New York, February 10, 2026, 09:42 EST — Regular session.
- Apple slipped roughly 1.3% early Tuesday, running counter to gains seen in a few other megacap names.
- The UK regulator said Apple and Google have agreed to make changes to their app stores, but the commissions they charge are still being scrutinized.
- This week, investors are eyeing U.S. inflation and jobs numbers. Apple’s shareholder meeting is set for Feb. 24.
Apple (AAPL.O) dropped 1.3% to $274.62 shortly after the U.S. market opened Tuesday, a decline of $3.59 per share. With a market cap hovering near $4.05 trillion, the iPhone giant’s price action tends to ripple through index funds and big tech portfolios alike.
Stocks slipped as investors took in disappointing December retail sales numbers, which were unchanged versus the expected 0.4% increase, reviving concerns about consumer strength. “Retail sales data … came out below expectations and is driving some of the weakness,” said Charlie Ripley, vice president of portfolio management at Allianz Investment Management. UBS cut its rating on the S&P 500 information technology sector to “neutral,” with traders bracing for a batch of delayed payroll data, fresh inflation figures, and comments from Federal Reserve officials this week. Reuters
Regulators didn’t step aside. Britain’s Competition and Markets Authority said Apple and Google will roll out changes aimed at making their app stores more fair and transparent. That includes tweaks to rankings and reviews, plus a way for developers to seek access to additional iOS features—think digital wallets, live translation, and similar tools for rival products. “These are important first steps,” CMA chief Sarah Cardell said. Still, the regulator isn’t letting up on commission fees that top out at 30%. Apple, for its part, said today’s commitments “allow Apple to continue advancing important privacy and security innovations for users and great opportunities for developers.” Reuters
Product rumors pulled focus again. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports Apple is on track to launch the iPhone 17e by early March, keeping the price at $599, adding MagSafe charging, and switching to its own cellular chips. The phone will also get the A19 chip, according to Gurman.
Dividend watchers have Apple in focus: the board approved a $0.26 per-share cash payout, with Feb. 9 set as the record date. Only shareholders on the books at the close that day will collect when checks go out Feb. 12.
Microsoft climbed close to 3% in early trading, with Nvidia tacking on approximately 2.4%. Alphabet edged up 0.4%. Apple trailed the pack.
Even so, there’s a chance the UK’s actions end up mostly procedural, not profitable—unless regulators decide to crank up the pressure on fees or payment routing. That’s the scenario investors can’t ignore, since Apple’s App Store policies are so tightly wound into its services margins.
Looking ahead, market players are set to parse a string of U.S. macro data and statements from the Fed, while also tracking Apple’s schedule. The tech giant holds its annual shareholder meeting Feb. 24.
