Apple Shares Surge as Google Antitrust Ruling Preserves Lucrative Search Deal
Apple's stock climbed over 3% following a U.S. federal court decision allowing Alphabet to maintain its Chrome browser and continue paying partners for search engine placement. The ruling safeguards a $20 billion annual payment from Google to Apple for default search status on Safari.
The judgment marks a reprieve for both tech giants after last year's monopoly finding against Google's ad practices. While Judge Mehta declined to order Chrome's divestiture, the Core antitrust concerns remain unresolved.
Apple's rally extends its recent recovery from tariff-related selloffs. The iPhone Maker secured exemptions from proposed duties by pledging substantial U.S. investments, demonstrating its political maneuvering capacity amid global supply chain pressures.
