DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ China has a 'fake gold' problem — locals are getting scammed into buying artificial jewelry
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | In Ying-Shan-Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Gold bracelets at a gold jewelry store in the Zhejiang Province of China. Thousands of people in China have been duped into forking out money on "fake gold" — inferior or artificial gold — after trying to purchase so-called "999 gold" online, according to the government. The purest form of gold is commonly referred to as 999 gold, because it has gold content of 99.9%. "Fake gold is becoming a major problem in China as more Chinese are looking to put their savings into gold," said China Market Research Group's Managing Director Shaun Rein. Fake gold gets darker or reveals a greenish color when placed under flame, while pure gold turns brighter on exposure to heat.

Persons: Shaun Rein, Nikos Kavalis, Rein, Taobao, Pinduoduo Organizations: Visual China, Getty, Research, India, World Gold, Metals, ChinaFotoPress Locations: Zhejiang Province, China, scammers, Nantong

☆ Asia markets higher as Wall Street gains ahead of key U.S. jobs report
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Shreyashi Sanyal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A gong inside the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. China Vanke's subsidiary Onewo and EV maker Zhejiang Leapmotor Technology began trading on the Hong Kong market on Thursday. Asia-Pacific markets rose on Friday, tracking Wall Street gains ahead of key U.S. employment data. Economists polled by Dow Jones expect to see 240,000 job gains in the U.S. April nonfarm payrolls report due Friday at 0830a.m. Stock markets in Japan and mainland China were shut for public holidays.

Persons: Dow Jones, nonfarm Organizations: Hong Kong Stock Exchange, China Vanke's, Zhejiang Leapmotor Technology, Apple, Investors, U.S . Federal Reserve, Stock, U.S Locations: China, Hong Kong, Asia, Pacific, U.S, 0830a.m, Taiwan, South Korea, South, Japan

☆ Strained Chinese cities struggle to pay home buying subsidies
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Chinese cities have promised subsidies and other incentives to prop up the ailing property sector but have failed to deliver, frustrating potential homebuyers. The 30-year-old now pays 6,000 yuan of her 8,000 monthly salary on the mortgage for the 1.1 million yuan apartment and another 1,800 yuan to rent another one, relying on her parents for other basic expenses. Weifang, with a population of more than 9 million and an economy larger than Croatia's, and dozens of other Chinese cities, have promised subsidies and other incentives to homebuyers to prop up the ailing property sector. But the real estate downturn also affects the ability of cities to lease land to developers, a key revenue source. This meant some local governments were unable to raise funds to pay the promised subsidies, frustrating buyers and casting doubts over future support measures.

Persons: Amy Wang, Wang, Christopher Beddor, Gavekal Organizations: People's, Communist Party Locations: Hangzhou city, Zhejiang province, China, Weifang, Shangqiu

☆ A healthy lifestyle can mitigate genetic risk for early death by 62%, study suggests
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Madeline Holcombe | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Even if your genetics put you at greater risk for early death, a healthy lifestyle could help you significantly combat it, according to a new study. Individuals with genetic risk could extend their lifespan by up to 5.5 years with a healthy lifestyle, the data showed. “Adherence to a healthy lifestyle could substantially attenuate the lifespan reduction for individuals with genetic susceptibility to a shorter lifespan,” Li said. But researchers were able to identify four factors that were associated with the biggest impact on risk of early death. Making lifestyle changesBuilding a healthier lifestyle may sound like a major undertaking, but manageable steps can help you get there.

