomberg&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-03-20/microsoft-attracts-growing-criticism-for-censoring-bing-in-china?srnd=technology-vp&amp;sref=TBDibEcD" rel="noreferrer noopener">reports</a>.
Also Read:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/05/32280754/microsofts-linkedin-slashes-716-jobs-under-its-china-strategy" rel="noreferrer noopener">Microsoft&#8217;s LinkedIn Slashes 716 Jobs Under Its China Strategy</a>
Senator Rubio emphasized that American companies operating in China inadvertently support the Chinese Communist Party&#8217;s objectives against the United States.&nbsp;
Earlier, Senator Mark Warner, a Democrat from Virginia, urged Microsoft to consider ceasing Bing&#8217;s operations in China.
Human rights organizations have also voiced their unease, with Human Rights Watch urging Microsoft to disclose its content removal practices and reconsider its presence in China if it implicates them in human rights abuses.&nbsp;
Separately, executives at Microsoft, including CEO Satya Nadella and President Brad Smith, have discussed the future of their artificial intelligence lab in Beijing.&nbsp;
U.S. lawmakers, including Senator Josh Hawley and Representative Mike Gallagher, have warned about the risks associated with technological collaborations with China, particularly the misuse of AI by the Chinese government.
In 2023, Smith and China&#8217;s Commerce Minister Wang Wentao convened to deliberate on artificial intelligence and trade ties between the U.S. and China.&nbsp;
This meeting&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/23/12/36130092/microsoft-in-high-level-talks-with-china-a-new-era-for-ai-and-trade-cooperation-on-the-horizon" rel="noreferrer noopener">continues diplomatic efforts</a>&nbsp;following a discussion between U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping, showcasing both countries&#8217; dedication to collaborating in areas such as AI and enhancing the business landscape for international firms.
Microsoft stock has gained over 55% in the last 12 months. Investors can gain exposure to the stock via&nbsp;IShares Global Tech ETF&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IXN#NYSE">IXN</a>) and&nbsp;Fidelity MSCI Information Technology Index ETF&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FTEC#NYSE">FTEC</a>).
Price Action:&nbsp;MSFT shares are trading higher by 0.84% at $428.80 premarket on the last check Thursday.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo via Shutterstock

Microsoft Faces Heat from US Senators Over Bing's Censorship in China

Microsoft Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NYSE">MSFT</a>) achieved a $3 trillion market valuation on Jan. 24, 2023, fueled by the burgeoning optimism in artificial intelligence (AI), marking a significant <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets">milestone in its journey. </a>
On Wednesday, Microsoft&#8217;s shares soared by 1.4% to $404, briefly propelling the company beyond the coveted $3 trillion mark and placing it in close competition with Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) for the title of the world&#8217;s most valuable company.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="495" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/24131705/MSFT_2024-01-24_17-16-43_b4053-1024x495.png" alt="" class="wp-image-192972" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/24131705/MSFT_2024-01-24_17-16-43_b4053-1024x495.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/24131705/MSFT_2024-01-24_17-16-43_b4053-300x145.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/24131705/MSFT_2024-01-24_17-16-43_b4053-768x372.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/24131705/MSFT_2024-01-24_17-16-43_b4053-1536x743.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/24131705/MSFT_2024-01-24_17-16-43_b4053.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Microsoft&#8217;s Stellar Performance: A Closer Look</h3>
<ul>
<li>Market Valuation: Microsoft briefly outpaced Apple, the first company to reach a $3 trillion market cap, before settling back.</li>
<li>Yearly Growth: The company has seen an impressive 67% growth over the past year, matching its 2009 performance.</li>
<li>AI and Growth: Investors are particularly enthused by Microsoft&#8217;s prospects in AI, especially through its partnership with OpenAI Inc. AI-powered services are expected to drive significant growth in earnings and revenue.</li>
<li>Financial Outlook: Analysts forecast a revenue of $243.16 billion in 2024, a 14.7% year-on-year increase. Earnings per share (EPS) are predicted to reach 11.2, marking a 14.3% rise. The forward price-to-earnings ratio stands at 36x, close to its record high of 36.8x in November 2021.</li>
<li>Cash Reserves: Microsoft boasts a substantial cash reserve of $143.94 billion.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Exchange Traded Funds Exposed To Microsoft</h3>
Microsoft is a core holding in 513 ETFs, with U.S.-based ETFs owning 13% of Microsoft&#8217;s outstanding shares.
Microsoft holds a staggering 22% weight in the Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLK#NYSE">XLK</a>). 
The tech giant has a substantial 21% stake in the Fidelity MSCI Information Technology Index ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FTEC#NYSE">FTEC</a>) and a 20% weight in the iShares Global Tech ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IXN#NYSE">IXN</a>). 
N <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/24/01/36758819/chinese-stocks-rally-as-beijing-goes-all-in-on-financial-support-squeezes-short-sellers">Chinese Stocks Rally As Beijing Goes All-In On Financial Support, Squeezes Short Sellers</a>
Photo: Shutterstock

