|

S&P 500 set for worst month since March 2020, Apple higher as Q4 sales beat expectations [Video]

S&P 500 set for worst month since March 2020

Despite rallying on Friday,  the S&P 500 was set for its worst month in almost 2-years, as declines in January put the index in correction territory.

Indices across the board have slipped, as a result of higher global inflation rates, and the central banks response to the situation.

The Federal Reserve opted to keep rates unchanged this week, however laid the table for a potential hike in March.

This news, along with better than expected tech earnings helped cushion recent drops in the index, which now seem to have found its floor.

As of writing, the S&P 500 was trading 0.89% higher, with the Dow Jones gaining 0.33%.

 Apple higher, as Q4 sales beat expectations

Apple was trading higher on Friday following its Q4 earnings call, where the company announced record sales figures. 

The company led by Tim Cook reported that iPhone sales for the quarter were up 9%,  better than the 3% increase markets had forecasted. 

Overall, earnings came in at $2.10 per share versus $1.89, which was up 25% annualized. 

Revenue was also up in the same period, climbing 11% to $123.9 billion, beating expectations of a $118.66 billion estimated rise. 

Speaking after the results, CEO Cook stated that, “Our biggest issue is chip supply, it’s chip supply on legacy nodes, And we’re doing okay on the leading edge stuff”.

$AAPL was trading 5.61%v as of writing. 


Author

Eliman Dambell

With over a decade in financial markets, Eliman brings an experienced and diversified point of view to market analysis. He covers current and historical macro trends to give insights on Metals, FX, Stocks, and Crypto.

More from Eliman Dambell
Share:

Markets move fast. We move first.

Orange Juice Newsletter brings you expert driven insights - not headlines. Every day on your inbox.

By subscribing you agree to our Terms and conditions.

Editor's Picks

EUR/USD holds above 1.1750 due to cautious trade before FOMC Minutes

EUR/USD holds ground after four days of little losses, trading around 1.1770 during the Asian hours on Tuesday. The pair remains steady as US Dollar moves little amid market caution ahead of the Federal Open Market Committee December Meeting Minutes due later in the day, which could offer insights into the Federal Reserve’s 2026 outlook.

GBP/USD finds key support near 1.35 despite year-end grind

GBP/USD remains bolstered on the high end as markets grind through the last trading week of the year. Cable caught a bullish tilt to keep price action on the high side of the 1.3500 handle, though year-end holiday volumes are unlikely to see significant progress in either direction as 2025 draws to a close.

Gold gains on Fed rate cut bets, safe-haven demand

Gold price edges higher above $4,350 during the Asian trading hours on Tuesday. The precious metal recovers some lost ground after falling 4.5% in the previous session, which was gold's largest single-day loss since October. Increased margin requirements on gold and silver futures by the Chicago Mercantile Exchange Group, one of the world’s largest trading floors for commodities, prompted widespread profit-taking and portfolio rebalancing.

Solana risks correction within descending wedge as bearish bets rise

Solana hovers above $120 at press time on Tuesday after a nearly 2% decline on Monday. The SOL-focused Exchange Traded Funds see renewed interest after recording their lowest weekly inflow last week.

Economic outlook 2026-2027 in advanced countries: Solidity test

After a year marked by global economic resilience and ending on a note of optimism, 2026 looks promising and could be a year of solid economic performance. In our baseline scenario, we expect most of the supportive factors at work in 2025 to continue to play a role in 2026.

Crypto market outlook for 2026

Year 2025 was volatile, as crypto often is.  Among positive catalysts were favourable regulatory changes in the U.S., rise of Digital Asset Treasuries (DAT), adoption of AI and tokenization of Real-World-Assets (RWA).