Persons: Xue Li, Dr, Aladdin Shadyab, Shadyab, Li, ” Li, “, Rosamund Dean, ”, you’ve Organizations: CNN, School of Public Health, Zhejian Univeristy, of Medicine, University of California, National Institute for Data Science, Health, Medicine, Zhejiang University, US Centers for Disease Control, CDC, of Locations: China, University of California San Diego, of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico

☆ Geely-backed luxury EV brand Zeekr says it's already beating Tesla in parts of China
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Pictured here is the Zeekr 001 electric car at a services trade fair in Beijing on Aug. 31, 2023. China News Service | China News Service | Getty ImagesBEIJING — Chinese electric car brand Zeekr is selling more vehicles than Tesla in parts of China, and plans to expand in Europe and Latin America this year, Zeekr CEO Andy An told CNBC on Wednesday. For the first three weeks of April, Zeekr sold 500 more cars than Tesla in the province of Zhejiang, where Zeekr and its parent company Geely are based. Zeekr also slightly outsold Tesla in the province of Anhui, near Shanghai, and Guangxi, an autonomous region in southern China. The rapid rise of Chinese electric car companies, however, has also prompted the EU and U.S. to consider measures for protecting their own auto industries.

Persons: Andy, Elon, Tesla, Zeekr Organizations: China News Service, Getty, CNBC, EU Locations: Beijing, BEIJING, China, Europe, Latin America, Zhejiang, Anhui, Shanghai, Guangxi, Sweden, Netherlands, America, Hong Kong, Macao, Singapore

☆ A 6-month Chinese-food festival is bringing authentic and flavor-packed cuisine to New York City's masses
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Xintian Tina Wang | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

At New York's Dragon Festival, authentic Chinese brands and restaurants excite locals' taste buds. Its founder shared some of her favorite vendors of soup dumplings and candies at the opening event. "This doesn't taste like home," said Xu, a 31-year-old entrepreneur and the creator of New York City's Dragon Festival, the biggest Chinese-food festival in the metropolitan area. Jessie YuChen for BIChen said that confectioners in her home province of Fujian, China, caught her attention when she was younger. In 2006, inspired by the soup dumplings made popular by Shanghai's Nanxiang district, Ma opened his first New York City storefront.

Persons: —, Xu, Jessie YuChen, she's, Mila, Tang Hulu, I'm, Bu Tong, Ivy Chen, Dragon Lulu, Chen, Vivian Cao, confectioners, Emperor Guangzong, Michael Ma, Xiang Xiao Long Bao, Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao, Ma, Nan, bartenders, Coco, Xibei Yang Organizations: Service, Park, Dragon, Prospect, lollipop, Michelin, Chi Forest, Haidilao, BI Locations: New York, SoHo, Chinatown, Flushing, York City, Koreatown, Union, Chelsea, Washington, Kwa, Henan, Queens, Prospect Park , Brooklyn, Beijing, Fujian, China, Shanghai, York, Nanxiang, New York City, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Chi, Thai, Bangkok, Sichuan, Manhattan

☆ China sees foreign threats ‘everywhere’ as powerful spy agency takes center stage
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-21 | by ( Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +16 min

But among the crowds you and I together are protecting national security,” the narrator concludes. Chinese soldiers look at a poster promoting national security in the southwestern city of Beihai on National Security Education Day on April 15, 2024. CFOTO/Future Publishing/Getty ImagesAccording to the MSS, foreign spies are omnipresent and infiltrating everything – from mapping apps to weather stations. But China’s spy agency has gradually stepped out of the shadows as Xi makes national security a key priority. “Shenyin Special Investigation Squad” is a comic series based on real-life counterespionage operations, according to China's spy agency.

Persons: –, “, ”, Xi, Xuezhi Guo, Sheena Chestnut Greitens, Xi Jinping, Greg Baker, Mao Zedong, Greitens, Chen Yixin, Chen, “ Chen, ” Greitens, Xi –, denigrate, Bain, Alex Plavevski, Guo, influencers, China’s, can’t, James Zimmerman, Perkins Coie, Zimmerman, ” Zimmerman Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, National Security Education, “, Ministry of State Security, National Security, Publishing, CIA, National, Education, Capitol, Guilford College, Asia, University of Texas, Getty, Communist Party, FBI, National Security Propaganda, CCTV, Ministry of State, China’s National Security Commission, Group, China Development Forum, Perkins Coie LLP, ”, MSS Locations: China, Hong Kong, Beihai, British, American, Beijing, Austin, AFP, Zhejiang province, Shanghai, New York, overreaching

