Apple Inc. (AAPL.US) is preparing to launch the second-generation iPhone Air in the spring of next year, Bloomberg, citing sources, reported.

The new model is anticipated to add a rear camera for ultra-wide photography. The device is undergoing internal testing at Apple.

While the appearance of the new iPhone Air will remain unchanged, Apple is working to enhance battery life and may achieve this by improving energy efficiency, sources divulged.
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This article was automatically translated by AI, the Chinese version should be considered the authoritative version. AASTOCKS.com Limited does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness and accepts no liability for any damages or losses arising from the use of this translation.

Microsoft Corporation (MSFT.US) has built a sizable business by selling AI models to Chinese enterprises, as ByteDance has been Microsoft’s largest AI customer in recent years, primarily using OpenAI models, with annual spending on Microsoft’s AI and cloud services estimated to breach USD1 billion, Bloomberg cited sources as saying.

Other Chinese technology companies, including Ant Group, MEITUAN-W (03690.HK) and TENCENT (00700.HK), have also invested heavily in AI models through Microsoft’s Azure cloud services.

Microsoft has reportedly established subsidiaries in China to keep pace with local innovation and serve multinational clients. President Brad Smith testified before Congress that Microsoft’s business in China remains relatively small, accounting for only about 1.5% of the company’s total revenue in 2024.

ByteDance, MEITUAN-W (03690.HK) and TENCENT (00700.HK) have not responded to the report, while an Ant Group spokesperson said the company develops its own AI models and that its core products do not rely on external models.
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Apple Inc. (AAPL.US) CEO Tim Cook told The Wall Street Journal that the company plans to raise product prices to offset surging costs of memory and storage chips.

He said price hikes are unfortunately unavoidable, adding Apple is making every effort to ease the substantial cost pressure passed on by suppliers and has been working to shield customers from the impact of price hikes, but the current situation has become difficult to sustain.

Cook declined to disclose the specific timing, magnitude or affected products of the planned price increases.

Apple’s next major product launch is likely to take place in September, when the iPhone 18 series is expected to be unveiled, including a new foldable iPhone model.
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The HSI closed at 24,312, down 181 pts or 0.74%. Full-day turnover reached HKD270.412 billion. The HSTECH closed at 4,669, up 10 pts or 0.22%, while the HSCEI closed at 8,144, down 96 pts or 1.17%.

Major techs were mixed. KUAISHOU-W (01024.HK)’s Kling AI is reportedly seeking to raise over USD2 billion at a post-investment valuation of USD18 billion. Its shares bucked the market to close up 7.34% at HKD47.7. TENCENT (00700.HK) dipped 0.45%, BABA-W (09988.HK) faded 0.09%, and MEITUAN-W (03690.HK) dropped nearly 1.2%.

KINGBOARD HLDG (00148.HK) placed shares of KB LAMINATES (01888.HK) at an 11.5% discount. KB LAMINATES rattled in the morning, once diving 5.7%, before rebounding 6.87% to a record high of HKD91.8, and ended the day up 3.08%. KINGBOARD HLDG also opened lower but reversed course to finish up 17.68%.

Automakers posted notable declines. LI AUTO-W (02015.HK) shed 3.75%, the worst-performing blue chip of the day. XPENG-W (09868.HK) fell off 3.09%, while GEELY AUTO (00175.HK), BYD COMPANY (01211.HK) and NIO-SW (09866.HK) each slid more than 2%.

KNOWLEDGE ATLAS (02513.HK) officially launched and open-sourced GLM-5.2 today, with its shares skyrocketing 12.62%. MINIMAX-W (00100.HK) shot up 6.34%, while XUNCE (03317.HK) lost 2.56%.
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Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN.US)'s Amazon Web Services (AWS) held the AWS Summit Hong Kong and announced a deepening of its strategic partnership with Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTPC).

The AWS Joint Innovation Center established by both parties will launch a new three-year strategic upgrade plan, promoting three major strategies: "Co-nurturing Startups", "Developing AI Talent" and "Empowering Global Expansion". The annual target of jointly supporting more than 100 startups will be stretched to cover the life and health technology sector.

Terry Wong, CEO of HKSTPC, said the upgrade of the AWS Joint Innovation Center will enable resources to be deployed more systematically into the most promising areas.
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The HSI closed at 24,403 at midday, down 89 pts or 0.37%, with half-day turnover at HKD145.514 billion. The HSTECH closed at 4,666 at midday, up 8 pts or 0.18%, while the HSCEI closed at 8,179, down 60 pts or 0.73%.

