London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, May 23, 2026

Apple's value drops as interest rates, supply woes and recession fears batter tech industry

Apple's value drops as interest rates, supply woes and recession fears batter tech industry

Apple stock has lost $1trn (£829bn) from its market value, meaning there are no longer any tech companies worth more than $2trn (£1.65trn).
In a stark contrast to the start of 2022, Apple began this year with $1trn (£829bn) wiped off its market value as tech companies face strong headwinds from higher interest rates, production problems and global economic concerns.

As a result of investors selling off shares, the tech giant's market value fellow below $2tn (£1.65trn), when a year ago it became the only company to reach a $3trn (£2.48trn) valuation.

It had already claimed the title of being the first publicly listed company to reach $1trn in market value in August 2018.

Now, no tech companies are worth more than $2trn but Apple comes close with Microsoft at $1.8trn (£1.49trn) coming second.

The iPhone maker was by no means the worst impacted of the tech companies who've experienced a decline in value.

Its share value has declined 27% over the past year, less than the 33% loss for the tech-heavy Nasdaq index.

Similarly, Tesla's value has also plummeted over the past year as investor confidence dipped and, along with Elon Musk selling off shares.

The carmaker was faced with increased competition for electric cars, concern its chief executive was distracted with the acquisition of Twitter, and supply issues as it produced more cars than it delivered.

Both Tesla and Apple have had production problems with factories in China, which look set to continue with 1COVID1 cases rapidly increasing in the country.

The carmaker was reported to have slowed down output at its Shanghai factory at the end of last year, as well as in May.

Apple too struggled with production in China, and in November said it experienced "significant" disruptions with iPhone assembly after a 1COVID1-19 outbreak.

The declining value of the companies is illustrative of difficulties facing the sector.

Higher inflation - which stood at 10.7% in the UK and 7.1% in the US - has made prices more expensive across the board and raised interest rates have meant the end of cheap debt. Those issues combined have led to fears of a recession and a hammering of investor confidence.

These economic conditions show no signs of abating, as central bankers remain committed to higher interest rates to bring inflation down.

Job losses at major players, such as Meta and Amazon, have already impacted the sector as a whole.

Payments firm, PayPal, announced plans to lay off 300 people from its 2,000 EMEA headquarters workforce.

Flipdish, the food delivery start-up valued at more than €1bn earlier this year, announced job cuts in a bid to rein in costs instead of recruiting for 700 jobs over the course of the year as it previously planned.

Payments company Stripe also said it would lay off 14% of global headcount, roughly equivalent to 1,000 people.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
'They're people from all walks of life across the UK'
EU Digital ID Claims Misstate What Brussels Can Legally Force on Member States
The Great Western Exit: Why Best Citizens Are Fleeing the Rich World [PODCAST]
The New Robber Barons of Intelligence: Are AI Bosses More Powerful Than Rockefeller?
The End of the Old Order [Podcast]
Britain’s Democracy Is Now a Costume
The AI Gold Rush Is Coming for America’s Last Open Spaces [Podcast]
The Pentagon’s AI Squeeze: Eight Tech Giants Get In, Anthropic Gets Shut Out [Podcast]
The War Map: Professor Jiang’s Dark Theory of Iran, Trump, China, Russia, Israel, and the Coming Global Shock [Podcast]
Labour Is No Longer a National Party [Podcast]
AI Isn’t Stealing Your Job. It’s Dismantling It Piece by Piece.
Lawyers vs Engineers: Why China Builds While America Litigates [Podcast]
Churchill’s Glass: The Drunk, the Doctor, and the Myth Britain Refuses to Sober Up From
Apple issues an unusual warning: this is how your iPhone can be hacked without you doing anything
Kennedy’s Quiet War on Antidepressants Sparks Alarm Across America’s Medical Establishment
The Met Gala Meets the Age of Billionaire Backlash
Russian Oligarch’s Superyacht Crosses Hormuz via Iran-Controlled Route
Gunfire Disrupts White House Correspondents’ Dinner as Trump Is Evacuated
A Leak, a King, and a Fracturing Alliance
Inside the Gates Foundation Turmoil: Layoffs, Scrutiny, and the Cost of Reputational Risk
UK Biobank Breach Exposes Health Data of 500,000, Listed for Sale on Chinese Platform
KPMG Cuts Around 10% of US Audit Partners After Failed Exit Push
French Police Probe Suspected Weather-Data Tampering After Unusual Polymarket Bets on Paris Temperatures
CATL Unveils Revolutionary EV Battery Tech: 1000 km Range and 7-Minute Charging Ahead of Beijing Auto Show
Crypto Scammers Capitalize on Maritime Chaos Near the Strait of Hormuz: A Rising Threat to Shipping Companies
Changi Airport: How Singapore Engineered the World’s Most Efficient Travel Experience
Power Dynamics: Apple’s Leadership Shakeup, Geopolitical Risks in the Strait of Hormuz, and Europe's Energy Strategy Amidst Global Challenges
Apple's Leadership Transition: Can New CEO John Ternus Navigate AI Challenges and Geopolitical Pressures?
Italy’s €100K Tax Gambit: Europe’s Soft Power Tax Haven
News Roundup
Microsoft lost 2.5 millions users (French government) to Linux
Privacy Problems in Microsoft Windows OS
News roundup
Péter András Magyar and the Strategic Reset of Hungary
Hungary After the Landslide — A Strategic Reset in Europe
Meghan Markle Plans Exclusive Women-Focused Retreat During Australia Visit
Starmer and Trump Hold Strategic Talks on Securing Strait of Hormuz Amid Rising Tensions
Unofficial Australia Visit by Prince Harry and Meghan Expected to Stir Tensions with Royal Circles
Pipeline Attack Cuts Significant Share of Saudi Arabia’s Oil Export Capacity
UK Stocks Rise on Ceasefire Momentum and Renewed Focus on Diplomacy
UK to Hold Further Strategic Talks on Strait of Hormuz Security
Starmer Voices Frustration as Global Tensions Drive Up UK Energy Costs
UK Students Voice Concern Over Proposal for Automatic Military Draft Registration
Rising Volatility Drives Uncertainty in UK Fuel and Petrol Prices
UK Moves to Deploy ‘Skyhammer’ Anti-Drone System to Strengthen Airspace Defense
New Analysis Explores UK Budget Mechanics in ‘Behind the Blue’ Feature
Man Arrested After Four Die in Channel Crossing Tragedy
UK Tightens Immigration Framework with New Sponsor Rules and Fee Increases
UK Foreign Secretary Highlights Impact of Intensified Strikes in Lebanon
UK Urges Inclusion of Lebanon in US-Iran Ceasefire Framework
×