Business News
Latest business news and updates
Total: 3085
Maotai's Rally Reignites Talk of a Baijiu Bottom — But Seasonal Bounce or Structural Turn?
Kweichow Moutai’s shares and wholesale prices have both climbed in early February, rekindling speculation that China’s premium baijiu sector may be emerging from a multiyear trough. The move is supported by stronger seasonal demand, Moutai’s digital sales channel and modestly improved policy sentiment, but significant structural headwinds and divergent analyst valuations counsel caution.
WeChat Cuts Off Ma Huateng’s Viral Push: Yuanbao’s Red‑Envelope Stunt Blocked for Disrupting Chats
WeChat has blocked Yuanbao’s direct red‑envelope links after users complained about aggressive, task‑based sharing that flooded chats and groups. Yuanbao quickly pivoted to a password‑based sharing model, but the move raised questions about internal alignment at Tencent and the limits of viral acquisition inside dominant platforms.
Falling Behind in Anhui’s Liquor Wars: How Jinzhongzi Became the Weak Link among the 'Four Huijiu Champions'
Jinzhongzi Wine, Fuyang’s only listed baijiu producer, reported another loss in 2025, extending a multi‑year decline driven by a shrinking national market, mounting competition and strategic missteps after China Resources became a major investor. Despite management changes and asset sales, the company has failed to rebuild margins or scale, leaving it far behind Anhui’s leading distillers.
China’s HBN Pushes Growth with Ads, Not R&D — But Can an IPO Fix That?
Hujia Technology’s HBN has risen rapidly in China’s mid-to-high-end skincare market but relies heavily on advertising to drive sales. The company shows high gross margins offset by low net margins because roughly half of revenues are spent on promotion, while R&D investment remains modest. The upcoming Hong Kong IPO will test whether capital can shift the brand from marketing-driven growth to sustained, product-led profitability.
After a Price Shock, Chinese Savers Flock to Gold — and Wealth Managers Hesitate
A sharp late-January gold sell-off has paradoxically spurred Chinese retail demand for gold-linked wealth products, but internal disputes between product teams and risk departments are slowing institutional adoption. The outcome hinges on product design, risk mitigation, and whether banks accept more volatile assets amid falling fixed-income yields.
Chinese Lithium Carbonate Futures Plunge Nearly 11%, Rattling Battery Supply Chain
China's main lithium carbonate futures contract hit the daily limit down, falling 10.99% to 132,320 yuan/ton, a move that depressed lithium‑battery stocks and underscores tensions between near‑term oversupply and long‑term demand from EVs and energy storage. The plunge highlights short‑term market fragility and could squeeze upstream producers while adding uncertainty for battery and carmakers.
China’s Battery Makers Sweep the Globe: Domestic Firms Now Supply Over 70% of EV Cells
In 2025 Chinese battery manufacturers supplied over 70% of global EV battery installations and dominated the energy-storage market, SNE Research reports. CATL and BYD led the pack, while other Chinese firms climbed into the global top ten as Korean and Japanese incumbents lost ground amid shifting demand and mounting losses.
Silver’s Sudden Freefall Rocks Markets as Gold Sheds Safe‑Haven Shine
Spot silver plunged about 15% to below $75/oz while gold fell roughly 3%, triggering sharp falls in Chinese precious‑metals equities and a silver LOF product that hit its fourth straight limit‑down. Officials and market veterans attribute the discordant moves to speculative short‑term flows and silver’s higher sensitivity to sentiment compared with gold. The episode underscores how leveraged, retail‑heavy positioning in a thin market can amplify price moves and create domestic market stress even when gold remains a macro hedge.
Musk’s SpaceX–xAI Tie-Up Pushes His Net Worth Past the $800bn Mark — and Raises Strategic Stakes
Elon Musk’s SpaceX and xAI have merged in a deal that Forbes estimates added roughly $84 billion to his net worth, pushing him past the $800 billion threshold to a record level around $852 billion. The combined company is being valued privately at about $1.25 trillion, with Musk holding an estimated 43% stake, and is preparing for an eventual IPO and index inclusion that could unlock significant liquidity.
Grab to Distribute Chinese LiDAR Maker Hesai Across Southeast Asia — A Power Play for Mobility Hardware
Hesai has named Grab its exclusive distributor of lidar products across Southeast Asia, leveraging Grab’s platform to commercialise sensing hardware among fleets and logistics operators. The deal promises faster regional deployment but brings integration, regulatory and competitive challenges.
AI Demand Outruns Supply: AMD CEO Pushes Back After 17% Share Shock
AMD’s stock plunged about 17% in its worst one‑day drop since 2017 after investors reacted to what they saw as cautious guidance despite a Q4 beat. CEO Lisa Su pushed back, saying AI demand is accelerating faster than expected, that compute demand exceeds supply, and that the Helios server system should help drive a second‑half inflection.
WeChat Blocks Tencent’s Yuanbao Red‑Envelope Push, Underscoring Platform First Rule
WeChat has restricted direct opening of links from Tencent’s Yuanbao app, after the app’s New Year ‘red‑envelope’ campaign spread via high‑frequency share tasks and drew user complaints. The move exposed a strategic rift within Tencent between a product philosophy that defends user experience and a group push to drive rapid user acquisition through viral mechanics.