Telecommunications & Media

Global smartphone shipments fall 20 percent; Samsung holds top spot

Global smartphone shipments fell 20 percent in the third quarter from a year earlier to 254.7 million units, the lowest third-quarter level since 2013, as higher component costs and rising handset prices dampened demand, particularly in emerging markets. Samsung Electronics shipped 57.8 million units to remain the top vendor, while Apple shipped 56.5 million units, narrowing the gap. China vendors posted steeper declines. Omdia expects full-year shipments to fall 12 percent.

Crypto

XRP November bullishness surges, but can 80% average return be trusted?

Criticism has emerged that XRP\'s average November return of 80.2 percent is a distorted figure that fails to reflect actual performance. A simple average of 13 years of data suggests sharp gains, but the median is minus 10 percent. Outsize jumps in 2013 and 2024 lifted the mean, while most cycles ended November weaker. XRP has fallen in October and is down in the fourth quarter so far, trading below $1.30.