Business News
Latest business news and updates
Total: 456
China Loosens 'Three Red Lines' as Property Sector Moves from Deleveraging to Stabilisation
China is effectively easing its "three red lines" deleveraging rules for property firms, with some developers no longer required to file monthly metrics. The move reflects a sector-wide shift from aggressive deleveraging to stabilisation, but analysts remain split on the timing and strength of any sustained recovery.
Henan Leads as China’s Big Provinces Shift from Old Industries to New Growth Engines
Seven of China’s ten largest provincial economies grew faster than the national 5.0% pace in 2025, led by Henan at 5.6%. The data point to a structural shift toward services, high‑tech manufacturing and clean energy, with regional convergence narrowing output gaps but leaving risks from investment, debt and external demand.
Shenzhen ‘Private Gold’ Scheme Freezes Withdrawals as Investors Face Billion‑Yuan Losses
A Shenzhen‑based private gold platform, Jieworui, has frozen withdrawals and offered investors steep haircuts, leaving potential claims exceeding 100 billion yuan and tens of thousands affected. The product was a high‑leverage, social‑media‑distributed ‘lock‑price’ scheme that failed when rising gold prices overwhelmed the operator’s liquidity, prompting regulatory scrutiny and potential criminal probes.
Gold and Silver Collapse Roils Chinese Markets: Miners, Jewelers and Commodities Stocks Hit Hard
Spot gold and silver plunged on January 30, with spot gold down as much as nearly 5% and silver nearly 7% intraday, prompting a broad sell‑off in Chinese precious‑metals and nonferrous equities. Major mining and metals stocks hit daily down limits while leading jewellery brands sharply cut retail gold prices, transmitting market stress to consumers and corporates.
Cheap Blind-Box Champion Goes Public: Can Sunny & Sandy Turn Volume into a Durable IP Business?
Sunny & Sandy, a low‑price blind‑box maker, has filed to list in Hong Kong after rapid revenue and volume growth driven by a nationwide low‑price, high‑turn retail strategy. The firm has converted short‑term momentum into profit, but rising licensing costs, lack of proprietary IP and thin per‑unit margins create questions about the sustainability of its model.
China’s Baijiu Rally Masks a Painful Reckoning: Dividend Promises Crumble as Earnings Plunge
A sharp one‑day rally in Chinese liquor stocks on January 29 masks deeper distress: most baijiu producers reported steep 2025 profit declines, and Yanghe’s decision to abandon a RMB 7bn minimum dividend exposed the fragility of dividend‑backed valuations. The sector faces a rebalancing driven by saturated distribution channels, weaker cashflows and tighter profitability, with 2026 likely to bring consolidation and more conservative payout policies.
From 40 m² Shop to HK$86bn IPO: How Two '85ers Turned Cut‑Price Snacks into China's Biggest Retail Bet
Two entrepreneurs from modest backgrounds built MingMing Busy into China's largest snack retail chain by combining ultra‑low prices, direct sourcing and rapid expansion into lower‑tier markets. The group's HK IPO valued it at about HK$86.2bn, rewarding scale but leaving open questions about single‑store profitability, brand trust and the sustainability of its low‑margin model.
Chinese Menswear Group Denies Buying Robots from Jack Technology, Quelling Market Rumours
Baoxinio issued a concise investor statement denying that it has purchased robots from Jack Technology, pushing back against circulating market rumours. The clarification illustrates how automation hype and social-media chatter can prompt listed firms to make rapid disclosures to steady investor sentiment. The denial does not preclude future automation projects; it mainly aims to correct the public record and limit speculative market moves.
iPhone 17 Supercycle Fuels Record Quarter — but AI‑Driven Chip Squeeze Puts Margins at Risk
Apple reported a record fiscal Q1 driven by iPhone 17 sales and a services business that exceeded $30 billion in a single quarter. Strong results mask strategic challenges: surging memory prices driven by AI infrastructure demand threaten gross margins, even as Apple pursues a device‑centric AI strategy built around partnerships and selective acquisitions.
Former Huawei and Li Auto Executive Joins Avita as Vice‑President to Lead Marketing and Product Operations
Sun Baigong, who has held senior roles at Huawei and Li Auto, has been appointed vice‑president of Avita Technology to lead marketing and product operations. The hire underscores Avita’s focus on commercialisation and reflects a wider trend of consumer‑tech executives moving into China’s EV sector.
Mercedes Reboots the S‑Class — Physical Luxury Meets Software Ambition as Nvidia Joins an L4 Push
Mercedes’s refreshed S‑Class combines traditional luxury cues — physical controls and enhanced passive safety — with a new MB.OS software backbone and AI‑driven features. A publicised partnership with Nvidia to pursue Level‑4 autonomy underscores the company’s strategy to reclaim vehicle control through software while preserving high‑margin, bespoke hardware offerings.
Bitcoin Slips Below $86,000 as Intraday Sell-Off Shakes Crypto Rally
Bitcoin dipped below $86,000 on January 29, falling roughly 4% in a single session. The decline highlights enduring volatility in crypto markets and the sensitivity of bitcoin’s price to leverage, flows and shifting macro sentiment.