(Reuters) - Smartphone shipments for Apple ( AAPL ) and Samsung declined in the fourth quarter globally, as they grapple with intense competition from Chinese companies including Xiaomi ( XIACF ), according to preliminary data from the International Data Corporation (IDC) on Monday. The global smartphone market rebounded strongly after two years of decline, with Chinese smartphone companies rapidly expanding...

(Reuters) - The Los Angeles wildfires, which have reduced entire neighborhoods to smoldering ruins and left an apocalyptic landscape, could become the costliest wildfires in U.S. history in terms of insured losses if analysts' estimates of up to $20 billion materialize. Dangerously high winds were expected to resume on Monday in Los Angeles, potentially hampering efforts to extinguish two stubborn...

Jan 13 (Reuters) - Allstate ( ALL ) has been sued by the state of Texas, which accused the insurer on Monday of illegally tracking drivers through their cellphones without consent, and using the data to justify charging more for car insurance. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said Allstate ( ALL ) created the world's largest driving behavior database, with...

Jan 13 (Reuters) - Smartphone shipments for Apple ( AAPL ) and Samsung declined in the fourth quarter globally, as they grapple with intense competition from Chinese companies including Xiaomi ( XIACF ), according to preliminary data from the International Data Corporation (IDC) on Monday. The global smartphone market rebounded strongly after two years of decline, with Chinese smartphone companies...