• Investinq
  • Posts
  • ✌🏻 Apple Considers Goodbye To Google Search

✌🏻 Apple Considers Goodbye To Google Search

+ Fed Warns of Rising Economic Risks as It Leaves Rates Steady

May 07, 2025

In partnership with

Good afternoon! Starting today, U.S. travelers flying domestically will need a REAL ID-compliant license—easily spotted by a star in the top right corner—to breeze through TSA checkpoints. If you’re among the 19% of Americans still holding out, expect some extra screening at security.

First proposed nearly two decades ago, the REAL ID mandate was born out of 9/11 Commission recommendations to tighten ID security. But the rollout has been repeatedly pushed back due to cost concerns, state pushback, and pandemic-related delays. Now, after 19 years of false starts, it’s officially cleared for takeoff.

MARKETS

*Stock data as of market close*

  • Markets climbed Wednesday as the Fed kept rates unchanged and emphasized patience amid tariff-driven volatility. Investors welcomed news of upcoming U.S.-China trade talks in Switzerland, signaling a possible break in the stalemate.

  • While early gains faded during Powell’s press conference, stocks rebounded into the close. The day ended in the green across major indexes, as traders weighed steady policy against mounting global economic uncertainty.

The 5 Advantages of a Gold IRA

With everything going on in the world today - inflation, tariffs, market volatility - it’s more important than ever to stay informed.

That’s why you need to get all the facts when it comes to protecting your retirement savings.

Did you know that Gold IRAs can help safeguard your money?

Request a free digital copy of The Beginner’s Guide To Gold IRAs to arm you with the facts.

In the Beginner’s Guide to Gold IRAs, you’ll get…

  • The Top 5 Advantages to a Gold IRA

  • How To Move Your 401K To Gold Penalty Free

  • A Simple Checklist For How to Get Started

Don’t miss this opportunity to get the facts about how a Gold IRA can help you protect and diversify your retirement savings.

*Offer valid on qualified orders of Goldco premium products only. Receive up to 10% in free silver based on purchase amount; cannot be combined with other offers. Additional terms apply—see your customer agreement or contact your representative for details.

STOCKS
Winners & Losers

What’s up 📈

  • Charles River Laboratories rose 18.68% after the pharma firm raised full-year earnings guidance above expectations. ($CRL)

  • Rockwell Automation climbed 11.90% following a strong beat-and-raise quarter driven by robust domestic manufacturing demand. ($ROK)

  • Disney gained 10.76% after beating earnings estimates and raising full-year guidance, while announcing a new park in Abu Dhabi. ($DIS)

  • Lionsgate Studios jumped 5.16% after finalizing the split of its studio and STARZ businesses into two public companies. ($LION)

  • Nvidia advanced 3.10% on news President Trump will roll back global chip curbs. ($NVDA)

What’s down 📉

  • Sarepta Therapeutics plunged 21.45% after posting a major quarterly loss and cutting full-year revenue guidance. ($SRPT)

  • WW International collapsed 43.04% on reports the company is filing for bankruptcy. ($WW)

  • Upstart Holdings sank 9.65% after issuing a weak revenue forecast despite a Q1 beat. ($UPST)

  • International Flavors & Fragrance dropped 7.08% after reiterating revenue guidance that missed analyst targets. ($IFF)

  • Marvell Technology fell 8.02% after delaying its investor day, raising investor concern. ($MRVL)

  • Rivian Automotive declined 5.78% on lower delivery guidance tied to tariff risks. ($RIVN)

  • Arista Networks slipped 4.76% despite a beat, as margin warnings weighed on the stock. ($ANET)

SEARCH
Apple Considers Move to AI Search, Signaling The End of An Era Defined by Google

Safari might soon be getting an AI makeover.

Apple is “actively looking at” revamping Safari to integrate AI-powered search engines, potentially replacing Google as the default search provider. That bombshell came straight from Eddy Cue, Apple’s SVP of Services, during his testimony in the DOJ’s antitrust case against Google. Cue said AI tools like OpenAI, Perplexity, and Anthropic are becoming strong alternatives—and that Apple is already in talks with some of them. Searches on Safari even declined for the first time last month, which Cue attributed to people shifting toward AI.

Cue emphasized that while Google still offers the best default experience today, AI search is evolving fast. Apple already uses ChatGPT in Siri and plans to add Gemini, Google’s AI model, later this year. Still, Cue noted that Apple’s agreement with Google “has the most favorable financial terms,” and losing it would be a serious hit to Apple’s services revenue—making the situation as strategic as it is technical.

A Cracked $20 Billion Pact

The Google-Apple deal reportedly worth $20 billion annually is now under threat from both court rulings and consumer behavior. The DOJ’s case argues that this default deal unfairly cemented Google’s monopoly. Meanwhile, Apple’s willingness to explore AI search options is a sign that even longstanding partnerships aren’t immune from disruption in the AI arms race. Alphabet’s stock plunged 7.26% on the news, and Apple’s dipped 1.14%.

