Apple is closing in on a historic milestone, with its stock market valuation expected to reach $4 trillion. The company’s progress in artificial intelligence (AI) has gained investors’ attention, boosting shares by about 16% since early November and adding approximately $500 billion to its market capitalization.
The US tech giant has surpassed Nvidia and Microsoft in the pursuit of this milestone, leaving the competition behind. Meanwhile, a different kind of battle is unfolding at the Panama Canal, where President-elect Trump claims China’s increasing dominance in trade poses a threat to American interests.
However, Panamanian authorities have vehemently denied these allegations, insisting that shipping rates are not “exorbitant” and that the country’s sovereignty remains intact. The dispute highlights the complexities of global trade and the importance of preserving national assets.
In other news, iconic characters from Popeye and Tintin comics will enter the public domain next week, marking a significant shift in copyright laws. This change will grant creators the freedom to use these beloved characters in new works, potentially leading to fresh adaptations and reinterpretations.
The NFL also made history on Christmas Day, with its double-header games reaching unprecedented viewership numbers through streaming platforms. While international viewership data has yet to be included, preliminary figures indicate that both games were watched by an average of around 30 million US viewers, marking a major victory for Netflix’s live sports ambitions.
Source: https://www.axios.com/2024/12/26/apple-4-trillion-stock-market-valuation