What’s it like to have your startup bought by Apple? Stressful Photo illustration: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Apple is cutting back on the purchasing of corporate bonds as it prepares to bring home overseas cash. Changes to tax laws in the United States mean Apple no longer needs to hold so much money in foreign countries. Alphabet and Oracle are also cutting back.
TrueDepth sensors in production at Finisar. Photo: Apple
Apple has invested a substantial sum of cash in TrueDepth sensor maker Finisar.
The $390 million fund will allow for increased research and development spending, and high-volume production of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs). It will also allow Finisar to open a new production facility in Texas, creating more than 500 jobs.
This week's best deals include lessons in the basics of cryptocurrency investing and digital marketing, along with stereo Bluetooth speakers and a massive backup battery. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Summer’s drawing to a close. But the deals rolling into the Cult of Mac Store are showing no signs of slowing. This week, we’ve got a guide cryptocurrency investing for beginners started in, and a digital marketing masterclass. Additionally, we’ve got a stereo pair of portable Bluetooth speakers, and a powerful but slim backup battery. Everything is massively discounted, some by more than 90 percent. Read on for more details:
BlackRock now owns 6.1 percent of Apple's outstanding shares. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
BlackRock, a.k.a. the world’s largest asset manager, has just made a massive investment in Apple, according to its latest Securities and Exchange Commission filing.
The firm upped its investment in Apple to a whopping 322 million shares, meaning that now owns the equivalent of 6.1 percent of Apple’s outstanding shares — with a current monetary value of $38.4 billion.
The Note 7 is all washed up. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
Issuing a global recall for the Galaxy Note 7 is going to cost Samsung even more money than it expected.
Samsung released a statement to investors today revealing that its fiery phablet will hurt overall profits for the next two fiscal quarters, costing the company a total of $5.3 billion.
Apple just made a big investment in China. Photo: Cult of Mac
Apple has invested $1 billion in Chinese Uber rival Didi Chuxing in a move that continues Apple’s push into China and confirms the company’s interest in shaking up the automotive industry.
According to Tim Cook, the deal “reflects our excitement about their growing business … and also our continued confidence in the long term in China’s economy.” Perhaps more importantly, it could give Apple strategic insights and competitive advantages when it comes to Apple Pay and a possible Apple Car.
Step right up and place your AAPL bets. Photo: Apple
Stocks have been getting crushed all year, but according to Goldman Sachs, now is the perfect time to starting betting on Apple options.
Goldman Sachs’ options team has pointed out that Apple options prices are especially low right now compared to the the S&P 500, making it a great target for purchasing a ‘straddle’, which could score investors a big payday if Apple shares move higher or lower than currently expected.
Straddle options work by allowing investors to purchase a bullish and bearish option on a stock so that they make money off the volatility of shares. It’s an advanced investment for most traders to make and it’s not cheap, but Susquehanna’s Stacey Gilbert explains that it’s cheap relative to volatility expectations for the overall market.
Apple stock is leading the way for losing investors money. Screenshot: Evan Killham/Cult of Mac
We can add another award to Apple’s long list, although the company might not be too happy to accept it: The iPhone maker’s stock lost the most value of any tech company this year.
The news comes out of a study from USA Today that reports a shocking average 14 percent decline in value from 462 tech companies. That drop resulted in total losses of $529 billion, but Cupertino is the lead horseman in this year’s stockpocalypse.