Skyworks Solutions and Qorvo are expected to benefit from strong radio-frequency chip demand and sales of smartphones in China, says an analyst in boosting the chipmakers’ ratings and price targets. “We believe the strong dynamics for the radio-frequency (chip) industry will continue into 2015, as smartphone units grow and content increases,” BMO Capital Markets analyst Tim Long said in a research note on Tuesday. “Apple (AAPL) is gaining a lot of
Apple Watch has nothing to fear from the many smart watches shown at last week’s International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, says Cantor Fitzgerald analyst Brian White. Apple (AAPL), which doesn’t exhibit at CES, plans to release its smart watch early this year. It will sell the wearable device in two screen sizes (1.5 and 1.65 inches) and three models (standard, sport and luxury), starting at $349. It will join smart watches already on the market from LG, Pebble, Samsung, Sony (SNE) and others.
A stronger dollar will rear its head when companies report fourth-quarter earnings, with Apple (AAPL), Google and IBM among those that will be affected. The rally in the dollar has been driven by the strength of the U.S. economy and expectations for rising interest rates. The big question, though, is how currency weakness in Europe and Japan will factor into Q1 and 2015 guidance on earnings calls, analysts say. “The decline in the euro, (British)