☆ In AI rivalry with the U.S., China is behind on a key asset: Its own OpenAI
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-31 | by ( Rebecca Fannin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

In China, which is angling to produce its own chips or get more from Nvidia, no dominant gen AI contender to OpenAI has emerged yet among dozens of Chinese tech titans and startups. Last year, funding of gen AI upstarts accounted for nearly half of $42.5 billion invested globally in artificial intelligence companies, according to CB Insights. "China is at a big disadvantage in building the foundation models for Gen AI," said Rui Ma, an AI investor and co-founder of investment syndicate and podcast TechBuzz China. China does have the tech talent to make a difference in the AI rivalry in the years ahead. Additionally, among top-tier AI researchers working at U.S. institutions, 38% have China as their country of origin, compared with 37% from the U.S.New Chinese gen AI market entries can also reach mass adoption quickly.

Persons: Ernie Bot, OpenAI, Paul Triolo, Jenny Xiao, Rui Ma, Triolo, Sora, Ma, Marco Polo, Baidu's, Ernie, Leong Organizations: Global, Trade, Hangzhou International, Nvidia, tech titans, titans Microsoft, Google, Amazon, U.S, Dentons Global Advisors, Leonis Capital, OpenAI, Paulson Institute, U.S ., Samsung, Apple, Baidu Locations: Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China, Washington ,, Silicon, San Francisco, The U.S, U.S, OpenAI

☆ China's richest man is under fire over conspiracy theories that say he's secretly promoting Japan
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-15 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

China's richest man is being targeted by nationalists who say he's not patriotic enough. AdvertisementZhong Shanshan, the richest man in China, has been beset this month by accusations from an online nationalist crowd that he isn't loyal enough to his country. Some think Nongfu Spring loves JapanThe hostility escalated this week into claims that Nongfu Spring was intentionally planting elements of Japanese culture into its product marketing. CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images and Jinhee Lee/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesAnother complaint accused Nongfu Spring of using a red bottle cap that resembles the Japanese flag. China's nationalist groups have been notorious for turning on typically celebrated figures and businessmen.

Persons: Zhong Shanshan, Zong Qinghou, —, Zhong, he's, Zong, Zhong Shuzi, Jinhee Lee, NurPhoto, Mr Zong, Hu Xijin, shouldn't, Hu, Li Guoqing, Li, Zong Fuli, Mo Yan Organizations: Service, Nongfu, Hong, Hangzhou Wahaha, Hangzhou Wahaha Group, Getty Images, Weibo, Mount, Publishing, Getty, Global Times, The Global Times, Rongsheng Petrochemical, China Newsweek, China News Service, Business Locations: Japan, China, Hong Kong, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, American, Tokyo, Mount Fuji

☆ Nongfu Spring: Bottled water empire of China’s richest man Zhong Shanshan is facing a boycott by nationalists
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-13 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Zhong and his drinks firm Nongfu Spring, the country’s biggest maker of bottled water, are the latest targets of an army of internet zealots. WeiboThe nationalists have also highlighted the fact that prominent US investment funds, including Vanguard and BlackRock, are major shareholders of Nongfu Spring. “Taking advantage of Mr Zong’s death, a lot of slander against me and Nongfu Spring appeared on the internet. “Whether Wahaha or Nongfu Spring, we always insist on the same thing — producing good products for the people,” he said. Nongfu Spring is just the latest major target of China’s nationalists.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN — Zhong Shanshan, Zhong, Zong Qinghou, Zong, Zhong’s, —, “ Zhong Shuzi, ”, “, He’s, Mr Zong’s, ” Zhong, influencers, netizens, “ Zong, Wei Jiang, Mo Yan, Mao Zedong, Stringer, Li Ning Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Wahaha, Danone, Weibo, ”, Vanguard, BlackRock, Nongfu, American, Wahaha’s, CNN, Zhejiang Daily, Communist Party, Auto, Zhejiang University of Finance, Economics, People’s Liberation Army, AFP, Getty, Nike, Adidas, United, Toyota, Honda Locations: China, Hong Kong, Beijing, American, Weibo, Nongfu, Zhejiang, Hami, China's, Xinjiang, AFP, United States, Japan

