Apple Shares Slip on Report of Potential Chinese Investigation into App Store Fees

Apple shares dropped in premarket trading after Bloomberg reported that Chinese regulators are considering opening a formal investigation into the company’s App Store fees and policies. The State Administration for Market Regulation reviews Apple’s practices, including a 30% cut on in-app purchases and restrictions on third-party payment methods. No decision has been made to launch a formal probe. If pursued, the investigation would add to Apple's challenges in one of its key markets, where competition and regulatory pressures are intensifying. Global regulatory scrutiny has led Apple to open its App Store in Europe under the EU’s Digital Markets Act.