New York, Jan 25, 2026, 06:52 EST — Market closed
- Apple faces a busy week with its quarterly earnings report and a U.S. interest rate decision on the docket.
- Changes to App Store advertising introduce a new services dimension for investors.
- Tech earnings from big players may shake up both tech stocks and the wider market indexes.
Apple Inc shares ended Friday at $248.04, slipping roughly 0.12%, after fluctuating between $244.68 and $249.41, according to Apple’s investor relations site. With U.S. markets closed for the weekend, the stock moves into a week that might reshape forecasts for the iPhone maker.
Why it matters now: Apple carries heavy weight in major U.S. indexes, and its earnings come amid a tough stretch for tech sentiment, especially around AI spending. “It’s been a little bit of a short but steep roller-coaster ride,” said Yung-Yu Ma, chief investment strategist at PNC Financial Services Group. At the same time, Franklin Templeton’s Chris Galipeau cautioned that “the earnings bar had better be met.” Reuters
The Federal Reserve’s two-day meeting starts Jan. 27 and wraps up Jan. 28. The policy statement is set for release at 2:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, with Chair Jerome Powell holding a press conference half an hour later at 2:30 p.m. ET, per the Fed’s official calendar.
Stocks finished mixed on Friday. The Nasdaq gained 0.3%, the S&P 500 crept up 0.03%, while the Dow slipped 0.6%, as traders picked their spots ahead of a heavy earnings calendar, according to Kiplinger. “The trend is still positive,” said Louis Navellier of Navellier & Associates, who pointed to next week’s earnings as the main event. Kiplinger
Investors tracking Apple’s services are now eyeing its ad business. Starting March 3, Apple Ads will increase the number of ad slots in App Store search results in the U.K., with Japan next in line. A wider rollout is planned by the end of March, according to Search Engine Land. This boost in ad inventory could push up ad revenues, but it might also drive up costs for developers. Ads are charged per tap or install, and advertisers can’t choose exact placements.
When it comes to the quarter, traders will zero in on a well-worn list: holiday iPhone demand, services expansion and margin trends, plus any hints from management on how new software features are driving upgrades and spending. Guidance usually carries more weight than the numbers already reported, particularly with rates and risk appetite shifting the backdrop.
Some market watchers say the recent selloff might have gone too far, paving the way for a rebound if earnings don’t disappoint. In a column for Investing.com, MarketBeat.com’s Sam Quirke highlighted Apple’s relative strength index (RSI), a tool traders use to gauge momentum, which has plunged into “extremely oversold territory,” with the RSI hovering near 18. Investing.com
The downside risks are clear. A wary outlook, weaker-than-expected services growth, or renewed weakness in iPhone demand could weigh on a stock still viewed as a market bellwether. Even if Apple’s results hold up, a sudden shift in the Fed’s stance might weigh on megacap tech shares.
Apple’s next major event hits Thursday, Jan. 29, with its earnings report followed by an investor call at 5:00 p.m. ET (2:00 p.m. PT).
