Business News
Latest business news and updates
Total: 471
A Broken Handle, a Firedrill and a Nearly ¥6bn Hangover: How Zhang Xiaoquan’s Quality Scandal Exposed a Deeper Corporate Crisis
A viral video showing a Zhang Xiaoquan kitchen scissor handle snapping has reopened scrutiny of the century‑old brand, exposing product‑quality issues and weak customer service. The crisis comes amid a far larger financial implosion: the controlling shareholder’s aggressive expansion and cross‑guarantees have left Zhang Xiaoquan enveloped in nearly ¥6bn of risk, prompting judicial restructuring and asset auctions.
China’s Economy and Tech Swerve Between Commercial Ambition and Policy Recalibration
China’s private-sector dynamism is on display: a domestically built commercial passenger spacecraft opened 3 million-yuan ticket sales, while TikTok formalised a U.S. data-and-content entity to keep American users connected. Markets and commodities reacted: gold hit a record high and equities rallied in technology, materials and consumer niches, even as local governments roll back high-stakes school exams and industrial automation tests promise large efficiency gains.
China’s Fund Managers Shift Stakes: CATL Tops Holdings as Moutai Falls to No.4 and Banks Gain Ground
Fund holdings disclosed in China’s 2025 Q4 reports show a concentrated shift: CATL, two optical‑communications suppliers and Zijin Mining join Guizhou Moutai among five stocks with fund holdings above RMB 100 billion. Managers pared back positions in several high‑growth industrials while topping up banks, insurers and resource names, and FOF allocations favoured short‑duration bond products.
Walmart China and Xiaohongshu Open 'Mashu' Experience Store — A Bet on Interest-Driven Retail
Walmart China and Xiaohongshu opened a jointly branded concept store in Shenzhen that combines Walmart's supply-chain and private-label strengths with Xiaohongshu's trend insights to create interest-led, experiential shopping. The "Mashu" store replaces category shelves with themed "interest islands" and co-branded SKUs, signalling Walmart's strategic shift from mass merchandising toward customer-centred, omnichannel retail.
China’s Market Watchdog Slaps CNY 1.02bn Penalty on Trader for Five-Year Stock-Manipulation Campaign
China’s securities regulator found that Yu Han used 67 trading accounts from mid-2019 to mid-2024 to manipulate the shares of Boshi Eyewear (博士眼镜), netting roughly CNY 510.9 million. The CSRC ordered confiscation of the illicit gains, an equal fine for a total penalty around CNY 1.02–1.03 billion, and imposed a three-year market ban and trading prohibition.
Chinese Regulator Cracks Down on Private Fund Firm, Bans Controller for Life and Levies Tens of Millions in Fines
China’s securities regulator has imposed heavy fines and lifetime market bans after finding serious violations at Zhejiang Ruifengda Asset Management and related private funds. The move forms part of a broader regulatory drive to curb illegal fundraising, asset misappropriation, self-dealing and other abuses in the private fund sector, with potential criminal referrals to public security authorities.
Countdown to $5,000: Central Banks, US Debt and Geopolitics Reprice Gold
Gold has surged to within sight of $5,000 an ounce as geopolitical tensions, weakening US fiscal metrics, persistent central-bank buying and expectations of lower real rates reprice long-term financial risk. The rally is prompting both retail and corporate shifts into gold-linked instruments, while analysts caution against speculative chasing and highlight enduring structural drivers that could sustain higher prices.
China’s MBA Market Cools: Fewer Jobs, Falling Fees and a Curriculum Reckoning
China’s MBA market is undergoing a correction as economic slowdown, automation and policy changes shrink demand for traditional management degrees. Top programmes retain value through alumni networks and tailored curricula, but many schools have cut fees and retooled courses to stay competitive amid fewer clear job outcomes for graduates.
Mainland Investors Trim Hong Kong Exposure; Alibaba Tops Southbound Selling as Pop Mart Draws Fresh Buys
Mainland investors net sold about HK$1.601 billion in Hong Kong stocks on January 23, with Alibaba and China Mobile among the largest net sold positions while Pop Mart drew sizable buys. The flows reflect selective profit-taking and sector rotation rather than a broad retreat from Hong Kong equities.
China’s Expanding Holidays Expose a Deeper Problem: More Days Off Don’t Fix Weak Incomes
China’s decision to extend the 2026 Spring Festival to nine days signals a possible trend toward longer statutory holidays. Yet analysts warn that more days off will not translate into sustained consumption or well‑being unless workers have higher, more secure incomes and enforceable rest rights; otherwise many new leaves will remain “paper” benefits and tourism gains will be diluted.
A‑Shares Tick Up as Gold, Pharma Retail and Solar Stocks Take the Lead
Chinese A‑shares opened higher on January 23 with modest gains across the main indexes as precious metals, pharmaceutical retail and photovoltaic sectors led the advance. The moves reflect a combination of commodity-driven flows, policy incentives for pharma consolidation and renewed optimism about renewables, though gains are concentrated and policy‑sensitive.
Beijing Proposes National Rules for Pre‑Prepared Meals, Seeks Public Input on Labelling and Definitions
China has published draft national standards for pre‑prepared dishes and a proposal requiring restaurants to disclose processing methods, and is soliciting public comment. The rules aim to improve consumer protection and industry standardisation but may raise compliance costs for smaller businesses while accelerating consolidation and investment in cold‑chain infrastructure.