Smartphone manufacturers Nokia and Apple enjoyed contrasting fortunes this week, with Apple’s stock sailing close to all-time highs ahead of the widely-tipped launch of its new iPhone on September 12, while Nokia’s shares crashed by up to a fifth following the poor reception of its Microsoft-based competitor.

Though Apple has yet to confirm the date, an invite sent to Silicon Valley journalists to an event next week - showing the date 12 casting a shadow in the shape of a '5' - was issued on Tuesday, the day before Nokia began showcasing its new Lumia smartphone handsets, the first to be based on Windows Phone 8.