Stocks bounce as Apple earnings near, oil falls

What happened

Asian shares bounced on Monday as investors awaited Apple’s quarterly earnings, hoping for relief from worries about AI spending. Oil prices fell after talks continued between Iranian and Qatari mediators. Apple shares had risen for four straight months, and analysts expected earnings per share of $2 on revenue of $113 billion.

Confirmed

Global impact / market context

Apple’s results could influence confidence in technology companies by showing whether sales and profit can support investor expectations without the large data-centre spending associated with AI. Its guidance on early iPhone 18 sales may also shape expectations for future revenue, while recent chip weakness highlights concerns about costs and cash flow.

Analyst inference

The article describes a mixed backdrop: stocks and US futures rebounded ahead of Apple’s report, while oil declined amid continuing mediation talks. Yet the Nasdaq had suffered its worst month since April 2025, and worries about AI spending and negative cash flow remained unresolved.

Confirmed

What to watch

1. Apple’s reported quarterly earnings per share and revenue compared with analysts’ expectations of $2 and $113 billion, respectively, could affect confidence in its business performance. Analyst inference
2. Any company guidance on early iPhone 18 sales could indicate whether pre-orders that began in mid-October are translating into demand and potential future revenue. Analyst inference
3. Watch whether concerns about AI companies’ cash flow and data-centre spending persist, since the article links those worries to higher costs of insuring against corporate defaults. Analyst inference

Affected assets

• OP — Optimism

Evidence

• Original source link unavailable