Prediction: Apple Is Quietly Setting Up for a Huge 2026

Australia's News Bargaining Incentive legislation passed, requiring tech firms to pay a 2.5% levy on local ad revenue if they don't negotiate with publishers. The law incentivizes deals with publishers, with offsets for spending on small and regional outlets. Tech giants previously criticized the bill, while Australian publishers welcomed it. The law aims to support journalism and encourage commercial agreements between tech firms and news publishers.

Apple's CEO transition from Tim Cook to John Ternus in September has investors anticipating a shift in AI strategy, with potential increases in R&D spending and mergers. Analyst Wamsi Mohan suggests Ternus may focus on innovation, though Apple's cautious AI approach has drawn mixed reviews. Apple's AI features, including Siri upgrades, are set to launch this fall, with Ternus tasked to balance innovation with privacy and user experience.

Apple's September 9 event will introduce the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and a foldable iPhone. The iPhone 18 Pro features a mechanical iris, 12GB RAM, a 2nm A20 Pro chip, and a battery capacity increase to 5,567 mAh. CEO John Ternus, a hardware engineer, will lead the launch. US models will use a Qualcomm modem due to spectrum compatibility issues.

Target reported Q2 sales up 5.3% YoY and net earnings doubled to $1.9B, including a $994M tariff refund. The company raised annual guidance but did not commit to passing savings to customers. Target expects more refunds, totaling 'the significant majority' of what it applied for, according to CFO Jim Lee.

Alibaba's Q1 revenue rose 9% to $39.6B, but operating income fell 57% due to tech investments. BILL Holdings reported 14% revenue growth and 80% operating income increase. U.S. debt surpassed $40T, with Treasury buybacks easing yield pressure. Apple plans 2027 launch for camera AirPods. Axon Enterprise passes competitive position tests, with a 69% potential upside to $1,088.08.

Apple announced changes to its EU App Store rules, including new fees for alternative payment options and external purchase links, following discussions with the European Commission. The Commission welcomed the changes, which take effect October 1. Epic Games criticized the new terms, claiming they violate the Digital Markets Act and do not promote competition. Apple will charge 20% on alternative in-app payments, 15% on external purchase links, and 5% on payments from apps downloaded outside it