Apple’s court victory over Samsung sent shockwaves through technology stocks yesterday, wiping more than $12bn from the Korean group’s market valuation, knocking Googleshares and boosting struggling Nokia.
Shares in Apple rose more than 2 per cent, briefly touching a new high of $680, as analysts predicted its rivals would have to redesign devices to avoid being caught in Friday’s sweeping patent verdict. Shares in Samsung, which was also ordered by the Californian jury to pay Apple $1bn in damages, were down 7.5 per cent in Seoul to close at Won1.18m.
Google shares were hit by fears about the vulnerability of its Android platform. The search group’s $12.5bn acquisition of Motorola Mobility was motivated by its desire to build stronger defences against this kind of litigation. Yet Google could do little to protect Samsung, the largest maker of Android devices, from a wounding defeat.