Microsoft Races To The Top, Hits $3-Trillion Valuation, Challenges Apple's Throne

Microsoft Corp&nbsp;(NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/msft#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) backed&nbsp;OpenAI&#39;s&nbsp;ChatGPT&nbsp;chatbot, which grabbed the attention of the global tech sector in early 2023, adept at answering questions and writing essays and poems, and image generator Dall-E 2, which turns language prompts into novel images.
The AI industry almost&nbsp;<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/02/30724753/chatgpt-effect-google-intensifies-ai-focus-with-latest-investment" style="color:#4a6ee0; background:transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" target="_blank">triggered a battle</a>&nbsp;among the big tech companies like Microsoft&nbsp;and&nbsp;Alphabet Inc&nbsp;(NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/goog#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/googl#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>)&nbsp;Google&nbsp;in their bid to outdo each other. It mainly came when companies were busy downsizing their workforce and shelving projects and real estate presence amid macro uncertainties.
The ETFs with significant exposure to the ChatGPT stocks made handsome gains year-to-date.
SPDR Select Sector Fund - Technology&nbsp;(NYSE:&nbsp;<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/xlk#NYSE" style="color:#4a6ee0; background:transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" target="_blank">XLK</a>), iShares Global Tech ETF&nbsp;(NYSE:&nbsp;<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ixn#NYSE" style="color:#4a6ee0; background:transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" target="_blank">IXN</a>), and&nbsp;Fidelity MSCI Information Technology Index&nbsp;ETF (NYSE:&nbsp;<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ftec#NYSE" style="color:#4a6ee0; background:transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" target="_blank">FTEC</a>) gained ~20% YTD. The ETFs gained 15%-18% in the last six months and 5% the previous month.
The ETFs have 18%-24% exposure to Microsoft, 22%-23% exposure to&nbsp;Apple Inc&nbsp;(NASDAQ:&nbsp;<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/aapl#NASDAQ" style="color:#4a6ee0; background:transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" target="_blank">AAPL</a>), and 5%-6% exposure to Nvidia. Apple maintained a low profile in terms of its ChatGPT ambitions.
Analysts touted&nbsp;Nvidia Corp&nbsp;(NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/nvda#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) as a critical&nbsp;<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/23/02/30962419/nvidia-to-bask-in-glory-of-chatgpt-wave-analyst-says-ahead-of-4q-boosts-price-targe" style="color:#4a6ee0; background:transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" target="_blank">gainer from the ChatGPT wave</a>.
Microsoft&#39;s new AI additions to its&nbsp;Bing&nbsp;search engine bore mixed results in February. Colossal AI search costs&nbsp;<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/02/31008543/colossal-artificial-intelligence-search-costs-pose-headwinds-for-googles-bard-and-microsofts-chatgpt" style="color:#4a6ee0; background:transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" target="_blank">posed as additional headwinds</a>.&nbsp;
Last week, OpenAI made ChatGPT&nbsp;<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/03/31487866/openai-makes-chatgpt-capable-of-web-browsing-likely-to-expand-user-access-gradually" style="color:#4a6ee0; background:transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" target="_blank">capable of web browsing</a>.
This week, China&#39;s&nbsp;Baidu Inc&nbsp;(NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/bidu#NASDAQ">BIDU</a>)&nbsp;dumped&nbsp;the highly-<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/03/31505390/chinas-baidu-ditches-public-launch-of-chatgpt-like-bot-whats-going-on" style="color:#4a6ee0; background:transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" target="_blank">anticipated public launch</a>&nbsp;of its ChatGPT-like product,&nbsp;Ernie Bot.&nbsp;
Baidu&#39;s cancellation came weeks after founder Robin Li disappointed by marking Ernie Bot&#39;s debut via recorded video&nbsp;<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/03/31393598/baidus-chatgpt-counterpart-ernie-bot-impresses-analysts" style="color:#4a6ee0; background:transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" target="_blank">instead of a real-time demo</a>.