☆ China calls on foreign businesses to share their problems as investment slumps
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-01 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

While the Commerce Ministry meeting did not reveal much new progress on the 24 measures to support foreign business that were announced last summer, attendees said they were able to share specific challenges about doing business in China. The ministry said representatives from more than 60 foreign businesses and 9 associations attended Wednesday's roundtable. Foreign direct investment into China has fallen to its lowest level in three years, according to official data, amid geopolitical tensions and slowing growth in the country. Hart said that it's hard for companies not yet in China to complete due diligence and approve new investments. Biden, who faces re-election this fall, has emphasized the need to compete with China while finding areas of cooperation.

Persons: Aly Song, MofCom, Jens Eskelund, Eskelund, Michael Hart, Hart, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Biden Organizations: Chinese Communist Party, Reuters, Reuters BEIJING — China's Ministry of Commerce, Commerce Ministry, EU Chamber of Commerce, Cyberspace Administration of, China's Ministry of Commerce, American Chamber of Commerce, U.S, U.S . Transportation Department Locations: China, U.S, Yiwu, Zhejiang province, Reuters BEIJING, Beijing, Cyberspace Administration of China, San Francisco

☆ 3 surprises from Nvidia earnings help justify a one-day $250 billion boost to its market value
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Kevin Stankiewicz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +10 min

If that return isn't there, will they keep ordering the latest and greatest Nvidia chips? Despite the overall improvements in availability, Nvidia on Wednesday indicated it will face supply-and-demand imbalances with its upcoming AI chips. The U.S. government has said its export controls are designed to keep high-powered AI chips out of the hands of the Chinese military. In the November-through-January quarter, China accounted for a mid-single-digit percentage of Nvidia's $18.4 billion in data center revenue, according to the company. The fact Nvidia still booked China revenue in the hundreds of millions of dollars means it could take a further hit in the region.

Persons: —, Jensen Huang, Raymond James, Nvidia's, Colette Kress, Huang, Morgan Stanley, Jim Cramer's, Jim Cramer, Jim Organizations: Nvidia, Meta, Apple, Microsoft, Melius Research, Devices, Big Tech, Wall, U.S, Truist Securities, CNBC, Visitors, NVIDIA, Hangzhou Apsara, Getty, Nurphoto Locations: China, Hangzhou, Hangzhou Apsara Conference, Zhejiang province

☆ Despite strong Lunar New Year holiday data, consumer spending in China isn’t roaring back just yet
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Laura He | Marc Stewart | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

But according to CNN calculations based on official data, the average tourism-related spending per trip was below pre-pandemic levels, as consumer confidence remains weak amid deflationary pressure. However, the most recent holiday season took place over eight days from February 10 to February 18, which was one day more than previous periods. On average, 59.25 million domestic trips per day were made during this holiday period, slightly lower than the 59.29 million trips per day taken in 2019. Movie ticket sales reached a record 8 billion yuan ($1.11 billion) during the eight-day holiday season, according to data released on Sunday by China Film Administration. “The headwinds to growth remain severe and it will take more than a bump in holiday travel for market sentiment to recover,” said Neumann.

Persons: ” Nomura, ”, Frederic Neumann, Neumann, “ Organizations: Beijing CNN, CNN, Ministry of Culture, Tourism, Hangzhou East Railway, National Immigration Administration, China Film Administration, HSBC, China Index Holdings, Shenzhen Component Locations: China, Hong Kong, Beijing, Hangzhou, China's Zhejiang province, Macao, Asia, Shanghai, Shenzhen

☆ As the Year of the Dragon begins, the pros name sectors — and stocks — to play the Chinese market
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Amala Balakrishner | In Amala-Balakrishner | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Chinese stocks had an eventful week last week — with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index hitting a five-year low of about 2,650 points on Feb. 5, before edging up to end the week at 2,865.90. A slide in Hong Kong-listed Chinese shares on Feb. 9, however, proved that investors may still have lingering concerns on the prospects of Chinese stocks in the new year. As the festive season gets underway, Redmond Wong, market strategist at investment firm Saxo, sees several opportunities to play the market. Boom in green transformation Beyond the traditional sectors, Saxo's Wong is watching an up-and-coming area in China: energy security and a green transformation. Data from the International Energy Agency shows that the Asian giant's clean-energy sectors contributed 11.4 trillion Chinese yuan ($1.6 trillion) to the Chinese economy in 2023, up 30% year-on-year.

