NEW YORK (AP) - Shares of Apple are falling
after it did something un-Apple-like: posting results below Wall Street
expectations.
Late Tuesday, Apple Inc.
reported that in the latest quarter, earnings rose a mere 21 percent
from the year before, not the 33 percent analysts were expecting. It was
a rare miss for Apple, which is the world's most valuable company.
In afternoon trading Wednesday, the shares are down nearly 4 percent to $578.30.
Apple executives say
consumers appear to be holding off on buying iPhones before a new model
comes out, even though it isn't expected until October. They also
shifted their buying toward cheaper models of iPhones and iPads.
The company was also hurt
by the strengthening dollar, which reduced the value of overseas sales,
and by economic turmoil in Europe.
