Asian shares were mixed on Thursday after China rolled out more moves to try to boost its lagging stock markets by raising confidence that prices will rise. Officials in Beijing said pension funds and mutual funds would be required to increase purchases of shares,

The Chinese government plans to ensure that share prices will rise by ordering pensions and mutual funds to invest more in domestic stocks, to help jolt the markets out of the doldrums. Officials told reporters in Beijing on Thursday that beginning this year mutual funds should increase holdings of onshore stocks,

China said on Wednesday it will guide big state insurers and commercial insurance funds to increase investments in the A-share market, in a latest move to boost its lagging stock market. Under a plan jointly released by six financial regulators including the securities regulator,

In China, Apple’s second largest market, iPhone sales fell 18% in the December ending quarter, according to Bloomberg.

Apple faced two downgrades ahead of earnings, with analysts citing weak iPhone demand. China continues to be a headwind for sales.

Doug and Lee examined Apple's decreasing stock performance, pointing out as main causes of investor unhappiness dismal iPhone 16 sales in China, AI losses, and criticism about the company's lack of recent innovation.