Persons: Redmond Wong, Saxo, I'm, Wong, Saxo's Wong, Morningstar, Zijin Organizations: CNBC Pro, Monetary Fund, Technology, Shenzhen, Baidu, Sands, Tsingtao, Morningstar, Tsingtao Brewery, International Energy Agency, Companies, Zijin Mining Locations: Shanghai, Hong Kong, China, Zhejiang, Sands China, Macao, Shandong

☆ Pan Zhanle: Chinese teenager breaks 100m freestyle world record at World Championships
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-12 | by ( Andrew Mcnicol | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —China’s 19-year-old swimming phenom, Pan Zhanle, recorded the fastest 100 meters in history on Sunday as he smashed the men’s freestyle world record and established himself as the pacesetter ahead of the forthcoming Paris Olympics. “Breaking the world record just came naturally. Chinese men's 4x100 meter freestyle world championship gold medallists Wang Haoyu, Zhang Zhanshuo, Ji Xinjie and Pan Zhanle. Ian MacNicol/Getty ImagesPan is the first Chinese male to hold the world record in the event. The two other Chinese world record holders in history are Zhang Lin, whose 800m freestyle swim from 2009 still stands, while controversial compatriot Sun Yang has held the 1,500m freestyle since 2012.

Persons: CNN —, Pan Zhanle, Pan, David Popovici, –, “, ” Pan, Wang Haoyu, Zhang Zhanshuo, Ji Xinjie, Zhanle, Ian MacNicol, Zhang, Qin Haiyan, Zhang Lin, Sun Yang Organizations: CNN Locations: Paris, Doha, Romanian, Zhejiang, Fukuoka, Japan, China, Italy

☆ Chinese banks are getting cold feet dealing with Russia
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

One key Chinese bank used by Russian importers for transactions has halted all transactions with Russian firms, per Vedomosti. AdvertisementChina's banks appear to be having cold feet about dealing with Russian firms. AdvertisementOther Chinese banks are also tightening compliance checks when dealing with Russian businesses, per the media outlet. However, with the West ramping up sanctions against Russia, even Chinese firms are trying to stay out of trouble. In June, at least one major Chinese bank — Bank of China — started restricting transfers from Russia.

Persons: —, Dmitry Peskov, Peskov, — Bank of China — Organizations: Service, Commercial, Bank, SWIFT, Russia, Bloomberg, — Bank of, Zhejiang Chouzhou Commercial Bank, Business Locations: Ukraine, Beijing, Zhejiang, Russian, AFP, Russia, — Bank of China, Zhejiang Chouzhou

☆ U.S. and China are working to make the business environment less volatile, Beijing says
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Aly Song | ReutersBEIJING — China and the U.S. are working toward creating a more stable and predictable environment for businesses, Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao said Friday. U.S. and other foreign businesses in China have long complained of challenges to doing business in the Asian country, such as unequal treatment of foreign companies compared to local players. The move was widely seen as an improvement for foreign businesses, but no official policy has yet followed. When asked Friday for an update on data rules, Wang only said the "primary ministry is stepping up efforts to release them." When Raimondo visited China last year, she called for more action to improve predictability for U.S. businesses in China.

