The MCSI Emerging Market Index, which is a composite of some of the biggest company stocks in developing nations is up 30% for the year. But tech stocks in the same index are up 54% over the same time period, which means they’re increasing at a rate nearly twice as high as the total index, the Wall Street Journal reports.

There are also roughly 30 emerging market economies primarily in Africa, Eastern Europe and Asia

The tech gains in the emerging nations reportedly represent a turnaround from previous years, as the major industries that drove index gains were commodities, financial services, and utilities. In the 1990s, technology stocks only made up 5% of the index, today they represent more than a quarter.  

It’s been a strong year for tech stocks in the U.S. as well, with the S&P North American Technology index up 26% for the year.

A few of the big drivers of emerging market gains are China’s eCommerce platform Alibaba, Internet services company Tencent Holdings, and electronics powerhouse Samsung.

Source: Wall Street Journal and FactSet

What are emerging markets?

There are also roughly 30 emerging market economies primarily in Africa, Eastern Europe and Asia. Some of the largest emerging nations are referred to as the BRIC nations of Brazil, Russia, India, and China.  But there are as many as two dozen others, including Malaysia, Mexico, South Africa, Taiwan, Turkey, and Vietnam.

(China is something of a paradox. It’s the world’s second largest economy, but it’s also considered a developing nation.)

Generally speaking, these countries are less affluent, and the standard of living tends to be lower. Literacy may not be as high as in developed countries, and there also can be less political and economic stability. The currency of these countries can also be subject to dramatic swings, which can affect investments.

Manufacturing tends to be less advanced, and it tends to focus on components that find their way into finished products made elsewhere. Many of these countries also supply natural resources that are necessary in manufacturing, such as petroleum, wood and non-precious metal.

While investments in developed nations carry the potential for rapid growth, there’s also more risk involved for a variety of factors related to the stability of these economies, including currency fluctuations and the potential for political unrest.

The post Why Tech Stocks Are Driving Gains in Emerging Markets appeared first on Stash Learn.

The Cupertino, California-based tech giant held a special event Tuesday at its new Steve Jobs Theater to unveil its latest iPhones, including the iPhone X, as well as other innovations for the Apple Watch and Apple TV.

But it was the news about the latest iPhone models that created the most excitement.

“No other device has had the impact on the world that the iPhone has,” Tim Cook, Apple’s chief executive officer, said in prepared remarks during the streamed event. “Nothing else has put so much power into so many people’s hands.”

The iPhone X is the first major redesign of the iPhone since 2014

The 10-year-old iPhone is perhaps the most successful consumer device in recent history, and the latest model could push Apple’s market cap to a staggering $1 trillion or more, according to reports.

In addition to the iPhone X, which will begin shipping in November, Apple will release the Phone 8 and 8 plus, scheduled for release by the third week of September. These will have features including wireless charging and faster internal processors. The iPhone 8 will start at $699. The 8 plus will retail for $799.

So what’s inside the iPhone X?

The iPhone X is the first major redesign of the iPhone since 2014.

The handset’s feature list will include facial recognition technology, an edge to edge display, augmented reality camera, improved battery life, and animated emojis.  It will also eliminate the home button in favor of a touch screen that pairs with facial recognition to activate the phone.

Will the iPhone X be too pricey for consumers?

The high price is a definitely a gamble with consumers, numerous industry experts say, particularly as the cost of an iPhone has been edging up for years. In fact, the 7 plus, released in 2016, retails for $769.

Only 11% of consumers said they’d purchase a phone with a price tag of $1,000, according to a survey conducted by investment bank Barclays in August. (The majority of those polled said they don’t want to spend more than $560.)

Apple’s not alone in pushing up prices

Competitor Samsung’s new Galaxy 8, which will be available September 15, retails for $950. Together, Apple and Samsung control more than a third of the global high-end smartphone market. 

And for many consumers, smartphones have become a fact of life. They now reportedly spend about 4 hours a day on their mobile devices, which are doing double time as work tools for increasing numbers of people.

And if the price is a gamble, it’s clearly one Apple has thought carefully about.

One reason is that consumers plan to spend more cash on mobile phones in the coming years, according to the research firm Gartner. Another reason why: In the months following the release of its new phones, stock price tends to tick up dramatically. In fact, Apple’s share price in the year following the release of its iPhone 7 increased 43%.

Sources: FactSet and the Wall Street Journal

The post The New iPhone X: Yes, It Could Really Cost $1,000 appeared first on Stash Learn.

An earnings report is a snapshot of a company’s health over a three-month period. Among the things you’ll find are reports about a company’s revenue and profit, which show how much money they’re making and how well they’re using that cash.

You can find out more about earnings reports here.  

What’s inside the report?

The tech sector has been on a growth tear for quite some time, and the NASDAQ, the market index laden with the biggest tech stock names, is up about 25% for the year. The stocks reporting this week are important bellwethers (or indicators) for the technology market, and in some cases for the broader economy.

Something else to keep in mind: the tech sector is volatile, which means the stocks of companies in these industries may be subject to sudden fluctuation. Stocks stumbled in June as investors sold stock to cash in on their profits.

(Lean more about tech stock volatility here.)

Here are some highlights from top tech company earnings reports this week:

• Google parent Alphabet, which reported earnings on Monday, saw its stock fall despite revenue growth of 21% to $26 billion for the quarter. The problem? The price advertisers are paying for ads went down.

Google is the biggest advertiser in the world, and the slip  in revenue is the result of a shift to mobile devices, where the search engine company charges less per click. Desktop ads are still the most profitable for Google. The company’s stock fell nearly 3.5 % after it reported earnings on Monday.

• Facebook, the social media giant, reported its second quarter revenue increased 45% to $9 billion, and its profit jumped 71% to $3.9 billion, driven by advertising revenue. That’s a huge increase by any measure, and especially for a mature company in the social media space, according to analysts. Its stock increased 6% Thursday, following the earnings report. Facebook is now approaching a $500 billion market cap, which puts in the company of tech giants including Apple and Microsoft.
  
• Amazon’s revenue increased by 25% to $38 billion. Profits for the world’s largest e-commerce retailer dropped 77% to $197 million, however, as the company continues to spend on things like new products, warehouse infrastructure, and video content. On Thursday, Amazon’s stock traded at a record high of $1,081 per share, making company founder Jeff Bezos the richest person in the world. He is now worth more than $90.6 billion.
• Twitter reported 328 million monthly active users, about the same as the previous quarter, but fewer than analysts expected. The lack of increase in users sent the company’s stock down 5% on Thursday.

The generally positive earnings for these companies sparked stock market gains last week, as the Dow Jones Industrial Average, a composite index of 30 of the most prominent U.S. stocks, climbed to new heights.

Key takeaways:

Prominent tech companies reported their second quarter earnings this week. Quarterly earnings reports are important snapshots of business health. The tech sector is a rapidly growing part of the U.S. economy, and it continues to drive broader market gains. Tech stocks are volatile, which means they can fluctuate up and down suddenly.

Read more: What The Recent Tech Sell-Off Teaches Us About Diversification  

The post What’s Happening with Tech Earnings? appeared first on Stash Learn.