Business News
Latest business news and updates
Total: 471
The Quiet Power Behind SpaceX: Gwynne Shotwell, the ‘Adult in the Room’ Reassuring Markets Ahead of a Giant IPO
Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX’s president and COO, has long been the operational anchor behind Elon Musk’s ambitions, credited with rescuing the company during its 2008 crisis and sustaining key customer relationships. As SpaceX prepares for a high‑profile IPO, her steadiness reassures investors, even as public markets will demand clearer governance and succession structures than a founder‑centric private company has relied on to date.
Can Wang Xiaochuan Turn a Medical-AI Bet into an IPO by 2027?
Wang Xiaochuan has repositioned Baichuan Intelligence from a broad generalist-AI play to an all-in bet on medical AI, promising patient-facing decision support and an IPO push in 2027. The company faces steep hurdles: fierce competition from better-resourced incumbents, the high cost and time of clinical validation, regulatory and privacy burdens, and uncertain consumer willingness to pay.
Beijing Joins Shanghai as China’s Second City to Top Rmb5 Trillion — A New Service‑Led Model Emerges
Beijing’s 2025 GDP reached Rmb5.21 trillion (about USD740 billion), making it the second Chinese city after Shanghai to cross the Rmb5 trillion threshold. The milestone reflects a service‑and‑innovation‑led growth model achieved under a policy of “reduced‑scale development,” positioning Beijing as a global economic actor comparable to many medium‑sized countries while presenting new strategic tradeoffs in openness, livability and high‑level transformation.
Tokyo Signals Action as Markets Bet on U.S.–Japan Co‑ordination to Support the Yen
Japan’s prime minister warned of decisive action after the yen reversed sharply, a move traders linked to a New York Fed inquiry that many read as a precursor to coordinated U.S.–Japan intervention. While coordination could calm markets in the short term, analysts say it would not resolve the deeper fiscal and bond market imbalances that are driving yen weakness.
Ex-Husband Sues China’s ‘Express Queen’ for 280m RMB of STO Shares, Posing Governance Test for Family‑Run Courier
An ex‑husband has sued Chen Xiaoying and STO Express seeking around 20.28 million shares (≈RMB 280m), claiming the block was part of a 2012 divorce settlement. The Yuhuan court has accepted the case but not yet tried it; STO says the litigation will not materially affect operations or control while unresolved. The dispute highlights governance risks in family‑run Chinese public companies and could set a legal precedent for post‑divorce claims over equity that became listed after corporate restructuring.
Shandong Joins China’s Trillion-Yuan Club — Big Enough to Rival Small Countries
Shandong’s 2025 GDP surpassed RMB 10.3 trillion, converting to roughly $1.48 trillion and placing the province among mid-ranked national economies. The milestone reflects a combination of a comprehensive industrial base, aggressive capacity restructuring, growing innovation capabilities and regional coordination, while leaving significant environmental and structural challenges to address.
AI Boom Ignites a Metals Supercycle — Copper Poised to Stay in Shortfall as Gold Surges
A broad commodities rally led by metals has accelerated on the back of AI, EVs and robotics. Copper is forecast to remain in deficit this year and possibly worsen, while gold targets have been raised to unprecedented levels as investors seek real assets amid uncertainty.
US Carmakers at Risk of Becoming Niche Players as Global Markets Shift
A University of Michigan professor warns that Ford and General Motors risk becoming niche producers focused on pickups and SUVs if they lose market share in Canada, Mexico and other markets. Such a retreat would have wide economic and strategic consequences, as global demand shifts toward smaller, electrified vehicles and non‑US competitors expand abroad.
CATL and Fujian Transport Group Join Forces to Push Full Electrification of Urban Transit
CATL and Fujian Provincial Automotive Transport Group signed a strategic framework to cooperate on aftermarket services, city battery‑swap infrastructure and V2G technology to accelerate public‑transport electrification. The partnership pairs CATL’s manufacturing and system capabilities with a state‑owned operator’s fleet and routes, creating a potential testbed for scalable electrified transit solutions.
Apple Slashes iPhone Air Prices in China as New‑Year Tmall Push Signals Demand Pressure
Apple has initiated a major New‑Year sale on its Tmall store in China, cutting the iPhone Air’s effective price by roughly RMB 2,500 and extending discounts across its device lineup. The move — the third sizable promotion in about a month — highlights demand pressures in China and precedes Apple’s January 29 quarterly results.
CATL Moves Into Urban Mobility Services with Fujian Transport Group Deal to Build Swap Networks and V2G Capacity
CATL and Fujian Province Automobile Transport Group signed a strategic framework to cooperate on aftermarket services, citywide battery‑swap networks and V2G technology. The partnership could accelerate fleet electrification, create new revenue streams for batteries as services, and test models for grid integration, but faces interoperability, regulatory and capital challenges.
Ninebot Hits 10 Million Domestic Shipments, Underscoring China’s Micromobility Scale-Up
Ninebot announced that its cumulative domestic shipments of intelligent two‑wheel electric vehicles exceeded 10 million units, celebrating the milestone at its Changzhou factory and an accompanying user conference. The milestone underscores China’s manufacturing scale in micromobility and marks a shift from pure volume growth toward higher‑value products, services and regulatory scrutiny.