Persons: Aly Song, Wang Wentao, Gina Raimondo's, Wang, Raimondo, Biden Organizations: Chinese Communist Party, Reuters, Commerce, CNBC, Cyberspace Administration of China, CAC, of Commerce Locations: China, U.S, Yiwu, Zhejiang province, Reuters BEIJING, Washington, France

☆ China property stocks jump as Beijing takes steps to boost liquidity in the beleaguered sector
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Shreyashi Sanyal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

A newly built property is seen from the air in Hangzhou city, Zhejiang province, China, Dec 15, 2023. China's property stocks jumped after the country's central bank announced measures that would help boost the liquidity available to property developers. The CSI property index jumped 5.2%, while the mainland's broader CSI 300 added 1.8%. Shares of Hong Kong-listed Country Garden jumped 2.94%, Logan Group gained 5.17% and Longfor Group added 4.61%. The People's Bank of China and the Ministry of Finance said in a joint statement late Wednesday that these new measures will be valid until the end of 2024.

Organizations: Hong, Logan Group, People's Bank of China, Ministry of Finance Locations: Hangzhou city, Zhejiang province, China, Hong Kong, Hang

☆ Air freight volumes soar as Red Sea delays, risks make more big retailers, auto companies nervous
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Lori Ann Larocco | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

HANGZHOU, CHINA - APRIL 6, 2023 - A Cargo plane of Maersk AIR Cargo is seen at Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, China, April 6, 2023. The current spike in use of air freight is primarily in cargo volumes bound for Europe, as more companies avoid the longer Red Sea diversions around Africa's Cape of Good Hope, according to Xeneta, a leading ocean and air freight rate benchmarking platforms. Air freight tends to be "quieter" in the last week of December and the first week of January, according to Niall van de Wouw, chief air freight officer for Xeneta. "If the Rea Sea crisis continues, you'll have more and more companies getting nervous," van de Wouw said. Xeneta data shows that air cargo volumes on the major apparel route from Vietnam to Europe spiked 62% in the week ending January 14 — 6% higher than 2023's peak week in October.

Persons: Maersk, Good Hope, Niall van de Wouw, van de Wouw, Van de Wouw Organizations: Maersk AIR Cargo, Hangzhou Xiaoshan International, Getty Locations: HANGZHOU, CHINA, Maersk, Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, China, Europe, Africa's, Good, Vietnam

☆ China's EV stocks start 2024 in reverse gear as price wars pressure profitability
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-11 | by ( Sheila Chiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

"We expect competition within the domestic market to remain intense and put pressure on pricing and profitability," Bernstein analysts said in a report on China's EV industry earlier this month. Morgan Stanley also highlighted competitions concerns in its note on Wednesday: "Investors remain cautious as China's auto market has had a volatile start to the year as competition and macro uncertainties persist." In mainland China, passenger EV sales growth fell to 28% in the third quarter of 2023, from 108% in the same period a year earlier, according to China Association of Automobile Manufacturers data quoted by Fitch Ratings. The growth slowdown will deepen in 2024, according to Fitch Ratings. "We expect China's domestic passenger car demand to increase modestly in 2024 to nearly 22 million units amid economic uncertainty," said Fitch Ratings.

Persons: Li Auto, Bernstein, Morgan Stanley, Fitch Organizations: Shanghai International Automobile Industry, National Exhibition, Convention Center, China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, Fitch Locations: Shanghai, Hong Kong, Nio, BYD, Zhejiang, China

☆ Shadow bank Zhongzhi files for bankruptcy as China's debt and property crisis deepens
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-08 | by ( Shreyashi Sanyal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Shadow banks in China operate by pooling household and corporate savings to offer loans to invest in real estate, stocks, bonds, and commodities. Companies such as Zhongzhi have often financed many large Chinese property developers. Hong Kong listed shares of property firms including Logan Group, China Vanke, Sunac and Longfor Group dropped between 2% and 3.6%. More pain for shadow banks? China's government has in the last few years tried to limit the rapid growth of non-bank debt issued by shadow banks.