BIDU

Following ChatGPT Announcement, These Artificial Intelligence Focused ETFs Show Strong Gains

When it comes to the FANG stocks, the &ldquo;A&rdquo; and the &ldquo;N&rdquo; &mdash; Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/amzn#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) and Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/nflx#NASDAQ">NFLX</a>) &mdash; are classified as consumer discretionary names. Conversely, the &ldquo;F&rdquo; and the &ldquo;G&rdquo; &mdash; Facebook Inc (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/fb#NASDAQ">FB</a>) and Google parent Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/goog#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/googl#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) &mdash; reside in the technology sector.
Some investors believe the Global Industry Classification System (GICS) does not reflect Amazon and Netflix arguably being technology companies. As such, index providers Standard &amp; Poor&#39;s and MSCI, two of the largest providers of benchmarks for use by exchange traded funds (ETFs) issuers, are considering changes to the consumer discretionary, technology and telecommunications services sectors.
Those changes could alter the rosters in big-name sector ETFs, such as the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/xly#NYSE">XLY</a>) and the Technology Select Sector SPDR (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/xlk#NYSE">XLK</a>).
<h3>Sector-Level Happenings</h3>
In a recently completed consultation with investors, S&amp;P and MSCI&#39;s areas of focus included the media and Internet software &amp; services industries. On the cable and telecom side, Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/vz#NYSE">VZ</a>) resides in XLK while cable giant Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/cmcsa#NASDAQ">CMCSA</a>) is a constituent in XLY, although the two companies are competitors.
&ldquo;MSCI and S&amp;P, the two firms that manage GICS, proposed creating a new communication services sector within GICS and completed an investment community consultation at the end of September to review how to classify all companies in the telecommunications services sector as well as portions of the consumer discretionary and information technology sector,&rdquo; said <a href="https://newpublic.cfraresearch.com/">CFRA Research</a> Director of ETF &amp; Mutual Fund Research Todd Rosenbluth in a note out Monday.
Alphabet and Facebook are major holdings in XLK while Amazon is by far the largest member of XLY&#39;s roster.
<h3>Wide-Ranging Impact</h3>
If the index providers decide to do some GICS shuffling, XLK and XLY will not be the ETFs to be affected. Rival sector ETFs from Fidelity, iShares and Vanguard would see roster changes as could an array of smart beta sector funds.
&ldquo;Any GICS shifts will create change for ETFs. Most of the assets in sector ETFs are tied to S&amp;P- or MSCI-based indices,&rdquo; said Rosenbluth. &ldquo;The effect of any change to GICS will be felt not only in the U.S., but also globally. iShares offers a suite of global sector ETFs tracking S&amp;P 1200 indices.&rdquo;
For example, the $1.5 billion iShares Global Tech ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/ixn#NYSE">IXN</a>) devotes about 15 percent of its combined weight to Facebook and Alphabet, but that ETF does not holds shares of Amazon or Netflix.
CFRA has a Marketweight rating on IXN and an Overweight rating on XLK.
Related Links:
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/17/10/10208785/its-cheap-to-get-involved-with-mid-caps">A Cheap Mid-Cap ETF</a>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/17/10/10208784/a-new-spin-on-one-of-this-years-hottest-themes#/null">This New ETF Could Be a Star</a>

Long Ideas

CMCSA

NFLX

Select Sector SPDR-Consumer Discretionary

Some Big Sector ETFs Could Get New Looks

Pres. Elect Trump At Tech Summit Tells CEOs He's 'Here To See Them Do Well'

Speaking to Benzinga, Options <a href="http://marketfy.com/content/66938-sunday-night-update">Expert Nic Chahine</a> said that Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/tsla#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) is a short pick of his, and it&rsquo;s headed down in the way he expected.

