Highly rated Apple (AAPL) chip supplier NXP Semiconductors (NXPI) is breaking out on the stock market today. NXP has a highest-possible IBD Composite Rating of 99, which means that its shares outperform 99% of all stocks in the market as measured by fundamental and technical factors. Shares climbed to a new intraday high of 109.46 in above-average volume, clearing a 108.60 buy point from a flat base. NXP, up 2.1% to 109.23 in afternoon trading, is
Slowing smartphone sales in China and continued strong sales of Apple’s (AAPL) iPhone 6 handsets will hurt sales of Google (GOOGL) Android-based smartphones this year, market research firm IDC said Tuesday. Android smartphone shipments are forecast to rise 8.5% in 2015, compared with 11.3% growth for the total worldwide smartphone market, IDC said. By comparison, Apple iPhone sales are seen rising 23% in 2015, thanks to strong uptake of its new bigger-screen handsets. Smartphone growth overall is slowing. Last year, smartphone shipments worldwide rose 27.6%, IDC said. IDC said 2015 will bring two notable milestones.
As Apple (AAPL) and Google (GOOGL) ready software targeting new apps, IDC forecasts that the Internet of Things will quickly expand in health care, manufacturing, digital signage, connected cars and other markets. IoT refers to technology that connects industrial, medical, automotive and consumer devices to the Internet. IDC says the IoT market will jump 19% in 2015 to nearly $800 billion in revenue worldwide. The forecast includes hardware,