🧠 Tariffs, Chips, and AI Billions: What Moved Tech Today

Where trade drama meets server stacks — and every ticker tells a story.

Apr 16, 2025

The tech world woke up to a full plate: Nvidia took a hit from Washington, Apple danced with tariffs, Meta fought for its past, and Alphabet bet $75B on its AI future.

Here’s your tech rundown, no fluff — just signal.

💥 Nvidia Slapped with $5.5B Charge

The U.S. government just curbed exports of Nvidia’s H20 AI chips to China, and Nvidia is eating a $5.5B charge for it. Why? The chip’s high-speed links raised red flags over national security.

Stock dropped 6%
China exposure took a direct hit
Another reminder that tech ≠ untouchable when policy gets messy

“These export rules aren’t just headlines — they’re revenue killers.” —The Bandicoots

🍎 Apple: Relief Today, Risks Tomorrow

Apple bounced on news of tariff exemptions for electronics, but it’s still down 20% YTD — badly trailing the S&P 500.

iPhones and chips dodge the worst (for now)
Analysts say the short-term win doesn’t erase long-term trade pressure
Investors are watching closely as Apple tries to avoid becoming the face of tariff fallout

“You can’t reroute a supply chain with a press release.”— The Bandicoots

🏛️ Meta on Trial for Its Past Moves

Meta is now in court fighting to keep Instagram and WhatsApp under its wing. The FTC wants to unwind the deals, calling them anticompetitive.

Zuckerberg says it’s strategy, not monopoly
The FTC says it’s “buy or bury”
If the court rules against Meta, it could rewrite the M&A playbook for Big Tech

“This isn’t just Meta on trial — it’s how Silicon Valley buys power.”— The Bandicoots

💸 Alphabet Bets Big on AI Infrastructure

Alphabet’s going all in — again.

CEO Sundar Pichai confirmed the company will spend $75B this year building out data centers, chips, and AI tools.

Focus: Powering Google Search + Gemini
Signal: AI isn't a side hustle — it's the main event
Infrastructure is the new cloud gold rush

“While everyone’s building hype, Alphabet is building hardware.”—The Bandicoots

🛍️ Amazon’s Gadget Fire Sale

Amazon rolled out heavy discounts on its devices for Easter:

Echo Pop: £29.99
Fire TV Stick 4K: £34.99
Kindle Scribe: 24% off
Home tech is clearly still the retail play — especially when paired with Alexa lock-in

“Don’t call it Prime Day. But yeah... it’s basically Prime Day.”—The Bandicoots

⚡ Quick Hits:

Palantir +6.2% — NATO picked up its AI tools
Tesla +0.7% — still shaky, despite green candles
Netflix +4.8% — teased $1T market cap by 2030
Bank of America / Citigroup — earnings beat, both up solidly

📊 Market Wrap

S&P 500: +0.7%
Nasdaq: +0.8%
Dow Jones: +0.5%

Investors are slowly tiptoeing back into tech after a brutal Q1 — but every move still feels like a test.

Bottom Line:
Tariffs are back. AI is booming. Courts are watching.
And if you’re not reading the fine print, the market will make you pay full price.

Until next time,
—The Bandicoots