Apple Sales Explode, GM Profits Roll & Tesla Goes Online in China

It was a big week for Apple, the tech giant reported a blowout fourth quarter in which it beat Wall Street sales and earnings estimates. Apple sold 39.3 million iPhones and 12.3 million iPads in the quarter and also rolled out its new payments system on Monday. Meanwhile, Tesla began taking online orders for its Model S electric car in China Monday. Buyers can now place a 50,000-yuan deposit for the electric car through Alibaba’s Tmall.com. The move allows puts Tesla alongside General Motors and Volkswagen on Alibaba’s online shopping mall. Finally, General Motors posted third-quarter profits Thursday that nearly doubled as strong earnings in North America and China more than offset troubles in Europe and South America.