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Apple Shares Hit An All-time High

Shares of Apple jumped to a record high on Tuesday, marking their biggest daily gain since late 2022. The big jump came after Wall Street welcomed the iPhone maker’s long-awaited announcement about its plans for generative artificial intelligence .

KEY FACTS

  • Apple shares rose more than 7% to $207, about $8 higher than the previous record close and topped $200 for the first time.
  • That sent Apple’s market capitalization jumping from roughly $215 billion to $3.2 trillion, ranking among the 10 biggest daily market value jumps in history.
  • The rally came a day after Apple announced various AI features that will be integrated into the iPhone and other devices later this year, the most notable of which is the integration of OpenAI’s hit AI-generating chatbot ChatGPT directly into iPhone apps.
  • Even after the sharp jump, Apple remains behind Microsoft as the world’s most valuable company, a title Apple lost in January. Apple has narrowed the market capitalization gap between it and Microsoft to less than $50 billion.

IMPORTANT QUOTE

“Apple’s WWDC keynote showed enough improvements to reassure us of the expected upgrade cycle with the release of iPhone 16 and the release of iOS18 in the fall of this year,” wrote JPMorgan analysts led by Samik Chatterjee. Apple could certainly use a rekindling of iPhone sales, which are expected to fall to their lowest level since 2020 in the current quarter, according to consensus analyst estimates compiled by FactSet.

BIG NUMBER

7%. That’s how much Apple shares have risen in price since the beginning of the year. That’s far worse than the S&P 500’s 13% gain, but still marks a significant stock market turnaround for Apple, whose shares were down 12% year-to-date as of the end of April.

CONTRA

Apple regained its position as Wall Street’s second most valuable company after losing it to Nvidia last week. The leader in chip manufacturing received a market valuation of 3.003 trillion. dollar. However, Nvidia is currently valued at $2.9 trillion. dollars, while Apple exceeds a valuation of 3.1 trillion. dollar.

KEY STORY

Apple finally unveiled its overarching generative AI offerings “Apple Intelligence” on Monday, a highly anticipated announcement that heralded upcoming upgrades to the iPhone’s Siri voice assistant and messaging, all powered by OpenAI. Apple seems to have fallen behind with the integration of artificial intelligence compared to its major technological rivals such as Alphabet and Meta, and it may be a strategy, analysts say. “Apple’s position seems to be that it doesn’t need to pursue AI. Instead, it leaves that up to Meta, OpenAI and others, saving billions,” Rosenblatt analyst Barton Crockett summarized.

UAE Job Trends For 2025: High-Demand And Lucrative Roles Revealed

The UAE’s flourishing asset management sector, bolstered by rising investor interest, regulatory advancements, and a surge in Family Offices and Ultra High Net Worth Individuals (UHNWIs), is driving demand for banking and finance talent.

Roles in fundraising and institutional sales are particularly sought after, with professionals in these fields highly valued for their regional networks and industry expertise, according to Michael Page’s UAE 2025 Salary Guides. The comprehensive report, which includes insights from 17 industries, offers an overview of current hiring trends, salary benchmarks, and the recruitment challenges businesses face.

Banking And Finance In High Demand

The report highlights a significant need for compliance professionals, especially those with experience in Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) and Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) regulations. Chief Compliance Officers and Money Laundering Reporting Officers (MLROs) are among the most lucrative roles in the sector. Jon Ede, Regional Director UAE at Michael Page, pointed out that in 2024, the UAE’s workforce grew by 9%, and the number of new companies increased by 14.5%, showing the success of the nation’s strategic initiatives.

Sales, Marketing, And IT Growth

The sales and marketing sector has seen steady growth, especially in B2B industries like technology, real estate, energy, and logistics. Roles such as Business Development Manager, Chief Commercial Officer, and Strategic Sales Director are in demand, with a premium placed on business development, key account management, and communication skills.

The IT sector, meanwhile, continues to evolve rapidly, with high demand for positions like Head of Software Development, Full-Stack Software Engineer, Agile Product Manager, Senior DevOps Engineer, and Digital Adoption Specialist. The report underscores the significant shift in the UAE talent market for digital professionals in recent years.

Navigating The Skills Shortage

The study also highlights the growing skills shortage, with businesses grappling to find candidates with the right expertise. A staggering 37% of business leaders reported challenges in finding skilled talent, while nearly a third (30%) struggled with employee retention. Nearly half (48%) of employers also cited aligning salary expectations with candidates as a key obstacle.

Ede suggests that businesses can overcome these challenges by offering competitive packages that include benefits, career development opportunities, and workplace incentives, positioning themselves as attractive employers in the competitive UAE job market.

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