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☆ Tesla is playing a brutal price game of 'how low can you go' with its Chinese EV rivals
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Kwan Wei Kevin Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewTesla, eager to hold on to its market share in China, is amping up its price war against its Chinese rivals amid declining sales. In China, Tesla has reduced the price of its Model 3, S, X, and Y by 14,000 yuan, or $1,930. The Model Y now costs 249,900 yuan — yet another cut from its January price of 299,900 yuan. Related storiesTesla CEO Elon Musk defended his company's pricing strategy on Sunday, writing on X that "Tesla prices must change frequently in order to match production with demand." In fact, Musk went so far as to frame his Chinese rivals as an existential threat to all automakers.

Persons: —, Tesla, Li, BYD, Elon Musk, Musk Organizations: Service, Business, Li Auto, BI Locations: China

☆ China's BYD to launch first electric pickup truck this year in latest challenge to Tesla, Ford
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-04 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

BYD teased its upcoming electric pickup truck which the Chinese auto giant said it would launch in 2024. BYD plans to launch its first electric pickup truck this year, as the Chinese giant steps up competition with global auto firms, from Ford to Tesla. The midsize-to-large pickup truck has been developed for the global market, BYD said in a press release. The pickup will look to compete with the likes of the Ford Ranger and F-150 Lightning, the Toyota Hilux and the Tesla Cybertruck. BYD doesn't sell in the U.S., the most popular market for pickup trucks, but it has a presence in other popular markets for this type of vehicle, including in Thailand.

Persons: BYD, Tesla Organizations: Ford, Toyota Locations: U.S, Thailand

☆ China says it plans to boost these industries. Stocks to play the trend
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-10 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

"MS' Economics team believes that the announced fiscal package is insufficient to boost the economy as fiscal package remains supply-centric," Wang said. "Policy support for developing advanced production capacity will lead to increased capex in associated value chains like the industrials and IT sectors," the HSBC analysts said. All four stocks are listed in Shenzhen: Inovance — as a seller of factory automation components, Inovance should "benefit from the recovery of the discrete automation market in 2024," the HSBC analysts said. The HSBC analysts expect Innolight to increase its sales of its most advanced product, and introduce an even better product in the fourth quarter. Sanqi Entertainment — HSBC analysts expect this gaming stock can nearly double to 36 yuan a share.

Persons: Steven Sun, Wu Qing, Morgan Stanley, Laura Wang, Wang, Xi Jinping, Michael Bloom Organizations: Beijing, Authorities, HSBC, Finance, Information, Inovance, Naura Tech, Sanqi Entertainment — HSBC Locations: China, HSBC China, Shanghai, Beijing, Chongqing —, Shenzhen

☆ Taiwan faces economic uncertainty as tensions with China are set to rise after DPP victory
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

watch nowAmundi warned a possible temporary economic blockade of Taiwan could alarm the markets. Political status quo, economic worriesChina has dismissed the outcome of Taiwan's elections, saying the DPP does not represent the mainstream public opinion. On Jan. 13, Taiwan delivered an unprecedented third presidential term to the ruling DPP's Lai, considered a China skeptic. Loss of legislature to temper DPP stanceThe DPP won the presidency, but it lost its majority in the the Legislative Yuan — Taiwan's parliament. Teneo's Wildau said Beijing was likely to continue refusing official dialogues with the DPP presidential administration, but could pursue conversations with KMT leaders.

Persons: Managment, Alicia Garcia Herrero, Nataxis, Gabriel Wildau, Teneo, Lai Ching, DPP's Lai, Wildau, Lai, Tsai, Mr Lai's, Yuan —, Yuan, Herrero, Teneo's Wildau Organizations: Bloomberg, Getty, Democratic Progressive Party, Taiwan, Asia, DPP, Economist Intelligence Unit, KMT, Taiwan People's Party Locations: Taipei, Taiwan, China, Beijing

☆ Wanxiang Trust: Another Chinese ‘shadow bank’ faces major financial trouble
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

