Business News
Latest business news and updates
Total: 749
Amazon to Cut Nearly 16,000 Jobs as it Tightens Its Belt and Repositions for AI Era
Amazon has announced nearly 16,000 job cuts as it seeks to curb costs and redeploy resources toward cloud, advertising and artificial-intelligence initiatives. The move reflects a broader industry shift from pandemic-era expansion to a focus on profitability and automation, with implications for employees, customers and competitors.
Sichuan Probe of Veteran Tycoon Sends Three A‑Share Firms into Turmoil
Sichuan authorities have detained Xiong Haitao, the ultimate controller of three listed A‑share companies, prompting stock selloffs and reviving controversy over a disputed 2005 privatisation of Dongcai Technology's predecessor. The probe, led by the provincial supervision commission rather than the securities regulator, raises broader governance and contagion risks for Chinese markets and firms with opaque controlling‑shareholder structures.
Gold Surge and Sector Rotation Lift Hong Kong Stocks: Hang Seng Climbs 2.6% as Miners, Property and EVs Rally
Hong Kong stocks rallied on Wednesday, led by gold miners, property developers and electric-vehicle makers, pushing the Hang Seng up 2.58%. Spot gold hitting new highs drove a miners' rally even as investors cheered signs of regulatory easing for some developers and continued strength in domestic EV and semiconductor names.
A Slip of the Pen Exposes a Bigger Problem: Listed Environmental Firm Flags Fourth Year of Losses after Erroneous Forecast
Zhenghe Ecology corrected a typographical error in its earnings preview after initially misstating the forecast year, but the corrected guidance revealed a projected Rmb120–140 million net loss for 2025. The company, which has recorded losses since 2022, cited delayed revenue from Beijing projects, project settlement cuts and poor second-half collections; it also withdrew a Rmb129 million payment lawsuit earlier in December 2025.
Guangzhou Power Broker Arrested: Female Investor Who Built Control of Three Listed Firms Taken Into Custody, Clouding Corporate Empire
A high-profile Guangzhou investor, Xiong Haitao, who controls three A-share listed companies, has been detained and is under investigation, prompting simultaneous company disclosures and raising corporate-governance concerns. The arrest leaves ownership unsettled because a planned share transfer to a state-owned buyer is not yet registered, creating material uncertainty for the firms and their investors.
Gold Soars to Record Above $5,240 as Funds Halt Purchases; Silver, Miners and Exchanges Scramble to Manage Speculative Surge
Gold hit a record above $5,240 per ounce and silver spiked above $115 amid a weaker dollar, US political uncertainty and rising retail demand in China. Fund managers and exchanges have moved to curb flows and leverage — suspending subscriptions and raising futures margins — raising the risk of a volatile unwind.
Forty‑Times Leverage Unravels: Shenzhen Gold Dealer’s Online Pre‑sale Platform Freezes Payouts, Investors Face Massive Losses
A Shenzhen jewellery firm that expanded into online, high‑leverage “pre‑sale” gold and silver products has frozen withdrawals and capped daily payouts after a run on its mini‑program platforms. Investors nationwide report unresolved balances in the hundreds of millions to billions of yuan; regulators in Shenzhen have opened an inquiry and the company has proposed steeply discounted settlements. The episode exposes risks from lightly supervised retail leverage, social‑media distribution and opaque hedging practices in China’s precious‑metals market.
Vanke’s Quiet Storm: Yu Liang’s Sudden Exit and the Debt Tightrope That Could Define China’s Property Comeback
Yu Liang retired from Vanke on January 8 but has been conspicuously absent since, fuelling internal rumours he may be under scrutiny. Vanke has just cleared a crucial debt extension, but heavy leverage and opaque off‑balance financing leave the company and its former boss vulnerable to further regulatory and financial shocks.
China’s Dining Boom Draws Top Capital — But Winners Will Be Small Stores with Tough Supply Chains
Top-tier capital is increasingly targeting China’s restaurant industry, shifting the investment focus from rapid outlet expansion to small, high-quality stores, resilient supply chains and digital brand-building. The move is professionalising operations and will likely prompt clearer regulation and greater transparency, but success will hinge on balancing freshness, cost and platform economics.
Anta’s Big Gamble: Buying a Stake in Puma to Jumpstart Global Ambitions
Anta Sports has agreed to buy a 29.06% stake in Puma for €1.5bn, becoming the German brand’s largest shareholder as it seeks faster international growth. The transaction gives Anta global brand heft but presents integration challenges: Puma already competes in China, the stake is non‑controlling, and Puma’s recent losses highlight the turnaround work ahead.
Gold Surge and a Weakened Dollar: Markets Riposte as Trump Pressures Powell
Gold jumped past $5,200 per ounce as the U.S. dollar tumbled to near four-year lows amid falling consumer confidence and heightened political pressure on the Federal Reserve. President Trump’s public attacks on Chair Jerome Powell and the disclosure of a federal inquiry into Powell’s conduct have compounded market concerns about the independence of U.S. monetary policy.
Bright Dairy Reboots Growth with Tech, Culture and a Shanghai‑Only Milk
Bright Dairy used a high‑profile Shanghai launch to roll out premium and localized products, service upgrades and cultural tourism projects that combine R&D, urban branding and experiential marketing. The moves reflect a broader strategy by Chinese state‑linked consumer firms to compete on quality, provenance and health functionality rather than price alone.