Business News
Latest business news and updates
Total: 749
China’s New ‘No.1’ Policy Pushes EVs, Smart Appliances and Green Materials into the Countryside to Drive Rural Consumption
China’s central No.1 document for the new Five‑Year period targets a boost to rural consumption by promoting NEVs, smart appliances and green building materials in the countryside and by improving recycling systems. Recent data show rural retail growth already outpaced urban areas in 2025, and policymakers hope to translate rising rural incomes into sustained demand, while facing infrastructure and implementation challenges.
Hang Seng Edges Higher as Tech Stocks Slip and AI Plays Rally
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng closed marginally higher while the Hang Seng Tech Index fell, as AI-related ‘large-model’ stocks and gold miners rallied and major internet platforms like Tencent slid. The session illustrated a market split: speculative AI plays attracted flows even as policy-sensitive mega-cap tech names remained susceptible to rumor-driven volatility.
China’s Defence Stocks Spike as ‘Space Compute’ Dream and Homegrown Wide‑body Jet Gain Momentum
A surge in Chinese defence and aerospace stocks reflects investor excitement about SpaceX’s merger with xAI and a renewed push on China’s large civilian aircraft programmes. The merger reframes commercial space as a potential trillion‑dollar market for space‑grade power, laser communications and thermal systems, while COMAC’s accelerated C929 testing signals upward movement in China’s civil aerospace supply chain.
China’s New-For-Old Subsidies Spark Surge in Appliance and Smart-Device Sales, Selling Over 15 Million Units in January
China’s subsidy programme for appliance trade‑ins and purchases of digital and smart products produced more than 15 million unit sales in January, generating nearly 590 billion yuan in turnover. The rapid local rollout — with all 32 regions activating subsidies — signals an early policy success in boosting consumption and encouraging greener, higher‑tech upgrades, though risks remain around front‑loading, fiscal cost and recycling capacity.
Retail Traders Double Down as Gold Crashes; Chinese Banks Raise Bar to Curb Risk
A sharp fall in global gold prices at the end of January and early February prompted Chinese retail investors to average down aggressively while major banks raised minimums and issued warnings to curb risk. The episode reflects growing retail participation in precious‑metals markets and a tension between long‑term structural demand drivers for gold and short‑term monetary policy signals that can reverse price gains rapidly.
China's Markets Steady as Tech and Aerospace Advance, Gold Surges and Platforms Trim Creator Tools
Chinese equities advanced broadly on February 3, buoyed by gains in space, photovoltaic and chip-related sectors while international spot gold spiked nearly 6%, lifting mining stocks. Key industrial developments included the first flight of a hybrid-propulsion unmanned transport aircraft and a private reusable rocket planned for mid-2026, amid renewed travel flows and provincial housing-stability measures.
Chengdu–Chongqing Reunited: China’s Western Twin-Cities Top 10 Trillion Yuan and Redraw Regional Balance
Sichuan and Chongqing together have surpassed 10 trillion yuan in GDP, underscoring the re-emergence of the Chengdu–Chongqing twin-city economic corridor as China’s largest western growth pole. The milestone reflects not just fiscal transfers and infrastructure spending but the maturation of industrial clusters in electronics, advanced manufacturing and new energy.
Yuan Breaks 6.94 Against Dollar as Dollar Softens — A Test of China’s Managed Float
The onshore renminbi strengthened intraday past 6.94 to a 32-month high as the US dollar softened. Market strategists see room for further dollar weakness this year if US jobs data disappoint and rate-cut expectations move forward, a dynamic that will shape China’s exchange-rate, trade, and monetary policy considerations.
Gold and Silver Bounce After Historic Flash Crash — Volatility, Deleveraging and a Strong Dollar Still Loom
Gold and silver rebounded in early February after unprecedented intraday plunges at the end of January and renewed selling on Feb. 2. The shocks were driven by a rapid deleveraging of positions and a renewed expectation of a stronger US dollar following Kevin Warsh’s nomination for Fed chair, while Chinese state banks raised margins and issued risk warnings to curb retail exposure.
A‑Shares Rally as Solar Supply Chain and AI Hardware Drive Broad Market Advance
A‑shares rallied on February 3 as photovoltaic supply‑chain stocks and AI/compute hardware names led gains, while overall market turnover contracted slightly. The advance was broad—nearly 4,900 stocks rose—but lower volume suggests the move may be more sentiment‑driven than conviction‑led.
Shenzhen on the Cusp of a 4-Trillion Yuan Club — Can Its Model Rescue Guangdong’s Slower Growth?
Shenzhen posted 2025 GDP of 3.873 trillion yuan, growing 5.5% and nearing the 4-trillion threshold, powered by advanced manufacturing, exports and world-leading R&D intensity. Guangdong province, by contrast, grew 3.9%, weighed down by sluggish industrial recovery and a sharp fall in fixed-asset investment, exposing the province’s reliance on Shenzhen and Guangzhou as growth engines.
Shanghai to Buy Second‑hand Flats for Affordable Rentals, Pilots in Three Central Districts
Shanghai has begun buying second‑hand flats to convert into guaranteed rental housing for new urban residents, youth and graduates, piloting the scheme in Pudong, Jing’an and Xuhui. Backed by China Construction Bank, the programme aims to speed up delivery of affordable units using existing stock, bolster market liquidity and address urban rental shortages while posing valuation and governance challenges.