A trust company usually manages funds for individuals, companies or other entities. The reports come two weeks after Zhongzhi Enterprise Group, another major shadow bank, declared itself “insolvent” after missing payments to its investors. Moody’s Investors Services also warned in September that China’s trust sector could face liquidity challenges during the current property downturn. The two medical trust products were related to a hospital project in Guizhou, which is one of China’s most indebted provinces, according to Cailianshe. Last month, at its twice-a-decade Central Financial Work Conference, the Chinese leadership stressed the importance of addressing risks more systematically across the financial sector and preserving overall stability.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, Cailianshe, Wanxiang, hasn’t, Zhongzhi Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Hong Kong CNN — Wanxiang Trust, Century Business Herald, Wanxiang Group, Zhongzhi Enterprise Group, ”, Zhongrong, Zhongzhi Enterprise Group Bloomberg, Getty, Fitch, Moody’s, Services, Kaisa, CNN Local, Financial Work Conference Locations: China, Hong Kong, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, Beijing, Guizhou

☆ This EV battery stock has potential double-digit gains ahead. UBS thinks it could even surge 100%
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-12 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Nomura has a price target of 315 yuan — for an upside of nearly 67% from Friday's close. Even after trimming their price target on the buy-rated stock, the analysts have a price target of 266 yuan — just over 40% upside from Friday's close. They have a price target of 284 yuan, or 50% upside from Friday's close. More products coming to market The company already has just over a third of the global EV battery market, with more products on the way, according to Counterpoint Research. Li Auto, which reported record deliveries in October that beat out Tesla , is launching its first purely battery-powered vehicle in December — with a new CATL battery called Qilin.

Persons: That's, Nomura, CATL, FactSet, Peter Richardson, Li Auto, Tesla, — CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: Amperex Technology, BMW, Tesla, Union, HSBC, Revenue, VW, Mercedes, Benz, EV, Jefferies, Research, Chery, UBS Locations: Shenzhen, Friday's, EU, Thuringia, Hungary, —, Jiangxi

☆ China's big 'Golden Week' is here. Three hot destinations for spending — and a stock with 95% upside
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-01 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Whether it's by train or by car, hundreds of millions of people are traveling around mainland China for a holiday called Golden Week. From the Mid-Autumn Festival on Friday, Sept. 29, to the following Friday, the break runs for an entire week to celebrate China's National Day. Morgan Stanley analysts like Hong Kong-listed CTG Duty Free , China's state-owned duty-free retail giant. Within China, domestic hotel room rates are still above 2019 levels, Morgan Stanley analysts said. On the macro front, if tourism pans out as expected this Golden Week, it will give a much-needed lift to China's the economy overall.

Persons: Morgan Stanley, They're, Oliver Wyman, Oliver Wyman's, BlackPink, Atour, — CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: Bank of America, Hong, Golden, MGM China, Wynn Macau Locations: China, Hong Kong, Hainan, Macau, U.S

☆ What China slowdown? Three Chinese companies making big money globally
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-10 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

More Chinese companies are becoming global players. In all, BYD, state-owned SAIC and other Chinese companies gained 9% of the global electric car market in the second quarter, up from 5% in the second quarter, Counterpoint Research said. That's on top of the companies' share in the domestic Chinese market — the largest globally for autos. For the full year, XCMG has an export sales growth target of 50% growth, UBS stock analyst Phyllis Wang and a team said in a Sept. 4 note. Chinese companies have been trying to "go global" for years, with tacit encouragement from Beijing.

Persons: Lei Meng, That's, Xiao Feng, BYD, UBS's Meng, XCMG, Phyllis Wang, Mingyang, JPMorgan's Helen Zhu, — CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: Car, UBS Securities, China Equity, SAIC, Research, Hong, Toyota, General Motors, Britannica ., Xuzhou Construction Machinery, Central, UBS, Beijing ., JPMorgan Locations: Hong Kong, Britannica, China, Shenzhen, Xuzhou, West Asia, North Africa, Central America, Europe, Central Asia, North America, Beijing, Beijing . State, Shanghai

☆ What China's big earnings say about the consumer
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

But general merchandise revenue fell by 8.6% from a year ago to 81.72 billion yuan. Marketing revenue rose by 8.5% to 22.51 billion yuan. TencentLivestreaming e-commerce saw 150% year-on-year growth in gross merchandise value in the second quarter to an unspecified number. Overall, Tencent reported earnings for the quarter that missed expectations, but showed a third-straight quarter of revenue growth. The overall Taobao and Tmall Group saw revenue grow by 12% to 114.95 billion yuan.

