Apple iPhone Ousted from the top spot in China for the first time in 5 years

Apple's iPhone has been toppled as the number one selling smartphone in China for the first time since 2012, this has made them "vulnerable" in the world's second-largest economy, according to a report released Friday.

The iPhone 6s sold 12 million units in 2016 which is about 2% of all phones sold in China, behind the "Oppo R9" which is the flagship smartphone of the Chinese brand Oppo Electronics. Oppo sold about 17 million units or 4% market share for all phones, according to Counterpoint Research. Oppo is one of the fastest-growing smartphone brands in China which has made its name through high-spec low-priced devices, being sold through bricks and mortar stores. This is the first time that Apple iPhone has been toppled on the top in China in five years.

The Cupertino, CA-based company has been having difficulty in sales for the last few quarters. From July up to September 24, 2016, Greater China revenue fell 30% year-on-year. Apple has been on a charm offensive, visiting China last year, and announced a $45 million research and development center in Beijing. Its market share has fallen from 14.3% in 2015, to 10.4% last year in China, Counterpoint said.

Apple has been squeezed by other players like Huawei and Oppo. Oppo and Vivo have released high-quality but lower priced devices and are aggressively taking market share. Oppo's shipments were up by 109% year-on-year in China, while Vivo saw a 78% increase. Huawei was up by 21%, but Apple was down 21%.

Gold Prices are Trending Downwards as Fed's backs gradual rate hikes

Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen announces that she welcomes the hiking of U.S. interest rates gradually which has pressured gold prices. Spot gold was down by 0.1% to $1,202 per ounce by 0335 GMT, after dropping to as much as $1,197.31. Last Tuesday it has hit eight-week high of $1,218.64. U.S. gold futures had fallen as much as over 1% to $1,197.10.

The U.S. dollar index which measures the greenback against a basket of currencies, were up by 0.3% to 101.200.

Since the U.S. economy is close to full employment and inflation headed toward the Federal Reserve's 2% goal, it "makes sense" for the U.S. central bank to gradually lift interest rates, Fed Chair Janet Yellen said on Wednesday.

Dallas Fed President Robert Kaplan on Wednesday joined the chorus of central bank officials making a case for a gradual hike in U.S. interest rates.

U.S. consumer prices increased in December as households paid more for gasoline and rental accommodation, leading to the largest year-on-year increase in 2-1/2 years and signaling that inflation pressures could be building.

Silver fell by 0.3% to $16.97 an ounce while Platinum fell 0.5% to $956.50, and palladium was down 0.1% to $747.70.