Business News
Latest business news and updates
Total: 749
Hainan’s Duty‑Free Boom: Early Gains, New Shoppers and the Test of Durability
Hainan’s full‑island customs regime and a November 2025 duty‑free policy revision have catalysed a surge in sales and reshaped the island’s retail model by turning local residents into repeat duty‑free shoppers. Early figures are robust, but executives and analysts caution that the holiday‑period boost, heavy promotions and enforcement challenges mean the sector must improve assortment, service and inbound tourism to sustain growth.
Three High-Level Moves in One Day Signal Beijing’s Push to Stabilise the Property Market
On January 20 Beijing rolled out three coordinated policy moves — two State Council briefings and a joint ministry notice on urban renewal — that together aim to stabilise China’s property market by boosting demand, expanding fiscal support and mobilising stock land for redevelopment. The measures are targeted rather than market-wide bailouts, and their effectiveness will depend on local implementation and fiscal capacity.
China Opens Antitrust Case Against Ctrip as Hoteliers Say Platforms Have Become Their Employers
China’s antitrust regulator has opened a probe into Ctrip for alleged abuse of market dominance after hoteliers complained of hidden fees, forced channel exclusivity and unfair algorithmic practices. The investigation could lead to fines, behavioural remedies and reshape how online travel platforms manage supply and traffic allocation.
U.S. Stocks Open Modestly Higher as Memory Shares Lead Gains, Kraft Heinz and Netflix Drag
U.S. markets opened modestly higher, led by gains in memory and storage stocks as investors bet on data-centre and AI-driven demand. Kraft Heinz tumbled after Berkshire registered a large share sale, and Netflix fell after disappointing profit guidance and a pause to buybacks tied to a Warner acquisition.
Risk-On Rally Meets a Record Gold Surge: Markets Cheer Davos Calm as an Arctic Energy Shock Bites
US equities rose after conciliatory remarks at Davos, yet spot gold hit a record near $4,888/oz as a severe winter storm and falling temperatures in Europe and Asia sent natural-gas prices soaring. Chinese policy moves — from faster RMB cross-border payments to tax breaks for CDR investors — signalled continued financial opening even as corporate earnings and sector-specific strains paint an uneven domestic picture.
China Stocks Open Higher as Chip and Storage Names Lead a Tech-Heavy Rally
Chinese stock markets opened higher as semiconductor and storage‑chip stocks outperformed, buoyed by company profit forecasts and plans to expand wafer‑level packaging capacity. Broader market moves were uneven, with commodity and precious‑metals names lagging and speculative small‑caps showing continued volatility.
When Sony Goes to TCL: The End of the Japanese TV Dynasty and a New Chapter in Global TV
TCL and Sony have agreed to form a joint venture in which TCL will hold a 51% controlling stake in Sony’s TV and home‑audio business, reflecting a strategic pivot by Sony away from capital‑intensive hardware and a major upgrade for TCL into the premium TV segment. If completed, the deal would accelerate industry consolidation, deepen vertical integration with TCL’s panel arm, and symbolically mark the end of Japan’s decades‑long dominance of the television market.
Gold and Silver’s Unruly Rally: Central Banks, Industry Demand and a Fraying Global Trust
A mix of central‑bank accumulation, rising industrial use in tech and energy, and persistent geopolitical risk is underpinning a prolonged rally in gold and silver. That combination makes short‑term bearish calls fragile, though price volatility and policy shifts still pose meaningful risks.
China’s Deposit Rates Slide: Large CDs Fall Below 1% as Banks Trim Long-term Offers
Chinese banks have cut rates on large-denomination certificates of deposit, with many short-term offerings now below 1%. The retreat of longer-term deposit products and tighter issuance reflects central-bank easing and banks’ efforts to protect net interest margins, prompting savers to seek alternative yields and raising questions about future credit growth and financial stability.
China’s Trade Map Is Rewiring: Shenzhen and Shanghai Hold Fast as Inland and Small Cities Surge
China’s 2025 city-level trade data reveal a reconfiguration of the country’s external commerce: Shenzhen and Shanghai remain the top two, but inland provincial capitals and several smaller cities have surged. The shift is driven by higher-value manufactured exports, logistics innovations such as China–Europe freight trains, and the growth of platform-style trade centres like Yiwu.
Three Briefings, One Signal: Beijing Mobilises Policy Tools to Stabilise China’s Housing Market
On 20 January 2026 Beijing issued a trio of policy signals — income-support planning from the NDRC, a pledge of more expansive fiscal spending from the Finance Ministry, and new urban-renewal measures from the Ministry of Natural Resources — that together amount to a coordinated boost for the real-estate sector. The package signals a strategic pivot from short-term stimulus toward building household purchasing power and accelerating redevelopment as levers for stabilising growth and consumption.
Temu's Turkish Office Reportedly Targeted in Early-Morning Raid — A Test of Cross‑Border E‑commerce Rules
A NetEase headline reported a dawn raid on Temu's Turkish office, though details and official confirmation remain scarce. The incident highlights growing regulatory scrutiny of cross‑border e‑commerce platforms and poses operational and reputational risks for Temu as it expands into complex national markets.