Apple reported a decline in sales Apple Inc. experienced a decline in sales for the fourth consecutive quarter, marking the longest period of slowdown since 2001. The company is currently grappling with sluggish demand and a challenging smartphone market in China. These results indicate that Apple is facing a more significant slowdown in China than initially anticipated. The Chinese government has implemented iPhone bans in certain workplaces, and the introduction of a new phone by Huawei Technologies Co. has intensified competition. Prior to Apple’s report, the S&P 500 index recorded a gain of nearly 2%, marking its strongest session since April. Investor attention is now likely to shift towards the upcoming US jobs report, which is expected to reveal a slowdown in monthly payroll growth from 336,000 to 180,000. Fed maintained benchmark interest rate The Federal Reserve has indicated that the recent increase in long-term Treasury yields has diminished the need for further interest rate hikes. However, Chair Jerome Powell has not...