Business News
Latest business news and updates
Total: 749
Chinese Regulator Bans and Fines Social‑media Stock Pundit After Finding ‘Hat‑Snatching’ Manipulation
Zhejiang securities regulators have fined and banned a well‑known Xueqiu account operator, Jin Yongrong, for manipulating markets by recommending stocks and then selling into the buying pressure he created. The bureau confiscated RMB 41.62 million in illicit gains, imposed an equal fine and a three‑year market ban, rejecting Jin’s defenses about intent and reach.
From Diapers to Wafers: A Chinese Hygiene-Materials Maker Moves into Semiconductor Supplies
Yanjiang Co., a Shenzhen-listed maker of diaper and hygiene-product materials, has proposed to acquire 98.54% of Ningbo Yongqiang Technology, a semiconductor-materials company, using a mix of shares and cash. The transaction is incomplete: audits and valuation are pending, and the deal will likely be treated as a related-party transaction because certain sellers will hold more than 5% of the listed stock post-deal.
Germany Relaunches EV Purchase Subsidy — Up to €6,000 to Reboot Electric Car Sales and Shield Auto Industry
Germany has reintroduced a tiered EV purchase subsidy offering €1,500–€6,000 per private buyer for new registrations from 1 January 2026, backed by €3 billion over three years and intended to support up to 800,000 vehicles. The measure aims to revive household demand, protect domestic automakers amid international competition, and accelerate the country’s shift to electric mobility, though it poses fiscal, regulatory and infrastructure challenges.
Germany Revives EV Purchase Grants — Up to €6,000 to Reignite Demand and Protect the Auto Industry
Germany has reinstated purchase subsidies for electric cars, offering between €1,500 and €6,000 to private buyers of new battery electrics and certain hybrids registering from 1 January 2026. The policy aims to boost demand, protect domestic industry and accelerate decarbonisation, but its effectiveness will depend on targeting, uptake and complementary investments in infrastructure.
China’s Post‑05 ‘Treasure Hunters’ Recast the Second‑Hand Market — Gold and RAM Become New Hard Currency
China’s Post‑05 generation is transforming second‑hand consumption from a cost‑saving exercise into an appetite‑driven hunt for scarce goods, driving rapid user growth and higher spending on resale platforms. Certain categories — notably gold, memory modules and classic luxury pieces — have behaved like “hard currency,” retaining or gaining value even as broader product categories depreciate.
Beijing Touts US Firms’ Returns as Proof That Engagement with China Still Pays
China’s Foreign Ministry highlighted a Chamber of Commerce survey and robust GDP figures to argue that US firms’ success in China proves mutual benefits from engagement. Beijing framed 2026 as the start of a new five‑year cycle of growth and invited foreign companies to seize opportunities, positioning economic ties as a stabilizing force amid geopolitical tensions.
China Says Low CPI Is Structural and Phased as Core Inflation Tickes Up — Policy Push Aims to Reflate Demand
China’s National Bureau of Statistics reported 2025 GDP growth of 5.0% and a flat headline CPI, while core inflation edged up to 0.7%. Officials said the low CPI reflects both international price movements and structural features of China’s economy, and they expect targeted fiscal and consumption measures to support a gradual rebound in domestic prices.
Policy-led sectors and a precious‑metals surge lift Chinese markets even as small‑caps slide
Chinese stocks closed mixed as Shanghai gauges eked out gains while the ChiNext small‑cap index slipped after intraday strength. Power‑grid equipment and precious‑metals miners led the advance, but falling turnover and sectoral divergence point to a cautious, rotation‑driven market.
Pinduoduo Bulks Up Lunar New Year Push with Deep Subsidies and Supply‑Chain Boosts
Pinduoduo has amplified its Lunar New Year campaign by upgrading a large subsidy programme and launching three major promotional tracks under its 百亿补贴 channel, combining deep price cuts, coupon and membership incentives, and targeted supply‑chain support. The move aims to spur festival spending, broaden market access for domestic and global fresh produce, and consolidate the platform’s reach into China’s counties and western regions.
China Reports Modest 5% Rise in Household Incomes as Rural Gains Narrow Gap but Disparities Persist
China's per‑capita disposable income rose 5.0% in 2025 to 43,377 yuan, with rural incomes growing faster than urban ones though remaining far lower in level. Consumption expanded more slowly at 4.4%, while spending shifted toward education, transport and services, and median incomes remained noticeably below means, indicating income concentration.
PBOC’s First Targeted Rate Cut of 2026 Lowers Bank Funding Costs to Boost SMEs, Tech and Green Transition
The People’s Bank of China cut re‑lending and rediscount rates by 25 basis points on 19 January 2026, lowering the cost of earmarked funding for banks to encourage lending to small enterprises, technology, manufacturing upgrade and green projects. The step is a structural, targeted easing rather than a broad policy-rate cut, and signals Beijing’s preference for directed credit support while keeping overall interest-rate policy stable.
Family Feud and Faded Sneakers: How Double Star's Boardroom Battle Hastened a Century‑Old Brand’s Decline
A public, high‑profile family rupture at Double Star — sparked by contested share transfers, a fight over corporate seals and a founder’s rejection of heirs with U.S. residency — has exposed governance weaknesses at a once‑iconic Chinese shoemaker. The dispute distracts from long‑standing strategic problems: brand ageing, market share erosion and failure to modernise product and marketing.