Apple Intelligence Enters the Chat

With WWDC coming in June, Apple is expected to roll out updates to its “Apple Intelligence” platform, offering deeper integrations of AI into its OS ecosystem. Cue noted that while AI-powered tools still need better search indexing, they’re already doing things that might convince users to switch. As Apple weighs its next move, the search wars are heating up—and the era of default dominance might be coming to an end.

NEWS
Market Movements

FEDERAL RESERVE
Fed Warns of Rising Economic Risks as It Leaves Rates Steady

The Federal Reserve left interest rates untouched on Wednesday, keeping them at 4.25%–4.5% as it braces for the economic whiplash of President Trump’s escalating tariffs. Chair Jerome Powell warned that the new trade duties—especially if they stick—risk pushing inflation higher, growth lower, and unemployment up. That trifecta is the exact kind of economic storm the Fed exists to prevent, but Powell made clear he’s not rushing into any rate cuts until the dust settles.

For now, the central bank is all about patience. Powell said “wait and see” a whopping 11 times during his press conference, signaling the Fed’s strategy: don’t overreact to political chaos and let more data roll in. He even admitted last year’s rate cuts were “a little late,” so this time around, he’s not eager to jump the gun—especially with a president breathing down his neck.

Tariffs, Tantrums, and Tightropes

While Powell diplomatically said trade policy is “not our mandate,” it’s impossible to ignore that tariffs are tying the Fed’s hands. New 145% import duties have companies spooked, investment frozen, and supply chains scrambling. Meanwhile, consumer demand hasn’t cratered yet, and job growth is holding steady. Translation: hard data is holding up, but confidence is tanking. The result? A Fed caught between headlines and homework.

President Trump, meanwhile, continues to pressure Powell publicly for rate cuts while accusing the Fed of stubbornness. Ironically, Trump’s own tariff policy is a major reason the Fed won’t budge. Cutting rates now could look like Powell is caving, and that could undermine the institution’s cherished independence—something markets take very seriously.

The Path Ahead? Murky at Best

The earliest realistic window for a rate cut is July, though most economists are eyeing September. Investors still expect two or three cuts this year, but the Fed isn’t showing its hand yet. As one former Fed advisor put it, Powell is “reactive,” not preemptive right now—a striking shift from the usual maestro-style policymaking.

Until then, the Fed is stuck in a familiar bind: inflation too hot to ignore, growth too shaky to trust, and a trade war that could veer in any direction depending on White House whim. The only certainty? Uncertainty.

Calendar
On The Horizon

Tomorrow

Thursday’s economic calendar is looking barebones, with only the weekly initial jobless claims report expected. It’s a routine checkup on the labor market, but in the context of rising tariff anxiety and shaky consumer confidence, even small shifts could get outsized attention.


The real action tomorrow is on the earnings front. A mega roster is reporting: from auto titans (Toyota), beer and beverage giants (AB InBev), and gaming powerhouses (Nintendo) to platforms (Shopify, Pinterest), media (Warner Bros Discovery, Paramount), and fitness (Peloton, Planet Fitness). Toss in Coinbase, Crocs, Sweetgreen, and DraftKings, and you’ve got a showcase of just how wide-ranging tariff pressures and shifting consumer behavior really are.

Before Market Open:

  • Shopify sits at the heart of e-commerce, but that middleman role comes with middle-of-the-crossfire risk. After management’s warning about weaker free cash flow, investors are bracing for another tough quarter—especially with trade tensions still looming large. A tariff-fueled consumer surge could offer a temporary boost, but weak guidance could keep the stock on the ropes. ($SHOP)

After Market Close:

  • Crypto might be digital, but Coinbase’s fate is very much real-world. The exchange has struggled in 2025 as macroeconomic clouds—especially tariff uncertainty—dampened investor risk appetite. Still, recent glimmers of optimism in the crypto market could mean traders are ready to get off the sidelines, which would give Coinbase a much-needed boost. ($COIN)

NEWS
The Daily Rundown

REFERRAL
Share Investinq 🤝 Acquire Swag

If you love reading our newsletter, don’t be selfish — share it. Odds are your favorite finance bro, trader, investor, or stock market fanatic will too.

Don’t keep all the market news to yourself — share the love using the unique link below.

We deliver you all the news for free every single day (go on… help us out ;)

And here’s the kicker: every referral you make gets you entered into a raffle to win some awesome prizes listed below. Just share the link below and you’ll be entered once they sign up.

RESOURCES
The Federal Reserve Resource

Join our small yet growing subreddit 🚀: https://www.reddit.com/r/investinq/

Wall Street Reads 💎 (Best Books):

Check out our latest issues 🎯: https://investinq.beehiiv.com