Apple lost its status as the most expensive company in the world: the leadership again passed to Microsoft. About this informs CNBC with reference to the data of open stock trading.
Apple shares fell for four consecutive trading sessions, with a total decline of 23%. At the close of trading, the company’s market capitalization was $2.59 trillion. Despite the fact that Microsoft’s shares were also losing value, the company’s market valuation remained higher at $2.64 trillion. The third place in the ranking of the most expensive companies is occupied by Nvidia with an indicator of 2.35 trillion.
Before the large-scale sell-off in the US stock market, the capitalization of each of the three companies exceeded 3 trillion dollars. Microsoft already occupied the first place in the world ranking in the summer of 2024, later giving way to Nvidia. In the future, it was Nvidia and Apple that competed for leadership.
The change in ranking was the result of Apple losing value faster than other major technology companies. This is due to the high dependence of the iPhone manufacturer on China. Starting from April 9, the duty on the import of goods from this country to the USA will be 104%. According to analysts, about 90% of iPhones are made in China. While Apple has begun shifting some production to India and Vietnam, those countries have also been hit with new tariffs of 26 percent and 46 percent, respectively.
Analysts predict that Apple will be forced to raise the prices of its products. On April 2, US President Donald Trump announced the introduction of import duties against 185 countries and territories, which took effect within a few days.
Between the announcement of the tariffs and their actual implementation, Apple stores in the US experienced a significant influx of customers. Customers were worried about possible price hikes after Trump imposed a 54% tariff on imports from China, the main iPhone maker.
According to employees of Apple retail stores, the queues on April 5-6 did not yet reach the scale observed during the launch of new models, but already resembled the atmosphere of a “busy holiday season.”
