Business News
Latest business news and updates
Total: 496
Beijing Lowers Down‑Payment Floor for Commercial Property to 30% — A Targeted Stimulus for a Stalled Market
China's central bank and national financial regulator have lowered the minimum down payment for commercial property purchases to 30%, allowing provincial regulators to set higher city‑level floors. The measure aims to ease inventory pressures in the commercial sector but faces limits given structural demand weakness and potential risk to bank balance sheets.
Lei Jun Rolls Out 7‑Year Low‑Interest Plan for Xiaomi’s YU7 as He Pushes Back on Negative Headlines
Lei Jun used a livestream to announce a seven‑year low‑interest financing option for Xiaomi’s YU7, enabling down payments under RMB 50,000, and urged against negative media coverage after a spate of critical stories about Xiaomi’s cars. The move aims to lower purchase barriers and counter second‑hand market narratives but carries margin and financing risks for the company as it scales in the competitive Chinese EV market.
Dreame CEO’s Planet‑sized Valuation Target Sparks Staff Backlash and Questions Over Ambition
Dreame Technology CEO Yu Hao defended an eyebrow‑raising long‑term valuation target after an employee publicly criticised it in a company chat that went viral on Weibo. Yu framed the aim as a decades‑long ambition, stressed that the company has been profitable and shrugged off internal dissent, but the episode highlights governance and financing questions as Dreame pivots from consumer vacuums into capital‑intensive sectors like electric vehicles.
Musk and Ryanair’s O'Leary Trade Insults Over Starlink Fit — A Fight That Reveals Bigger Stakes in In‑Flight Connectivity
A public row between Elon Musk and Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary over installing Starlink terminals highlights a deeper commercial debate about the fuel, certification and cost implications of outfitting aircraft with LEO satellite antennas. The argument exposes the bargaining tensions between a tech provider eager to scale aviation customers and a cost‑focused low‑cost carrier wary of any operational penalties.
Xpeng Accelerates Charging Build‑out — 53 New Supercharging Stations Added in First Two Weeks of 2026
Xpeng reported the addition of 53 ultra‑fast charging stations in the first two weeks of 2026, highlighting the company’s focus on building charging infrastructure as a competitive edge. The expansion addresses consumer convenience but also poses capital and operational challenges amid intense rivalry and growing public charging investment.
China’s Chains at a Crossroads: Cut Costs, Rebuild Supply Chains or Cede the Middle Market
Wang Dongming, a Chinese restaurant chain strategist, warns that the industry’s problem is not pre‑prepared food itself but a cost‑structure mismatch between restaurants and consumers. He urges chains to outsource heavy manufacturing to specialised third parties, sharpen customer targeting, and choose between premium or mass‑market positioning rather than clinging to a shrinking midmarket.
Shanghai-listed Materials Firm Insists Chairman Played No Role in Robotics R&D Amid Regulatory Query
Shangwei New Materials said its chairman, Peng Zhihui, did not take part in the company’s R&D and that operational responsibility sits with joint CEO/CTO Zhou Bin, after receiving supervisory queries from Shanghai regulators. The company highlighted existing governance structures and pledged more cautious external communications given Peng’s concurrent role at a related robotics firm.
Weibo Ban and Store Closures: Public Feud Pushes Xibei into Survival Mode
A public confrontation between Xibei chairman Jia Guolong and influencer Luo Yonghao has coincided with a sharp revenue slump and the planned closure of about 30% of Xibei outlets. Weibo muted both men's accounts amid accusations of slander and doxxing, underscoring the reputational and political sensitivity of high‑profile public disputes in China.
Muted on Weibo: Xibei’s CEO and Critic Luo Yonghao Silenced as Pre‑made Food Row Reignites
A renewed online confrontation between Xibei founder Jia Guolong and critic Luo Yonghao led to both of their Weibo accounts being muted, spotlighting the deep reputational damage suffered by Xibei after allegations about reliance on central‑kitchen processing. The dispute highlights a wider problem: regulatory definitions of "pre‑made" food have not translated into consumer understanding, leaving firms exposed to trust shocks and prompting calls for clearer, consumer‑facing standards.
Xibei’s Retreat: How a Viral Roast Exposed Deeper Faultlines in China’s Casual‑Dining Sector
Xibei has closed about 120 stores and faces losses surpassing 500 million yuan after a trust crisis over its use of pre‑prepared ingredients was amplified by a viral post from internet personality Luo Yonghao. The shutdowns reflect deep structural pressures in China’s casual‑dining sector — high rents, falling per‑meal spending and fragile brand trust — rather than a single cause.
Xunlei Sues Ex‑CEO as Shell Companies, Affair and Procurement Allegations Surface in Rmb200m Claim
Xunlei has filed a Rmb200 million civil suit against its former CEO, alleging he diverted funds through a shell supplier and favoured relatives and a long‑term mistress in staffing and contracting decisions. The case highlights procurement vulnerabilities and governance failures that helped fuel heavy losses during an aggressive push into cloud and blockchain businesses, and follows a management reset that the company credits with a recent financial turnaround.
Haidilao’s Founder Returns to the Helm as Shares Rally — A Reset to Rebuild Growth
Haidilao founder Zhang Yong has resumed operational leadership after CEO Gou Yiqun’s resignation, triggering a near‑double‑digit spike in the stock. The move responds to slowing core growth, early‑stage diversification via the Red Pomegranate incubator, and mounting competitive pressure in China’s hot‑pot market.