	&ldquo;I could be headed lower. I would not be surprised to see $165 in the next couple of weeks especially if markets continue to correct,&rdquo; he said.

	Chahine said that the Street loves to trade Tesla on high valuation and based on innovated, but Chahine doesn&rsquo;t see the innovation in batteries.

	He also pointed out that any delays in the completion of the gigafactory could mean big negative impacts on revenues on what the Street expects.

	&ldquo;In uncertain times, traders are likely to throw away frothy names first,&rdquo; he said.

	Chahine prefers Alibaba Group Holding Ltd (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/baba#NYSE">BABA</a>) to Tesla when it comes to momentum stocks.

	&ldquo;At least Alibaba has a story now and is not hoping on a good story down the line,&rdquo; he said.

	<a class="ftb-widget" data-height="400" data-widget-id="20b5UpgKvE9" data-width="600" href="http://companies.findthebest.com/l/12234646/Tesla-Motors-Inc-in-Palo-Alto-CA/#stock%20info&amp;s=1sLeQ7" style="font:10px/14px arial;color:#3d3d3d;" target="_blank">Tesla Motors Inc. - Stock Price and Volume | FindTheBest</a>
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Technicals

Exclusives

Options Expert Nic Chahine On Tesla: 'I Would Not Be Surprised To See $165 In The Next Couple Of Weeks'

In the last two months shares of Apple (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/aapl#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>)stock have outpaced the market with a gain of 16.6 percent. A breakout last week has the company in positive territory for the year, sitting with a gain of nearly five percent in 2013.

	The recent rally from the lows has helped improve the chart on Apple in the short-term, but the stock remains 21 percent below the all-time high set in 2012. The question is whether the stock has more room to run or if the recent rally is merely a short-term bounce.

	Investors that would like a piece of Apple, but are weary that the company may still face some issues should consider an ETF with exposure to the stock.

	See also: <a href="http://www.benzinga.com/news/13/12/4118305/its-official-apple-is-in-positive-territory-for-the-year">It's Official, Apple is in Positive Territory for the Year</a>

	Below are four tech ETFs with the highest exposure to Apple stock.

	iShares U.S. Tech ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/iyw#NYSE">IYW</a>)

	The ETF that has the largest exposure to Apple stock is IYW, with an allocation of 17.8 percent. The heavy weighting towards Apple has held the ETF back slightly this year with a gain of 20 percent, lagging the overall market and the tech sector. Two other large-cap tech stocks also account for at least 10 percent of the portfolio. Google and Microsoft make up 21 percent of IYW. The ETF charges an annual expense ratio of 0.46 percent.

	SPDR Technology Sector ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/xlk#NYSE">XLK</a>)

	The top three holdings are the same as IYW with the only difference being a lower weighting for each stock. Apple accounts for 15.4 percent of the portfolio with GOOG and MSFT accounting for 18 percent. The ETF is also up 20 percent in 2013 and charges an annual expense ratio of 0.18 percent.

	Vanguard Information Technology ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/vgt#NYSE">VGT</a>)

	Another ETF with the same top three holdings is VGT. Apple makes up 14.1 percent of the ETF that charges an annual expense ratio of 0.14 percent. The ETF is up 25.3 percent this year, outpacing the first two ETFs by 25 percent. The lower expense ratio and more diverse portfolio helped the ETF to a better total return in the last eleven months.

	See also: <a href="http://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/13/11/4091415/five-star-stock-watch-apple-inc">Five Star Stock Watch: Apple</a>

	iShares Global Tech ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/ixn#NYSE">IXN</a>)

	This ETF has the same three stocks as the top holdings, but a major difference is that IXN invests in companies based outside the U.S. There is currently 23 percent of the portfolio invested overseas, led by Japan at six percent.

