Why Google’s $5 Billion Fine Isn’t Worrying Investors Right Now
- Analysts see minimal impact on search giant’s mobile business
- Long-term hit could come if Amazon, other foes seize chance
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Europe’s record $5 billion fine against Alphabet Inc.’s Google, levied Wednesday morning, marks the biggest regulatory attack yet on technology giants. But investors and analysts largely shrugged off the ruling’s potential to immediately dent Google’s business.
The real damage will hinge on how aggressively Europe cracks down on Google’s lucrative agreements with smartphone makers and carriers going forward -- and how quickly Google rivals like Amazon.com Inc. and Microsoft Corp. pounce. Amazon and Samsung Electronics Co., a Google partner, have already started pushing into web search with their voice-activated products.