Apple Stock Is Rallying On A Report iPhone Demand Is Stronger Than Expected
By ERIC J. SAVITZ
Wed, Dec 16, 2020 5:09am
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Apple shares were higher on Tuesday following a report that the company is increasing production of its 5G iPhones amid surging demand.
Nikkei Asia reported that Apple (ticker: AAPL) plans to produce 95 million to 96 million iPhones in the first half of 2021f, a nearly 30% increase from a year earlier. The target includes the new iPhone 12 line as well as older iPhone 11 and iPhone SE models.
According to the report, Apple plans to build up to 230 million iPhones in total in 2021. The story said that, according to an executive at one key Apple supplier, demand is stronger than expected in particular for iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max. Demand for the entry-level iPhone 12 Mini, by contrast, is described as “a bit sluggish.”
The story also said Apple plans “an aggressive production schedule for its high-end computers,” including the MacBook Pro and the iMac Pro, and that Apple is planning a new Apple TV set-top box for watching streaming services.
Apple didn’t comment on any element of the Nikkei Asia report.
Wedbush analyst Dan Ives said 96 million iPhones in the first half of calendar 2021 would be “well ahead of Street expectations.” He said Street consensus for the fiscal year ending in September 2021 is for Apple to produce 215 million phones—although there is a bull case that would have the total north of 240 million.
Ives continues to see “an unprecedented upgrade cycle for Apple with a major holiday season on the horizon over the coming weeks.” He maintained his Outperform rating and US$160 target on Apple shares.
Apple shares closed up 5.01% to $127.88 Tuesday as the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1.1%.
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With US$40 million already committed, the Global Talent Fund is attracting investor attention with a strategy focused on building globally scalable consumer brands alongside high-profile talent.
By Jeni O'Dowd
Tue, Jun 2, 2026 2 min
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A new investment fund targeting celebrity-founded consumer brands has secured US$40 million in commitments and is rapidly approaching its US$50 million fundraising target, signalling growing investor appetite for alternative opportunities beyond traditional asset classes.
The Global Talent Fund, which has a maximum raise of US$100 million, focuses on building and investing in consumer businesses alongside celebrities, athletes, and influential personalities who play an active role as co-founders rather than simply endorsing products.
The strategy is based on the belief that changes in consumer behaviour, particularly the rise of social media and digital engagement, have fundamentally altered how brands are built and scaled.
GTF founding partner Jeremy Hunt, who is helping lead the fund’s strategy, said consumers increasingly feel connected to personalities they follow online and are more willing to support products developed by those individuals.
“Consumers are searching for content to engage with, and when a celebrity they like or follow takes them on the journey of creating a product or brand, they genuinely feel part of that process,” he said.
The fund is targeting high-growth consumer sectors including wellness, hydration, beauty and recovery, areas Hunt believes continue to benefit from strong global demand and ongoing innovation.
Rather than backing celebrity endorsement deals, the fund is seeking businesses where talent is deeply involved in product development, brand creation and long-term growth.
According to Hunt, authenticity remains one of the biggest differentiators between successful celebrity-backed brands and those that fail.
“The consumer can see clearly if someone is simply being paid to promote a product,” he said. “The winners are typically the brands where the celebrity has genuinely helped build the business from the ground up.”
The model has attracted support from several prominent Australian investors and business families, reflecting broader interest in alternative investments with global growth potential.
Hunt said consumer brands offered a level of tangibility that many investors found appealing.
“Consumer brands are what we touch, feel, smell and taste every day,” he said. “Our investors understand the growth potential in the model, but they also want to be part of the journey.”
The fund’s rapid progress towards its fundraising target comes amid growing recognition that celebrity influence, when combined with strong commercial execution and scalable business models, can create significant enterprise value.
With several high-profile celebrity-founded businesses generating billion-dollar exits in recent years, supporters of the strategy believe the opportunity remains in its early stages.
