Apple pulls into focus amid tech sink with fourth quarter results and new Mac and iPad event

The world's most valuable listed company will be the centre of attention this week, as Apple gears up to launch several new additions to its Mac and iPad lines as well as publish its fourth quarter earnings.

Apple is expected to report revenue in the middle of its predicted range at $61.6bn (£48bn) in its results on Thursday after the bell, according to consensus estimates collated by S&P Global Market Intelligence. If achieved, it will mark the firm’s fifth consecutive quarter with double digit revenue growth at a 14.6 per cent increase year-on-year.

Meanwhile, earnings per share is expected to rise over 25 per cent to $2.78 compared to the same quarter in 2017.

Additionally, the Californian tech giant will unveil a slate of new products at its second hardware event on Tuesday. Experts and fans alike are anticipating an update to the Macbook Air and Mac Mini, and new additions to the iPad Pro range.

Both fixtures are predicted to be welcome news for investors, after the release of lacklustre results for Amazon, Alphabet and Snap triggered a sell-off in technology stocks last week.

Amazon was the worst affected, losing out on its spot as world’s second most valuable company to Microsoft.