Among major techs, General Atlantic is reportedly in talks to lead a financing of over USD2 billion for KUAISHOU-W (01024.HK)'s Kling AI. KUAISHOU-W rallied 5.81% at midday. TENCENT (00700.HK) gained over 1%. BABA-W (09988.HK) edged up 0.28%. MEITUAN-W (03690.HK) faded 0.33%.

Apple-related stocks bucked the market trend on reports that Apple Inc. (AAPL.US) plans to launch a series of new products by the end of next year, including camera-equipped AirPods and a second-generation foldable iPhone. SUNNY OPTICAL (02382.HK) leaped 8.45% at midday, making it the best-performing blue chip. ASMPT (00522.HK) swelled 3.91%, AAC TECH (02018.HK) added 2.76%, and LENS (06613.HK) hiked 1.8%.

KINGBOARD HLDG (00148.HK) placed shares in KB LAMINATES (01888.HK) at an 11.5% discount. KB LAMINATES fluctuated in the morning session, once diving 5.7% before rebounding to leap as much as 6.87%, and closed up 0.23% at midday. KINGBOARD HLDG also opened lower before rebounding, surging 16.87% at midday to HKD115.7.
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Apple Inc. (AAPL.US) plans to launch a series of new products by the end of next year, including AirPods equipped with cameras, a second-generation foldable iPhone, and a new iPhone model to mark the 20th anniversary of the iPhone, Bloomberg, citing people with the knowledge of the matter, reported.

HK-listed Apple concept stocks bucked the market trend and ascended today (17th). SUNNY OPTICAL (02382.HK) last quoted at HKD80.65, up 8.11%. ASMPT (00522.HK) last quoted at HKD201.4, up 3.6%. AAC TECH (02018.HK) last quoted at HKD49, up 2.42%. LENS (06613.HK) last quoted at HKD28.2, up 1.37%.

The above products reportedly entered the later stages of development. The new AirPods will incorporate cameras into the earbud stems as computer vision sensors to provide Siri with information about the user’s surrounding environment and objects.

After launching its first foldable iPhone this year, Apple is expected to introduce a second-generation model by the end of next year, indicating that foldable devices may become part of Apple’s regular product upgrade cycle.
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Digital infrastructure company Equinix, Inc. (EQIX.US) announced that its sixth International Business Exchange (IBX) data center in Hong Kong, HK6, has officially commenced operations.

HK6 is equipped with a liquid cooling system and is specifically designed to meet AI innovation demands for higher power density, enhanced heat dissipation efficiency, and operational resilience.

The initial investment in HK6 amounted to USD124 million (equivalent to approximately HKD1 billion). In its first phase, the facility provides a total of 1,000 cabinets. Upon full completion, HK6 will offer up to 3,550 cabinets.

HK6 directly connects to Equinix’s existing campus and the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park (HSITP), linking tenants and start-ups in the Greater Bay Area. This not only helps promote cross-border collaboration but also accelerates research and development progress.

The AI Discovery Hub, jointly launched by Equinix, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company (HPE.US) and NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA.US), has also been deployed at HK6, further advancing the implementation of AI innovation.
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SpaceX (Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SPCX.US)) extended upswing for a third consecutive trading day, soaring 4.83% overnight (16th) to close at USD201.8, with its market cap whopping USD2.65 trillion, surpassing Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN.US) to become the world’s fifth-largest company by market value.

During overnight trading, SpaceX at one point hit an intraday peak of USD225.64, with its market cap briefly exceeding that of Microsoft Corporation (MSFT.US), making it the world’s fourth-largest listed company by market value for a short period.

Since its debut, SpaceX saw part of its share volatility from its relatively small public float, with only about 4.2% of shares available for trading on the first day of listing.

Market participants expect that as lock-up periods gradually expire, SpaceX’s share price may face greater downward pressure. The first batch of locked-up shares will become eligible for sale after the company releases its first earnings report.
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After producing multiple chips for electric vehicles, AI servers and humanoid robots of Elon Musk's Tesla, Inc. (TSLA.US), Samsung is now developing a next-generation brain implant chip for Neuralink, according to Korean media reports.

Samsung has reportedly begun developing Neuralink's fourth-generation chip. This marks Samsung's first contract with Neuralink and the chip is expected to be manufactured using Samsung's foundry 4-nm process.

Samsung reportedly began development of the new chip at the end of last year. The first batch of test chips entered production last month and shipments are expected in the first half of next year. If testing progresses smoothly, mass production is anticipated in the second half of next year.
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