Sales of Apple's iPhone dipped in 2024, with the tech giant losing some of its market share last year, research indicated.
Preliminary results from Counterpoint Research's market pulse showed that while global smartphone sales grew by 4% year-on-year in 2024, following two years of declines, iPhone unit changes were down 2%.
The data showed Apple's global smartphone sell-through market share fell slightly from 19% in 2023 to 18% last year.
Counterpoint Research said: "Apple’s iPhone 16 series was met with a mixed response, partly due to a lack of availability of Apple Intelligence at launch. However, Apple continued to grow strongly in its non-core markets like Latin America, Africa and Asia-Pacific-Others."
Meanwhile, a notice to shareholders showed Apple has asked that investors vote to block a proposal to get rid of its diversity, equity and inclusions (DEI) programmes. Apple said it had been advised that conservative think tank the National Center for Public Policy Research planned to submit a proposal at its annual meeting that the company cease its DEI efforts. Apple's board recommended that shareholders vote against the proposal at the meeting on 25 February.
Shares in Apple were flat in pre-market trading on Monday morning.
Shares in Walgreens Boots Alliance closed Friday's session up nearly 28%, after the US pharmacy chain's first-quarter results beat analyst expectations.
Walgreens posted earnings per share of $0.51, which came in ahead of an LSEG-compiled average estimate of $0.37, according to Reuters.
Tim Wentworth, CEO of Walgreens Boots Alliance, said that the results reflected the company's "disciplined execution against ... 2025 priorities: stabilising the retail pharmacy by optimising our footprint, controlling operating costs, improving cash flow and continuing to address reimbursement models."
"While our turnaround will take time, our early progress reinforces our belief in a sustainable, retail pharmacy-led operating model." he said.
Walgreens was the worst performing stock in the S&P 500 (^GSPC) in 2024 and despite Friday's gains, shares are still trading at their lowest point in 28 years. The company has been under pressure in the US, facing challenges such as the growth of online prescription delivery platforms.
Shares rose in December, following reports that private-equity firm Sycamore Partners was in talks to buy the company.
Palina Kozyrava wears Skechers purple leather sneakers, on 8 February 2024 in Berlin, Germany. ·Jeremy Moeller via Getty Images
US shoe brand Skechers was in focus, following a report in the Wall Street Journal on Sunday exploring the company's journey to become the third-largest footwear company in the world by sales.
The report said that Skechers was on track to generate $10bn (£8.24bn) in revenue by 2026, highlighting its success had come from focusing on parts of the market largely neglected by competitors.
In the third quarter, Skechers posted quarterly sales of $2.35bn, up nearly 16% year-on-year and said diluted earnings per share of $1.26 were up 36% on the same period in 2023.
Skechers CEO Robert Greenberg said at the time that the brand's "significant growth in the third quarter can be attributed to offering the right product at the right price and ensuring availability at locations where consumers want to shop."
Shares have seen some volatility over the past year and are up 12%. The company is due to report its fourth quarter and full-year results on 6 February.
Luke Miels, chief commercial officer, GSK, said: “IDRX-42 complements our growing portfolio in gastrointestinal cancers.
"This acquisition is consistent with our approach of acquiring assets that address validated targets and where there is clear unmet medical need, despite existing approved products.”
GSK shares had dipped nearly 1% into the red on Monday morning, following the announcement.
Shares in betting group Entain briefly surged on Monday morning, after the company reiterated its earnings guidance for the 2024 fiscal year.
For the Entain side of the business, the company said it now expected group earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) to be at the top of its £1.04bn ($1.26bn) to £1.09bn range.
The company reiterated its previous full year guidance of a core loss of $250m for its US BetMGM business.
Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, said: "Entain might have scored the winning goal in recent months, but its share price has more than halved since 2021 which implies something drastic needs to be done to revive its fortunes and win back the market’s favour.
"Today’s trading update is a good start, but the market will need more good news rather than a stroke of luck."
