Trump Administration Considers Postponing Semiconductor Tariffs to Prevent Conflict with China: Report
Tariff Delay Consideration: The Trump administration is considering delaying tariffs on semiconductors, a shift from previous policies aimed at increasing domestic production and reducing reliance on imports.
Cautious Approach to Trade Tensions: Officials are communicating with stakeholders to avoid escalating trade tensions with China, which could disrupt the supply of rare earth minerals essential for semiconductor manufacturing.
Recent Policy Adjustments: The administration has recently rolled back tariffs on agricultural imports while maintaining the possibility of imposing significant tariffs on semiconductor imports at any time.
Strategic Moves in the Semiconductor Industry: Companies like Apple are securing chip production capacity in response to potential tariffs, highlighting the ongoing U.S.-China tech clash and its impact on the semiconductor market.
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Apple Acquires Israeli AI Startup Q.ai
- Acquisition Announcement: On January 29, Apple announced its acquisition of Israeli startup Q.ai, which marks a significant step in Apple's AI strategy, although the financial terms remain undisclosed, indicating a push for advancements in audio technology.
- Team Integration: The founding team of Q.ai, including CEO Aviad Maizels, will join Apple; Maizels previously founded PrimeSense, acquired by Apple in 2013, highlighting Apple's commitment to attracting AI talent.
- Technology Applications: Q.ai focuses on innovative machine learning applications aimed at helping devices understand whispered speech and enhance audio in challenging environments, which is expected to enhance the functionality of products like AirPods, improving user experience.
- Strategic Outlook: Apple executive Johny Srouji praised Q.ai as a pioneering company, and this acquisition is anticipated to not only drive innovation in audio technology but also potentially provide new directions for future product development.

Apple's Future Relies on AI Subscription Revenue
- Earnings Beat Expectations: Apple's Q1 revenue reached $143.8 billion with earnings per share of $2.84, both surpassing analyst estimates of $138.22 billion and $2.67, indicating that spending on AI and new products is driving long-term growth.
- iPhone Price Pressure: Analyst Dan Ives predicts that rising memory and component costs may lead to a price increase of $100 to $150 for the iPhone 18, which, while unlikely to hurt margins, is crucial for offsetting higher costs.
- AI Strategy at Core: Ives emphasized that future investor enthusiasm will hinge on how Apple monetizes AI-driven subscriptions and services by 2026, showcasing the potential within its ecosystem of 2.5 billion iOS devices.
- Market Sentiment Shift: Apple stock traded over 1% lower on Friday morning, with retail sentiment shifting from 'extremely bullish' to 'bullish', reflecting a focus on AI strategy over short-term hardware profitability.