Persons: Aly Song, Tencent, ByteDance, Tim Cook, Li Ning Organizations: Artificial Intelligence, Reuters, Electronics, Tmall, Shanghai Disney, Universal Studios Beijing, Comcast, Baidu, Adidas, Fila, Apple Apple Locations: Shanghai, China, Reuters BEIJING, Douyin, Greater China

☆ China's central bank steps up intervention after yuan hits 16-year low against greenback
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The yuan midpoint is a reference point for trading, and caps the range between +2% and -2%. Stock Chart Icon Stock chart iconFriday's move comes after the onshore yuan fell to a 16-year low against the greenback on Wednesday, trading at 7.2981. The onshore yuan strengthened 0.1% against the greenback at 7.2836 on Friday, and the offshore yuan weakened marginally to 7.3057. The onshore yuan is traded on the mainland and referred to as the CNY, while the offshore yuan — traded in markets like Hong Kong and Singapore — is referred to as the CNH. It vowed to "maintain the basic stability of the RMB exchange rate at a reasonable and balanced level, and resolutely prevent the risk of exchange rate overshoot."

Persons: Vishnu Varathan Organizations: Nurphoto, People's Bank of, U.S, Reuters, Mizuho Bank Locations: Fuyang city, East China's Anhui, People's Bank of China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Asia, Oceania

☆ Chinese tech giant Huawei reports tepid consumer revenue growth for the first half of 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Kevin Frayer | Getty Images News | Getty ImagesBEIJING — Chinese tech giant Huawei on Friday reported 2.2% year-on-year growth in its consumer business revenue for the first half of the year. At 103.5 billion yuan ($14.27 billion) in first six months of 2023, Huawei's consumer revenue was less than half what the segment had generated during the same period in 2019 and 2020. watch nowCloud services brought in revenue of 24.1 billion yuan, while intelligent automotive solutions — whose products include tech for new energy vehicles — saw revenue of 1 billion yuan in the first six months of 2023. Those sales are generally counted as part of the consumer business. Looking for smartphone growthOverall revenue growth in the first half of 2023 comes off a low base.

Persons: Kevin Frayer, Donald Trump Organizations: Getty, Huawei, CNBC Locations: Dongguan, Shenzhen, China, BEIJING, U.S

☆ Welcome to the Dollar War: a Global Fight Over America's Economic Dominance
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-16 | by ( Phil Rosen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +17 min

The US even reminded everyone just how influential the buck is when it effectively froze Russia out of the global financial system with sanctions last year. Becoming the issuer of the global reserve currency is about trust. The US has controlled the global reserve currency for 102 years — giving it a special status in the world economy. Still, given that the country controlling the global reserve currency holds that status of an average of 94 years, history seems to indicate it's high time for a successor. Why shouldn't the financial world resemble something closer to the mosaic of cultures, politics, and nations that exists today?

Persons: Chenzi Xu, there's, Xu, —, Ron Temple, Gregory Brew, Eurasia's Brew, dollarizing, Stephen Jen, Jen, we've, Stanford's Xu, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Josh Lipsky, " Lipsky, It's, Alexander Wise, Jan Loeys, Loeys, dollarization, Wise, Lazard's Temple, isn't, Phil Rosen Organizations: Stanford, Federal, European Central Bank, People's Bank of China, Lazard, Publishing, Getty Images, International Monetary Fund, Bank of International Settlements, Eurasia Group, Sandman's, Eurizon, IMF, Atlantic Council, JPMorgan Locations: Russia, Israel, France, China, America, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, India, Pakistan, Bolivia, Iraq, South Africa, Beijing

☆ The dollar won't be threatened by a multipolar geopolitical order, think tank expert says
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Filip De Mott | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Geopolitics won't diminish the dominance of the US dollar, the Atlantic Council's Carla Norrlöf wrote. Though sanctions have discouraged dollar reserves, they also may prompt them to grow. Meanwhile, talk of a rising multi-polar world order are confusing and imprecise. But, what often gets overlooked is that the conditions that prompted these sanctions can also induce a diversification into dollars, Norrlöf wrote. Even if these efforts were enough to crash the dollar's unipolar hold on trade, Norrlöf further points out that there is very little consensus on what would actually follow.

