Apple loses $200 billion in market value as China bans iPhones

Apple is gearing up to unveil its highly anticipated iPhone 15 series in the near future, creating excitement among tech enthusiasts worldwide. However, as the company prepares for this major launch, it faces significant challenges that could directly impact its stock performance.

One of the most prominent challenges is China’s recent ban on foreign-brand phones, including iPhones, within public institutions.

This bold move by the Chinese government is fueled by concerns about foreign technology potentially leaking sensitive data from within the country. As a result, government officials and institutions have been prohibited from using US-origin smartphones, such as the iPhone.

Moreover, recent reports suggest that China Mobile, one of China’s largest wireless communication operators, will not be offering the iPhone 15 to its customers, further exacerbating the situation for Apple in this critical market.

As a consequence of these developments, Apple’s shares witnessed a sharp decline, losing over 5 per cent of their value in just one day, translating to a staggering loss of $191 billion in market capitalization over two days.

However, Apple’s challenges extend beyond China’s borders. In Europe, concerns about excessive market power and potential monopolization have prompted the European Union to consider introducing stricter regulations on data usage for tech giants like Apple.

This regulatory scrutiny is part of a broader global effort to rein in the influence of big tech companies.

Despite these hurdles, Wall Street analysts remain cautiously optimistic about Apple’s long-term prospects. They believe that events like the iPhone 15 launch could have a positive impact on the company’s stock prices, balancing out the recent setbacks.

The ever-evolving landscape of the tech industry, with its complex geopolitical dynamics and regulatory challenges, makes it a challenging environment for even the most dominant players.

As Apple navigates these challenges and continues to innovate, the world will be watching closely to see how the company adapts and whether it can maintain its position as one of the most influential and valuable tech companies in the world.