Persons: Zhongzhi, Commerzbank, Zerlina Zeng, CNBC's Organizations: Zhongzhi Enterprise, Reuters, Beijing, CSI, Logan Group, Longfor, CreditSights Locations: HANGZHOU, CHINA, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province, China, Hong Kong

☆ Asia’s year in review: Who had it good — and who had it bad — in 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-22 | by ( Curtis Chin | Jose B. Collazo | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

As 2023 comes to a close, we take a look at the year that was in Asia and the Pacific region. But who had it good and who had it bad in 2023? Bad year: China's property marketWith millions of Chinese citizens still waiting for homes they put down payments on — but might never be built — 2023 was a particularly bad year for China's property market. A newly built property is seen from the air in Hangzhou city, Zhejiang province, China, Dec 15, 2023. Chinese families and individuals who once saw homes as more than somewhere to live but also as investments have reason to fear 2023 won't be the last bad year they face.

Persons: Curtis, Chin, Jose B, —, Vikram, Amit Dave, Narendra Modi, Taylor Swift, Kim Ji, Jennie, Kim Jennie, Roseanne Chae, Lisa, Lalisa, King Charles, Rose, Roseanne Park, Jisoo Kim, Jennie Kim, King Charles III, Yoon Suk Yeol, Kim Keon Hee, Victoria Jones, Blackpink, Michelle Yeoh, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, San Francisco —, China Evergrande, Moody's, Asia's Organizations: Asian Development Bank, RiverPeak Group, ISRO —, Indian Space Research, Orbiter, ISRO, Buckingham, Sustainable, COP26, Getty, YG Entertainment, APEC, U.S, International Monetary Fund Locations: U.S, Asia, Turkey, Syria, Maui, Hawaii, Lahaina, Pacific, India, Gujarat Science City, Ahmedabad, Korea, British, LONDON, ENGLAND, Glasgow, London, England, South Korea, Malaysian, New Zealand, Thailand, China, San Francisco, United States, Taiwan, South China, Country, Hangzhou city, Zhejiang province

☆ 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

☆ Piper Sandler champions Nvidia's opportunity beyond AI chips — underscoring our post-earnings analysis
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Kevin Stankiewicz | In Kevinstankiewicz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Piper Sandler reiterated its buy-equivalent rating on Nvidia's stock and $620 per-share price target, which implies nearly 33% upside from its Friday close. After Nvidia's more-than-200% stock-price gain this year, investors are wondering what's "new" about Nvidia, Jim Cramer said Monday. The answer to that question is software, Jim said, which could eventually help offset the historically boom-and-bust nature of semiconductor sales. Over time, though, Piper Sandler believes software can become a "significant portion" of Nvidia's total revenue. Despite our alignment with Piper Sandler on Nvidia's long-term software opportunity, Jim on Monday cautioned that its stock could be due for a breather.

Persons: Piper Sandler, Nvidia's, Jim Cramer, Jim, Jim Cramer's Organizations: Nvidia, Devices, AMD, Software, Enterprise, Club, Apple, CNBC, Visitors, NVIDIA, Hangzhou Apsara, Getty, Nurphoto Locations: Hangzhou, Hangzhou Apsara Conference, Zhejiang province, China

☆ China's respiratory illness rise due to known pathogens - official
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A child gets an intravenous drip at a hospital in Hangzhou in east China's Zhejiang province. China's surge in respiratory illness is caused by known pathogens and there is no sign of new infectious diseases, a health official said on Saturday as the country faces its first full winter since lifting strict COVID-19 restrictions. The spike in illness in the country where COVID emerged in late 2019 attracted the spotlight when the World Health Organization sought information last week, citing a report on clusters of undiagnosed pneumonia in children. Chinese authorities will open more paediatric outpatient clinics, seek to ensure more elderly people and children receive flu vaccines and encourage people to wear masks and wash their hands, Mi Feng, an official with China's National Health Commission, told a press conference. Doctors in China and experts abroad have not expressed alarm about China's outbreaks, given that many other countries saw similar increases in respiratory diseases after easing pandemic measures, which China did at the end of last year.

Persons: Mi Feng Organizations: World Health Organization, China's National Health Commission Locations: Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, China

Search resuls for: "Zhejiang"

25 mentions found