Apple Stock Rises as Alphabet Antitrust Ruling Eases Investor Concerns

Apple shares climbed several percent this week following a federal judge's decision in the Google antitrust case, which avoided drastic measures like breaking up core search assets or banning default search engine agreements. The ruling preserves Alphabet's multibillion-dollar payments to Apple for maintaining Google as Safari's default search—a key revenue stream for the iPhone maker.

Market sentiment improved as the decision removed uncertainty around these high-margin traffic-acquisition deals, estimated to contribute tens of billions annually to Apple's Services segment. Alphabet shares also rallied, reflecting the ecosystem-wide importance of these arrangements.

The news bolsters Apple's bullish momentum after a strong fiscal Q3, where revenue grew 10% to $94 billion. Investors now shift focus from regulatory risks to how sustained partnership revenues will shape Apple's trajectory.