Business News
Latest business news and updates
Total: 433
Northern Revival: How Henan, Shandong and Hebei Engineered an Economic Breakout in 2025
In 2025 several northern Chinese provinces recorded notable economic gains as Shandong crossed the 10 trillion yuan threshold and Henan and Hebei posted strong growth driven by industrial upgrading, large projects and logistics. The rebound reflects policy‑led modernization of heavy industry, concentrated investment in strategic clusters and improving export and transport links, but innovation shortfalls and reliance on big projects pose questions about sustainability.
From Wedding Rules to Winter Sports: How Beijing’s Year‑start Directives, Consumer Frenzy and Platform Policing Are Shaping China’s Early‑2026 Economy
Beijing’s latest No.1 document renewed efforts to rein in excessive rural bride prices and for the first time called for cross‑provincial coordination, even as state media celebrated mass participation in winter sports and officials moved to revive cross‑strait tourism. Markets were volatile: gold jewellery prices surged, bitcoin hit a 15‑month low amid AI‑related software fears, and regulators forced WeChat to block widely shared promotional links that were disrupting user experience.
Chinese Tech Board Slides as Coal, Space‑Solar and Property Stocks Rally in Mid‑Session Rotation
China’s growth‑oriented ChiNext fell 1.74% at the mid‑day break as heavy trading and rapid sector rotation produced sharp divergences. Coal, space photovoltaic, aviation, real‑estate and hydrogen concepts surged in pockets while precious metals and AI application stocks sold off, leaving market breadth weak despite elevated turnover of RMB 1.62 trillion.
After a Thrilling Rout, Gold Rebounds — But the Market’s New Logic Is Unsettled
Gold and silver swung wildly in late January, with record highs followed by sharp one‑day falls and a partial rebound that left volatility at multi‑year highs. Analysts point to profit‑taking, margin hikes and Fed political signalling as immediate triggers, but many see longer‑term supports — central‑bank buying and dollar fragility — still intact, making the market structurally different and unpredictably volatile.
Queues at Beijing Gold Counters Tell Two Tales: Panic Sellers and Contrarian Buyers
A surge of retail selling and buying at Beijing’s Caibai gold counters on February 3 highlighted the sharp volatility in gold prices: domestic spot rates hovered around ¥1,070–¥1,082 per gram while international quotes fell from near $5,500/oz to about $4,700/oz before a partial rebound. Banks and wealth managers warned of continued turbulence and advised risk-management strategies, even as many ordinary investors both locked in quick profits and cut losses.
Sun Art Parent’s CEO Disappears Two Months Into Role; Police Involvement Sparks Governance Concerns
GaoXin Retail, parent of Sun Art (大润发), announced it cannot contact CEO Li Weiping, who assumed the role two months ago. Media accounts say he was taken by police to assist an investigation; the company says operations are normal and the chairman will temporarily run daily management.
Mixed A‑share Session Sees Coal and Solar Surge as Tech Pulls Back; Shanghai Index Reclaims 4,100
Mainland Chinese equities were mixed on Feb. 4 as the Shanghai Composite reclaimed 4,100 points while technology sectors retreated. Coal and photovoltaic-related stocks led gains, reflecting a rotation into cyclical and energy themes amid subdued overall turnover and elevated stock‑level volatility.
Retail Rush and Policy Support: A‑Share New Accounts Soar as Walmart Briefly Tops $1 Trillion
January saw a dramatic surge in Chinese retail participation with nearly 4.92 million new A‑share accounts, while the PBOC provided targeted three month liquidity to smooth seasonal pressures. Globally, the US moved to build a critical minerals reserve to reduce reliance on China, and Walmart briefly eclipsed a $1 trillion market cap, underscoring divergent strengths in consumer and tech segments.
From Spectacle to Squeeze: China’s Humanoid-robot Rental Market Shifts from Gold Rush to Price War
China’s humanoid-robot rental market has shifted from an initial post-Gala gold rush to a deep price correction driven by brand proliferation and platform competition. Operators are refocusing on logistics, after-sales and service models while the 2026 Spring Festival Gala looms as a decisive test of which makers can combine reliability and customisability.
Coastal Giants Still Spend Most as Inland Provinces Drive China’s 2025 Retail Surge
In 2025 Jiangsu, Guangdong and Shandong were China’s largest retail markets, each topping four trillion yuan in social retail sales, while inland provinces Shaanxi, Hebei and Henan posted the fastest growth. The patterns reflect structural differences in population, urbanisation and targeted subsidy policies, with implications for China’s domestic demand strategy and foreign firms seeking Chinese market opportunities.
CK Hutchison Launches ICC Arbitration After Panama Court Moves to Void Port Concessions
CK Hutchison said it will pursue ICC arbitration after Panama’s Supreme Court and government actions that the company says breach the legal framework for two port concessions run by its 90%-owned subsidiary, Panama Ports Company. The move highlights legal, operational and geopolitical risks for foreign investors and could have wider implications for shipping through the Panama Canal.
Nearly 5 Million New Investors Flood A‑shares in January as Liquidity Hits Record Highs
January 2026 saw 4.92 million new A‑share accounts opened — the most in any month of 2025 and the fifth‑highest monthly total on record — coinciding with record turnover and positive index performance. While the surge and strong liquidity support a medium‑term ‘‘slow bull’’ case, seasonal funding pressures and margin rule changes created a late‑month pullback that highlights ongoing volatility risks.