	The portfolio allocation of Apple is 13.5 percent and MSFT and GOOG make up 16 percent. The expense ratio is 0.48 percent. The lower allocation to Apple and the international exposure did not help the ETF beat its peers, as it also gained 20 percent this year.

Riding Apple Rally with ETFs (AAPL, IYW, XLK, VGT, IXN)

Tuesday's big news in the technology sector will likely center around the unveiling of Apple's (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/aapl#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) iPhone 5S, the latest version of the popular smartphone.

	New product announcements from Apple have arguably lacked the excitement that was so evident when Steve Jobs was at the helm of the tech giant.

	Then again, recent entrants to shares of Apple probably are not complaining. Once again the largest U.S. company by market value, Apple has surged nearly 24 percent since the start of July. That has been good news for some of the ETFs with large allocations to the stock, but investors in those funds will undoubtedly be hoping Apple ETFs perform far better this year after the new iPhone is unveiled than after the iPhone 5 was introduced last year.

	Related: <a href="http://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/13/04/3522083/a-guide-to-how-some-etfs-may-react-post-apple-earnings">A Guide To How Some ETFs May React Post-Apple Earnings</a>.

	Technology Select Sector SPDR (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/xlk#NYSE">XLK</a>) 
	The $11.4 billion XLK is the largest tech ETF by assets and it does not skimp on its exposure to Apple. California-based Apple is 15.3 percent of XLK's weight, nearly double the weight given to XLK's second-largest holding, Google (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/goog#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>).

	Although Google and several other top-10 holdings in XLK have been solid performers this year, XLK still ranks in the bottom half in terms of year-to-date performance <a href="http://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/13/09/3884764/an-interesting-year-for-tech-etfs">among the nine sector SPDRs ETFs</a>. That alone is enough reason for investors to hope XLK improves upon the eight percent loss it incurred after the iPhone 5 was introduced through the end of 2012.

	Vanguard Information Technology ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/vgt#NYSE">VGT</a>) 
	With an expense ratio slightly below XLK's, the Vanguard Information Technology ETF is cheapest tech ETF on the market today. Its exposure to Apple is also well below that of XLK. VGT allocated 12 percent to the iPad maker at the end of the second quarter, <a href="https://personal.vanguard.com/us/FundsQuarterEndHoldings?FundId=0958&amp;FundIntExt=INT&amp;MonthEnd=false">according to Vanguard data</a>.

	Large ETF weights to Apple <a href="http://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/13/01/3249669/apples-slide-highlights-advantages-of-equal-weight-etfs">have been proven to cut both ways</a> and when the stock fell after the iPhone 5 introduction, VGT was a little less bad than XLK with a loss of 7.1 percent. Year-to-date, VGT has outpaced XLK by 340 basis points.

	iShares U.S. Technology ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/iyw#NYSE">IYW</a>) 
	Although the iShares U.S. Technology ETF has over $2.4 billion assets, the fund is often forgotten in the Apple ETF conversation. That is perplexing because IYW has one of the <a href="http://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/13/08/3820519/will-this-time-be-different-apple-back-to-dominating-tech-etf">largest Apple weights of any ETF</a>.

	At 18.3 percent, Apple is nearly twice as important IYW's fortunes as Google, the ETF's second-largest holding. Since IYW often carries the larges weight to Apple, it was noticeably worse than XLK or VGT after last year's iPhone announcement, losing 8.7 percent through the end of the year. However, IYW has gained 6.6 percent since the start of July.

	iShares Global Tech ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/ixn#NYSE">IXN</a>) 
	How "global" the iShares Global Tech ETF is is up for debate because the U.S. accounts for 78 percent of the fund's country weight. Still, IXN is a credible Apple ETF because, like XLK and IYW, the stock's weight in this ETF is nearly twice that of Google. Apple accounts for 13.6 percent of IXN's weight, more than triple the allocation given to the company's bitter rival, Samsung.

	IXN fell 4.2 percent through year end following the 2012 iPhone introduction, but the $557.4 million ETF is up 11.3 percent this year.

	For more on ETFs, click <a href="http://www.benzinga.com/etfs">here</a>.

	Disclosure: Author does not own any of the securities mentioned here.

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