11. I t has been able to do so thanks to a new, global breed of consumer who loves to snap up the latest gizmos displayed in the firm’s alluring stores . Every few months, Apple stages the technology equivalent of a fashion show, where Steve Jobs, its iconic boss , teasingly unveils the latest collection of iPhones and iPads. (The next version of the iPhone is eagerly expected in the autumn.) True, Apple’s relative success is partly due to a dip in the oil price, which has pummeled Exxon’s shares, and to the volatility that swept through stockmarkets this week. But it is also due to investors’ confidence in Apple’s business model: last month the firm revealed that in its latest quarter its profit more than doubled, to $7.3 billion, while its revenues rose 82%, to $28.6 billion. 能取得此番成功,不得不言谢于 这群遍布全球新一代的消费者,他们 疯狂抢购 展现在 令人流连忘返 的苹果商店里的最新设备。几乎每隔几个月,苹果公司都要上演一场类似于时装秀的科技展,史蒂夫 . 乔布斯,苹果 偶像级的老大 ,会在发布会上耐人寻味地拉开最新的 iPhone 和 iPad 系列产品的上演序幕。(期待许久的下一版 iPhone 预计于今秋上市。)事实上,苹果的成功,相对而言,部分取决于美孚股价受油价大幅度下滑影响而重挫,以及使这周大盘动荡不定的因素。同时这成功归功于投资者对苹果经营情况信心大增:公司在上个月披露的报告显示,上一季度利润实现翻倍增长,达到 73 亿美元,同季营业额则上升上涨 82% ,至 286 亿美元。
12. The only big cloud on the horizon concerns the health of Mr Jobs, who has been on a medical leave of absence since January—though he has retained his chief-executive responsibilities and has appeared at several official events. Many investors are betting the firm will continue to pump out fat profits even if the creative genius behind many of its biggest successes ultimately has to hand over the helm . Exxon has been warned. 对于苹果,前程似锦的道路上 唯一令人焦虑的是 乔布斯的身体状况,尽管他现在仍然担任着公司首席执行官的职责,并且多次出席正式公开场合,但是从今年一月起,他就一直因病休假。许多投资者 孤投一注 ,坚信着苹果公司将 继续创造巨额的财富 ,即使乔“船长”,这位成就苹果多次胜利的创新天才,最终不得不移交 “掌舵权” 。美孚已经警惕起来了。