Apple and Meta are back in the regulatory spotlight after the European Union slapped the tech giants with a combined $798 million in fines for antitrust violations under newly enacted digital market rules. The EU claims both firms used unfair practices to restrict competition within their ecosystems, particularly concerning data sharing and access for third-party developers.
The penalties arrive as European regulators ramp up enforcement of the Digital Markets Act (DMA), designed to curtail the dominance of Big Tech. Both Apple (AAPL) and Meta (META) have stated they plan to appeal the decisions.
Meanwhile, Intel (INTC) is reportedly preparing to lay off more than 20% of its workforce, according to Bloomberg. The move is part of a broader cost-cutting initiative aimed at reshaping the company’s business strategy under new CEO Lip-Bu Tan. Intel shares jumped over 5% as investors viewed the restructuring as a long-overdue effort to restore profitability.
In contrast to the turmoil at Apple, Meta, and Intel, SAP (SAP.DE) is enjoying a strong week. The German software giant’s stock rose more than 7% after it beat first-quarter earnings expectations and reaffirmed its 2025 outlook. SAP’s solid performance in its cloud services segment helped boost investor sentiment, making it one of the top-performing tech stocks in Europe this week.
Market watchers are keeping a close eye on these tech giants as broader macroeconomic uncertainties—ranging from trade tensions to AI-driven disruption—continue to shape sector volatility.
