Business News
Latest business news and updates
Total: 749
Beijing’s Economists Push a New Playbook: Diversify, Rebuild Confidence and Green the Supply Chain
At NetEase’s 2026 economists’ conference in Beijing, officials, academics and business leaders argued that China’s next growth phase requires diversified, symbiotic policy: bolster household confidence with social and fiscal measures, pivot toward consumption and services, manage US trade frictions pragmatically, and accelerate credible green supply‑chain transition. The forum stressed that technology and AI pose both productivity opportunities and risks to human skills, while corporate ESG work faces significant implementation hurdles.
China’s ‘Baozi Champion’ Sees Profits Hit by Stock Bets as Sales Keep Rising
Babi Foods grew revenue 11.2% in 2025 to RMB 1.859 billion but saw net profit dip 1.3% to RMB 273 million after a RMB 93.82 million hit from fair‑value losses on its holding in Dongpeng Beverage. The result highlights a wider issue in China: industrial firms using stock investments to boost returns can import volatility into corporate earnings.
Amazon Eyes Big Stake in OpenAI as It Seeks Dedicated Models and Talent
Amazon is discussing a multibillion-dollar investment in OpenAI alongside a commercial deal that could require OpenAI to assign staff to build custom models for Amazon’s AI products. The move would intensify rivalry with Microsoft, risk fragmenting the AI ecosystem, and raise questions about OpenAI’s independence and regulatory scrutiny.
After an Epic Sell‑Off, Gold Rockets Back Above $5,000 — Time to Buy or Run for the Exits?
After an extraordinary two‑day sell‑off that pushed spot gold below $4,500, international prices rebounded sharply and reclaimed the $5,000/oz mark by Feb 4. The swings were driven by a blend of speculative liquidation, margin‑related forced selling, shifts in US policy expectations and changes in dollar and Treasury yields, while Chinese retail demand showed both frantic selling and buying.
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.