Charles A. on This week's Apple trading strategies (1/5-1/9/26) - 'And what about the substantially increased risk of China making a move on Taiwan — and much sooner than is currently speculated — based on the aggressive actions the US is now taking in Venezuela? It’s appearing less likely that the US would then act to help defend Taiwan against such action. Where will that leave TSMC, Apple, and nearly all major hardware technology companies? Things have turned a lot more worrisome. In a flash.'
on This week's Apple trading strategies (1/5-1/9/26) - 'Apple supplier Taiwan Semiconductor hit new highs in early Monday trading in Asia after Goldman Sachs raised its price target on the shares. The company’s US shares reached a new all-time high of $321.59 on Friday before closing at $319.61. The shares are currently up 11.55 at $331.16 in overnight activity. Expect new all-time highs in Monday trading here in the US.'
on What does regime change in Venezuela mean for Apple? - '1976? If so, there have been many Presidents and opportunities to fix the situation, following due protocols. What makes it right that *this* President does so without following due protocols? He’s no less geriatric than Biden, but he’s just plain mean, which makes him dangerous. (Must. Not. Stop. The. Bus. ….)'
on What does regime change in Venezuela mean for Apple? - 'Maduro was a middleman in the drug trade for the Chinese. The Chinese and Russians have set up shop in Venezuela. Maduro is responsible for the fentanyl deaths of tens of thousands of Americans. There was a president who won the election in 2024 but Maduro took over. The oil industry was nationalized in Venezuela in 1976 so that should change as a result. Maduro’s embrace of the Chinese and Russians is a direct threat to the U. S. Neither of those countries is getting any oil at this point because the refineries have been shut down. The Venezuelans are happy to see Maduro go. I think this one goes to the Venezuelans ultimately'
on What does regime change in Venezuela mean for Apple? - 'As for any disruption in global oil supplies or price hikes hitting Apple, I don’t see how that happens. The price of oil is already low because of an international glut of supply, and that’s with Venezuelan production down significantly in recent years because of sanctions, unmaintained infrastructure, inefficiency, incompetence, and corruption. *If* someone gets power, wrenches control of everything in government and industry out of all the generals’ and buddies of Maduro’s hands, and then follows through with competent management of the government, country, oil resource and associated industry, Venezuela’s production should only increase. But it’ll take years. And that’s a big “if”. At 1.1M bbd now, though, it really can’t go down much any more, so I can’t understand why anyone would be thinking the US invasion of Venezuela is going to substantially disrupt global oil supplies. It’s also hardly an original story to see a US president declare victory on day 1 after ordering the US military to take out a dictator, and then seeing the country and the region descend into a quagmire and turn into a nightmare of internecine fighting, violence, corruption, and boiling anti-Americanism. PS: Ben Rhodes is a very sharp guy!'
on What does regime change in Venezuela mean for Apple? - 'The only celebrations I’ve seen are among the Venezuelan diaspora'
on What does regime change in Venezuela mean for Apple? - 'Celebrations have erupted across Latin America following the capture of Nicolás Maduro. Streets in Argentina, Ecuador, and Venezuela are filled with fireworks, flags, and people dancing, many under U.S. and Venezuelan banners. I agree in the rule of law. But what do you do when law fails to correct an untenable situation? Sometimes extralegal is necessary because law is inadequate. Between Trump and Kennedy the wrong man was killed.'
on What does regime change in Venezuela mean for Apple? - 'The Associated Press about 1 hour ago: “BREAKING: The U.S. won’t govern Venezuela, but will press changes through an oil blockade, Rubio says, after Trump claims of running the country.” Changed his mind apparently. As one does. I see no good coming from this. The U.S. has now cast its lots with the biggest bullies of the world. What we can take, it is our right to take, as long as it’s in the western hemisphere. Is Greenland next? Panama? Trump’s reference to the Monroe Doctrine, with its geographic focus on our own backyard, is exactly the sort of rationale Putin and Xi would want an American president to offer, because of what that rationale authorizes them to do, at least by implication. It’s difficult to imagine Xi interpreting this as anything but a green light for him to use force against Taiwan or other nations in the South China Sea, and install governments more to his liking.'
on What does regime change in Venezuela mean for Apple? - 'A Venezuelan man asked about the situation: “I ask everyone to have faith and not be misled by claims that the Americans only want our oil and wealth. To those saying that, I ask, what did the Russians and Chinese want all this time? The recipe for arepas?” And Iranians too of course. BTW, for me this is about USA, not Trump, and behaving like it should for all of our sakes if we want to live in a civilised world in the future.'
on What does regime change in Venezuela mean for Apple? - 'Short answer, “No.” US has been a major producer of oil for pretty much the entire history of oil. They won’t assume the responsibilities (treaty responsibilities or financial responsibilities) of a Venezuelan government.'
on What does regime change in Venezuela mean for Apple? - 'The real question is does this make the US an automatic member of OPEC? A proxy for Venezuela? An interim member? Doesn’t seem like the Monroe Doctrine is applicable. Or is this a variant of the Cuban Missile crisis from the 60’s?'
on What does regime change in Venezuela mean for Apple? - 'Yesterday Trump told the Venezuelans, “no estoy loco, soy maduro.”'
on This week's Apple trading strategies (1/5-1/9/26) - 'And eventually your $300.00 expectations will happen! 🙂 I just wish it was on your earlier time table.'
on What does regime change in Venezuela mean for Apple? - 'Due Process disagrees, regarding the second attack on the survivors. Perhaps on the first attack and on abducting leaders of sovereign nations, but it’s a perilously dangerous precedent to set. The rest of the sensible world needs to vociferously and emphatically tell the Trump regime Greenland is not for takeover… and then defend it.'
