Business News
Latest business news and updates
Total: 3045
From Overnight Riches to a Margin Squeeze: Why Xiami’s (Xiaomi) Rally Has Turned Into Investor Anxiety
Xiaomi’s early 2026 euphoria has faded as the company faces a squeeze from sharply higher memory-chip prices, intensified domestic competition from Huawei, and softer demand for its EVs and handsets. Multiple brokerages have cut targets and earnings forecasts, and the stock has fallen nearly 47% from recent highs, raising broader questions about margins and strategy.
Bank of England to Model an 'AI Shock' and Weigh It in Bank Stress Tests
The Bank of England will run a scenario exercise to assess how a rapid, disruptive wave of AI adoption could trigger widespread unemployment and business failures and is considering including the findings in bank stress tests. The exercise aims to quantify credit and capital risks from a potential surge in household and corporate defaults, while forcing banks and regulators to confront difficult modelling and policy choices.
MicroLED and Compute Stocks Drive Broad Advance on China’s Growth Board as Rally Narrows into Close
China’s markets rallied on Thursday as microLED, computing‑power leasing and power‑grid equipment stocks led a broad advance, pushing nearly 4,100 stocks higher and lifting turnover to about RMB 2.39 trillion. Gains were trimmed late in the session, however, highlighting rapid sector rotation and elevated short‑term volatility.
China Sets a Modest 4.5–5% Growth Target for 2026, Signalling Caution and Flexibility
Beijing set a moderately conservative economic growth target of 4.5–5% for 2026, signalling a policy stance that prioritises stability, debt control and targeted support over broad stimulus. The range gives authorities room to act if risks materialize while emphasising structural reforms and employment stability.
When Safe Havens Fail: Why the Yen Slid as Nikkei Plunged and Oil Soared
A spike in Iran-related geopolitical risk pushed oil prices sharply higher and sent the Nikkei tumbling, but rather than strengthening, the yen weakened — exposing Japan’s acute reliance on imported energy, fragile fiscal space and constrained monetary options. Policymakers face a painful choice between defending the currency, supporting households against fuel pain, or preserving an already tentative recovery.
Tech Lift Fuels Market Rally as Oil Holds Flat — China Readies Policy Signals Amid Geopolitical Jitters
Global equities rose as technology shares led gains, while oil settled nearly flat despite Middle East tensions that have already prompted shipping carriers to pause bookings. In China attention shifts to the NPC session and a State Council briefing that could set policy support; meanwhile, market infrastructure and tech developments — from 24/7 bank‑to‑broker transfers to cheaper AI video generation — are quietly reshaping investment dynamics.
Seoul Halts Algorithmic Trading on KOSPI After Sudden Market Swing
South Korea briefly halted algorithmic trading on the KOSPI on 5 March 2026 after sharp market swings. The pause reflects a trade-off between curbing disorderly automated flows and preserving intraday liquidity, and may prompt regulatory review of trading controls.
KOSPI Rockets—South Korea’s Benchmark Extends Gains to Around 11% in Sharp Rally
The KOSPI surged to around an 11% gain on March 5 in a sharp, volatility-driven rally that coincided with broader risk-on moves across Asian markets. Concentration in large-cap tech and derivatives activity magnified the move, prompting questions about liquidity, sustainability and potential policy or market responses.
Memory Crunch Halves Profits at 'King of African Phones' — A Warning for Low‑cost OEMs
Transsion’s 2025 net profit fell by 53.4% as rising memory‑chip prices and heavier sales and R&D spending squeezed margins. The company’s heavy reliance on low‑end handsets in price‑sensitive African and South Asian markets limits its ability to pass on cost increases, forcing a strategic pivot toward diversification and a Hong Kong IPO amid potential shareholder selling risks.
Founder of China’s ‘Reagent Star’ Plans Small Block Sale — A Liquidity Move That Tests Investor Sentiment
Xu Jiuzhen, chairman and largest shareholder of Aladdin Biochemical (688179), has proposed selling up to 3 million shares via block trades, potentially raising about ¥50 million. The planned reduction is small in scale but notable because it follows prior insider disposals and arrives as the company reports improving 2025 results and strong fourth‑quarter profit growth.
Risk-Off Roars Through East Asia: South Korea Stocks Crash over 12% as Japan Also Slips
A sharp, externally driven risk-off wave on March 4 sent South Korean equities into a dramatic slide of more than 12% and pushed Japanese shares lower. The rout — amplified by offshore selling and concerns about Middle East tensions and rising oil prices — has raised the prospect of policy intervention in Seoul and heightened global investor caution toward export-dependent Asian markets.
Hong Kong Stocks Slip as Oil and Shipping Rout Outweigh Tech Resilience
The Hang Seng fell 2.01% while the Hang Seng Tech index dropped 0.96% as oil-and-gas services and shipping names suffered heavy losses. Mega-cap techs such as Alibaba and JD.com weakened but helped keep the tech sub-index from falling as steeply as the broader market. The move reflects sector rotation and heightened sensitivity to commodity and trade-related risks amid volatile global markets.