Apple's iPhone shipments in China jumped 20% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026, the strongest growth among major vendors, Counterpoint Research data showed. The gain came as overall smartphone shipments in China fell about 4% amid supply-chain disruptions and sharply higher memory chip prices. Huawei retained the top spot with a roughly 20% market share and 2% growth, while Apple held about 19%. Xiaomi plunged roughly 35% on a tough year-earlier comparison, Oppo and Honor declined modestly and vivo rose about 2% supported by Lunar New Year demand. Counterpoint cited strong iPhone 17 demand, targeted promotions and some government subsidies as drivers of Apple's outperformance, and warned manufacturers face a “double hit” of shrinking volumes and tighter margins; it forecast a 9% full-year decline for China shipments in 2026. The data also helped lift Apple shares on April 17 as analysts and brokers highlighted the company’s premium mix, tight supply-chain control and ability to absorb some component cost increases.

Apple’s iPhone shipments in China jumped about 20% year-on-year in Q1 2026, the strongest growth among major vendors, Counterpoint Research data showed on April 17. That outpaced an overall 4% decline in China smartphone shipments and helped Apple reclaim a 19% market share behind Huawei’s 20%. Counterpoint and other analysts said strong demand for the iPhone 17 series, targeted promotions and government subsidies, plus Apple’s premium mix and tight supply-chain control, let it absorb rising memory-chip costs better than many rivals. Xiaomi plunged roughly 35% on a high-comparison base and weaker new models, while Oppo, Honor and Vivo saw small declines or modest gains. Markets responded: Apple shares rose around 2–3% on April 17 as brokers including BNP Paribas and Societe Generale upgraded the stock and Bank of America highlighted Apple’s on-device AI strategy and upcoming M5 chips. Market-watchers note Apple’s high GF/market scores but flag valuation premiums and roughly $24.2m of insider selling in recent months. Broader market rallies that day were also aided by easing Middle East shipping fears, which weighed on oil and lifted risk appetite.

A looming global jet-fuel shortfall tied to the Iran war and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz is forcing airlines to trim schedules, add surcharges and warn of cancellations ahead of the summer peak. International Energy Agency chief Fatih Birol said Europe has “maybe six weeks or so” of jet fuel left if the strait remains closed, and said shortages could trigger flight cancellations. Carriers from Lufthansa and KLM to Air India and Air New Zealand have already pared capacity; North American airlines face higher costs and some route adjustments. Air Canada announced temporary suspensions of Toronto and Montreal services to New York JFK from June 1 to Oct. 25 and is pausing several domestic and transborder routes, citing doubled jet-fuel prices and marginal route economics. Airlines and travel firms are imposing temporary fuel surcharges (commonly $25–$60) and higher ancillary fees. Market moves — including an effective U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports and intermittent reopening tied to a ceasefire — have pushed crude and kerosene prices sharply higher, disrupting refinery and tanker flows and complicating fuel availability for Europe and Asia.

Cerebras Systems, a Sunnyvale-based maker of high-performance AI processors, filed for a U.S. initial public offering on April 17, 2026, aiming to list on Nasdaq under the ticker CBRS. The filing follows a 2024 funding round that raised more than $1 billion and valued the company at roughly $8 billion, and comes as the IPO market shows renewed momentum. Cerebras reported revenue of $510 million in 2025 and a turnaround to net income of about $238 million after a 2024 loss. The company says its wafer-scale engine offers substantially larger die size and far greater memory bandwidth than many competing designs and has secured partnerships or deals with major cloud and AI players, including Amazon Web Services and OpenAI. Lead underwriters for the offering are Morgan Stanley, Citigroup, Barclays and UBS. Earlier disclosures showed heavy revenue concentration with G42 accounting for a large share of sales in 2024, a point investors will scrutinize. The filing arrives amid expectations of several high-profile tech listings that could compete for investor attention.

Netflix co-founder and chairman Reed Hastings will leave the company when his board term expires in June 2026, the streaming giant said after releasing first-quarter results on April 16. Hastings, 65, said he will focus on philanthropy and other pursuits. The earnings update showed revenue of $12.25 billion and net income of roughly $5.3 billion for Q1, with GAAP earnings per share of $1.23; Netflix also received a $2.8 billion termination fee tied to its failed bid for Warner Bros Discovery. Management forecast second-quarter revenue and earnings below some street expectations (Q2 EPS guidance cited around $0.78), prompting roughly an 8–9% drop in after-hours trading. Netflix reported more than 325 million paid members and said it is prioritising growth through advertising (targeting about $3 billion in ad revenue in 2026), live sports and new formats such as video podcasts, along with investments in technology including generative AI and a revamped mobile experience.

Little Debbie (McKee Foods) has rolled out a Chocolate Old Fashioned Donut nationwide in the United States, expanding on the strong consumer response to its original Old Fashioned Donut first introduced in June 2025. The chocolate version is described as a cake-style donut with a chocolatey flavor, crumbly texture and sugary glaze. It is available in three formats: a retro-inspired Big Pack Carton containing six large donuts and two single-serve 3-ounce individually wrapped options for on-the-go convenience. The company says the new flavor will join the original as a permanent addition to the Little Debbie snack lineup and is shipping to major retailers, grocery chains and convenience stores. The launch coincides with other Little Debbie product introductions, including soft-baked Chocolate Chip and Peanut Butter cookies. Brand manager Scott Brownlow emphasized the decision to “double down” on the Old Fashioned Donut franchise after what the company called massive consumer demand and strong retail performance for the 2025 launch.