Google, Apple Shares Jump After Chrome Ruling as Nvidia Dips

Shares of Google-parent Alphabet (GOOG) and Apple (AAPL) jumped after hours on Tuesday, 2 September, following a well-received court ruling that Google would not have to divest its Chrome Browser. Alphabet shares rose as much as 8%, while Apple shares rose by around 4%.

The ruling could possibly prompt a turnaround in sentiment in broader markets, which have declined at the start of September. Shares of tech bellwether Nvidia (NVDA) have closed lower for the past four trading sessions.

TL;DR

• Alphabet and Apple stocks jumped after a court ruled Google can keep Chrome, lifting sentiment despite early September weakness in tech stocks.

• Nvidia (NVDA) and other chip stocks slid as Treasury yields hit their highest levels since July, weighing on growth sectors.

• Wall Street opened September 2025 lower, with the Dow down 249 points and Kraft Heinz (KHC) tumbling 7% on plans to split into two companies.

Judge Avoids Worst Case for Google’s Chrome

Alphabet shareholders appeared to breathe a sigh of relief that the late Tuesday ruling on the future of Google’s Chrome browser was not as bad as it could have been. US District Judge Amit Mehta decided Google would not have to divest Chrome or its Android operating system. 

After ruling last year that Google held an illegal monopoly on search, Mehta ordered the company to share its search data with rivals. This was a good result for Apple, which receives billions per year in payments to make Google the default search engine on iPhones. The judge said Alphabet can still make payments to preload products. However, it can’t now make exclusive contracts that make payments or license a condition.

The ruling helps Google maintain its ‘moat’ in internet search at a time when it faces rising competition in the form of AI-powered browsers from the likes of OpenAI and Perplexity. This gives the company time to develop its own Gemini AI. It also potentially sets up similar less interventionist legal rulings in the ongoing cases against the other US tech giants, including Apple, Meta (META) and Amazon (AMZN).

Nvidia leads S&P 500 Lower

Nvidia was among the biggest laggards on the Dow Jones Industrial Average on Tuesday afternoon, closing down -1.95% but off its lowest levels of the day. Fellow chipmakers Broadcom (AVGO), Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) also traded lower.

The sell-off was in part a reaction to a jump in Treasury yields, which tend to pressure the tech sector since higher yields often reduce the appeal of growth stocks. US 30-year Treasury yields climbed to their highest levels in bond markets since mid-July. September’s track record further dampened sentiment as a traditionally difficult month for equities.

Wall Street’s Bad Start to September

Wall Street stumbled at the start of September, as investors reacted to a federal appeals court ruling that declared most of President Donald Trump’s tariffs illegal. The decision added to uncertainty over US trade policy, unsettling markets after the long Labor Day weekend.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 249.07 points to 45,295.81. The S&P 500 lost 0.69%, 6,415.54, while the Nasdaq Composite dropped 0.82%, 21,279.63.

On the corporate front, Kraft Heinz (KHC) shares slumped 7% after the food giant announced plans to split into two businesses, separating its grocery products from its sauces and spreads. (Source: Reuters)

Conclusion

The court’s decision allowing Google to retain its Chrome browser, while continuing payments to Apple, offered a bright spot for mega-cap tech. 

Markets entered September on a shaky footing after the federal appeals court ruling on Trump’s tariffs unsettled investors at the start of what is already considered a seasonally weak month for equities. Treasury yields climbing to multi-week highs added further pressure on growth and technology shares, with Nvidia and other chipmakers leading the decline. 

*Past performance does not indicate future results. The above are only projections and should not be taken as investment advice.