Persons: Carla Norrlöf, Norrlöf's, —, Norrlöf Organizations: Service, Atlantic Council, Project Syndicate Locations: Wall, Silicon, Russia, China, Ukraine

☆ There's a pig theme park in China and people are paying $1,200 a night for a hotel room so they may see — but not smell — the piggery
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A hotel room at a pig theme park costs over $1,200 a night, per local media. The room went viral after a Zhejiang media outlet, Tianmu News, posted a video clip on June 25 featuring the theme park on Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok. The theme park, which opened in August 2021, aims to promote this highly prized pig breed, which is used to make Jinhua dry-cured ham, a local specialty. Guests can get a panda pig or a year's worth of express-couriered pork upon checkout. —Zhejiang Normal University (@StudyatZJNU) December 1, 2021The theme park — which has a castle-like facade — includes a museum dedicated to the pig, a cafe, an amusement park, and a conference room, according to its website.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, China News Service, Zhejiang Normal University Locations: China, Jinhua, Zhejiang, Douyin

☆ Russia has been using the Chinese yuan to get around sweeping Western sanctions — but this side door may be closing
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The bank made the move over fears of secondary sanctions from the West, per RBC. Russia has been using the Chinese yuan to get around Western sanctions. Russian clients can still make yuan transfers within the Bank of China network, Semyonov added to RBC. The Chinese yuan surpassed the US dollar as the most heavily traded currency in February and March, according to Bloomberg data. Semyonov told RBC that Russian yuan transfers to the US and EU make up just 3% of all transfers in the currency.

Persons: —, Russia's, Pavel Semyonov, Dmitry Lesnov, Semyonov, Finam Organizations: of, RBC, Service, The Bank of, European, Bank of China, EU, Novaya Gazeta, The, Swift, Bloomberg, Reuters Locations: of China, EU, Switzerland, Russia, The Bank of China, European Union, Modulbank, China, Novaya, Novaya Gazeta Europe, Ukraine

☆ This is about to be the summer of Tom Cruise — again
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( Madeline Berg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Tom Cruise looks like he's headed for another summer on top at the box office. A China opening could add millions of dollars to the film's gross — and to Cruise's pockets. Tom Cruise had a pretty great 2022, with a top-grossing film, a best picture nomination at the Oscars, and a slew of good press. But this isn't just good for "Mission Impossible" — it will also boost Cruise's payday, which is likely linked to the film's performance. But for Cruise, every dollar — or Yuan — that the films brings in means more money to his pocket.

Persons: Tom Cruise, Ethan Hunt, Strange, It's, Cruise, Yuan —, lister, Hunt Organizations: Epoch Times, Dominion, Variety, Cruise Locations: China, Middle Kingdom

☆ China's mounting such a strong attack on the dollar's dominance that it's paying for almost all of its Russian oil imports in the yuan
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-11 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Much of the trade was done in the Chinese yuan, per Reuters. China has ramped up the use of the yuan to buy commodities such as oil and coal from Russia. The country has been using its own currency — the yuan — for almost all of the Russian oil it bought over the past year, Reuters reported on Thursday, citing multiple trading executives with direct knowledge of the matter. The executive was likely referring to Russian crude being subject to a $60-a-barrel price cap imposed by a G7-led coalition. To contextualize this, China imported $88 billion worth of major commodities including crude oil and fuel oil from Russia in 2022 — up 52% in value from 2021.

☆ Consumers in China are dining at nicer restaurants — even if it costs $500 a person
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, a brand called Lu Style opened four new restaurants in the last three years in Beijing and Shanghai. Since Lu Style launched in 2016, more people no longer focus on just being able to eat, said Tian Junfeng, director of operations. Tian said Lu Style will be focused on improving customer service in the coming months. The 2023 rankings selected 304 restaurants — most of which were in China, including Lu Style. Two Lu Style locations have one Michelin star each, and the France-based guide includes more than 400 restaurants in mainland China.

