New York, Feb 13, 2026, 07:49 ET — Premarket
- Apple fell 5% to end the session at $261.73.
- Bloomberg reported that the overhauled Siri has run into issues during testing.
- U.S. CPI inflation numbers land before the bell, and traders are on alert.
Apple Inc (AAPL.O) looked poised to open close to $261.73 on Friday, following a 5% drop the day before. The company faced renewed scrutiny over its Siri overhaul and increasing regulatory attention on Apple News.
Apple’s outsized role in both the Nasdaq and the Dow makes this shift significant. Lately, markets have grown edgy around big tech’s AI ambitions—investors now demand results, not just fresh demonstrations, before they’re willing to buy in.
Thursday saw sentiment sour, with tech stocks dragging the market lower and investors bracing for inflation numbers that might shake up rate expectations.
Apple’s push to overhaul Siri isn’t going smoothly, with Bloomberg reporting that internal tests have stalled progress. Some features intended for iOS 26.4 in March now look likely to slip—possibly landing instead in iOS 26.5 by May, or even iOS 27 as late as September.
Apple is staying mum on the exact timeline, though the company told CNBC it’s sticking to its 2026 target for the long-awaited Siri upgrade, according to a Thursday report.
Regulatory questions are resurfacing. FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson flagged possible action against Apple News, citing concerns that the app might not be aligning with its stated terms or what users expect, especially after allegations it promotes liberal-leaning content. Section 5 of the FTC Act, he noted, prohibits unfair or deceptive practices.
Apple’s news hit just as tech stocks were already tumbling Thursday, knocking the Nasdaq down close to 2% and sending other megacaps into the red. “We see this as a ‘prove it’ year for AI,” said Jack Herr, primary investment analyst at GuideStone Funds, with investors now looking for payoffs from hefty capex spending. Reuters
Within Apple’s stretch of the tape, attention has moved away from building to selling. Delays hit harder now, as do any hints of tighter oversight, in a market like this.
Apple notched a legal win late Thursday, with a jury siding with the tech giant in its third courtroom faceoff against Optis Wireless over 4G LTE patent infringement. “We’re pleased they rejected Optis’ false claims,” an Apple spokesperson said. Reuters
Cost pressures from the AI ramp-up are drawing analyst attention. Wamsi Mohan at Bank of America flagged a potential spike in memory prices come 2026, though he called the “implied downside to EPS is modest for AAPL.” EPS stands for earnings per share. Investing
Still, the risks are tough to ignore. A fresh delay for Siri, a sharper FTC stance, or stickier inflation—all of it could sour investor appetite for tech and tighten the pressure on Apple’s valuation.
All eyes turn to the U.S. January Consumer Price Index, set for release at 8:30 a.m. ET. That print’s likely to shake up rate-cut wagers and risk-taking. Apple’s also in focus for any moves tied to its Siri rollout or the FTC letter.