☆ China's debt-heavy local governments look for new ways to raise cash
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-27 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Future Publishing | Future Publishing | Getty ImagesBEIJING — Debt-heavy local governments in China need new ways to raise money under a central regime that's made clear its priority is to reduce financial risks. "We should ... prevent a build-up of new debts while working to reduce existing ones," the report said regarding local governments' situation. S&P and other analysts estimate land sales account for about a quarter of local governments' total revenue. But local governments still have bills and public services to pay for. Historically, local governments were responsible for more than 85% of expenditure but only received about 60% of tax revenue, Rhodium Group said in 2021.

☆ Tencent's online ad revenue grows for the first time in more than a year
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Overall revenue for the quarter ended Dec. 31 came in at 144.95 billion yuan ($21.07 billion), higher than the 143.89 billion yuan estimated by FactSet. Average monthly users of WeChat in China and overseas rose by 3.5% from a year ago 1.31 billion accounts in the fourth quarter. Ad spendingIn-feed ads for video accounts generated more than 1 billion yuan in revenue in the fourth quarter, Tencent said. Revenue sourcesThe largest revenue segment, which includes the giant gaming business, fell by 2% to 70.4 billion yuan in the fourth quarter, in line with FactSet estimates for 70.2 billion yuan. Tencent's second-largest revenue source, financial technology and business services revenue fell by 1% to 47.2 billion yuan, below FactSet estimates for 49.49 billion yuan.

☆ How China is helping to prop up the Russian economy through the war in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

China has been buying more energy from Russia since the Ukraine war started. Total trade between China and Russia hit a new record high in 2022, up 30% to $190 billion, according to Chinese customs figures. In particular, the energy trade has risen markedly since the onset of the war. Russian companies have been using more yuan to facilitate the increased trade with China. UnionPay, the Chinese payments system, has reportedly stopped accepting cards issued by Russian banks over fears of international sanctions, according to Russian paper Kommersant.

☆ Beijing plans to hand out $6 a month to low-income families to help offset the cost of food. The amount will just about buy 2 Big Macs.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Beijing is planning to give nearly $6 a month in subsidies to the city's low-income residents. The $6 a month subsidy triggered many Chinese social media users who say it's too little. But it's facing online backlash that the amount — which just about buys two Big Macs in China — is too low. Several users said the subsidy should be 40 yuan a day instead of a month, which would translate to roughly 1,200 yuan — or about $175 — a month. Despite general skepticism over how far 40 yuan can go in the Chinese capital, at least one user said it's a good start that should be emulated by other local governments.

☆ China says it's moving to buy oil and gas in the yuan — a move that could threaten the dollar's global dominance in the long run
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-12 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

On Friday, China's President Xi Jinping pushed for the settlement of energy trades in the yuan. At a summit with Arab leaders, Xi said China would continue importing large amounts of oil. Settling more trade in the yuan could weaken the US dollar's global dominance in the long run. Most of the world's trade is now denominated in the US dollar. "The Saudis have a lot to buy from China and China has a lot to buy from Saudi Arabia.

☆ Moscow is now the fourth largest offshore trading hub for the Chinese yuan, as sanctions spur Russia's dash to an alternative currency
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Russia has been accelerating its use of the Chinese yuan to counter sweeping Western sanctions. Bloomberg Creative/Getty ImagesRussia is now the fourth-largest user of the Chinese yuan — after Hong Kong, the UK, and Singapore. The Chinese yuan was the fifth most commonly used currency for global payments in October 2022. Russia, whose access to the US dollar was curtailed due to sweeping sanctions over the Ukraine invasion, has now become a big user of the Chinese yuan for trade. Some Russian companies, such as energy giant Rosneft, have also issued bonds denominated in the Chinese yuan to raise funds.

☆ Dollar steadies as China Covid fears linger
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The dollar pared some of its strong overnight gains on Tuesday after investors flocked to the safe-haven currency on nerves over China's Covid flare ups, though cautious risk sentiment kept the greenback in demand. China's capital warned on Monday that it was facing its most severe test of the Covid-19 pandemic, with a surge in Covid cases sparking fresh restriction measures. The offshore yuan traded 0.1% higher at 7.1665 per dollar in early Asia trade on Tuesday, after falling more than 0.7% overnight. The Japanese yen slumped more than 1% to the weaker side of 142 per dollar overnight and last traded 142.01. "It's more like a cork in the ocean, subject to risk aversion as well as movements in 10-year Treasury yields ."

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