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☆ 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

☆ How Mexican narcos use remittances to wire U.S. drug profits home
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( Reuters Graphic | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +28 min

Now the news agency is the first to detail how Mexican drug gangs have harnessed legitimate remittance networks to repatriate their U.S. drug profits, and the factors that make this activity so difficult for authorities to detect and thwart. But authorities say Mexican drug cartels are piggybacking on this legal network to repatriate earnings from U.S. narcotics sales. A Reuters search of Mexican court records dating back to 2012 turned up no cases involving money laundering through remittances. Still, prosecutors in those cases mentioned several of those firms in court documents because they said the defendants had used their platforms to wire drug money. His office did not respond to requests for comment about law enforcement allegations that Mexican cartels are using remittances to launder drug money.

Persons: Money, ”, “, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, ” Jorge Godínez, ” Godínez, John Cornyn of, Chuck Grassley, ” Grassley, pocketing, John Horn, remitters ”, Horn, – Oscar Gustavo Perez, Bernal, Itzayana Guadalupe Perez, Susan Fiorella Ayala, Chavez –, Los, –, Jose Luis Rosales, Ocampo, Josue Gama, Perez, Thania Rosales, Dulce Rosales, – Ana Lilia Leal, Martinez, Ana Paola Banda, Maria de Lourdes Carbajal, Henri Watson, Carbajal, Sigue, Sangita Bricker, Transfast –, ” Sigue, Transfast, fanny, Juan de Dios Gámez, Rubén Rocha, BanCoppel, Banorte, hadn’t, El, López Obrador, ” López Obrador, Signos, Signos Vitales, Oquitoa, Enrique Cardenas, Tim Walz, Keith Ellison Organizations: Sinaloa Cartel, Reuters, Jalisco New, Mexican, WorldRemit, ., National Intelligence, narcos, U.S, Republican U.S, Treasury, U.S . Department of, U.S ., Financial Intelligence Unit, “, Federal Bureau of Prisons, Los Rosales, Kansas City, ”, Leal, IDT Corporation, IDT, Mastercard, Express Cellular, Prosecutors, IRS, Western Union, U.S . Department of Justice, Federal Trade Commission, ‘, Banco Azteca, Elektra, World Bank, Minnesota, Caborca Locations: CULIACÁN, Mexico, Mexican, Culiacán, Sinaloa, United States, Jalisco, U.S, Colorado, Union, Americas, London, John Cornyn of Texas, Iowa, Ohio, Colorado , Georgia , Ohio , Oklahoma , Texas, Virginia, Washington, Georgia, Atlanta, Columbus, Rosales, Nayarit, Michoacan, Missouri, Texas, Florida, New Jersey, Miami, , New Jersey, Ria, Kansas, California, New York, Western, Sinaloan, Costa Rica, BanCoppel, India, China, Mexico City, Minnesota, Arizona , Colorado , Florida , Illinois, New Mexico, Nevada, Oquitoa, Sonora

☆ Amazon is expanding its own shipping service that directly competes with FedEx and UPS, email invite shows
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( Eugene Kim | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Amazon is inviting sellers to use its own in-house shipping service, called Amazon Shipping. Amazon is significantly expanding its own shipping service that competes with FedEx and UPS. Earlier this week, Amazon invited some sellers to use Amazon Shipping, its own in-house delivery service, according to an email invite seen by Insider. If the merchant used Amazon's fulfillment service, Amazon would decide which delivery service their packages would go through, whether it's UPS or Amazon's own shipping service. However, with Amazon Shipping, sellers now have the choice to use Amazon Shipping directly, even if they are shipping from their own warehouse.

Persons: It's, Pitney Bowes, That's, Olivia Connors Organizations: Amazon, Amazon Shipping, FedEx, UPS, US Postal Service, Pitney, Amazon's, eBay, Bloomberg Locations: United States, France, Italy, Spain, India, Los Angeles, London

☆ Europe's Stripe rival Adyen dives 28% after slowest sales growth on record
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Here's how the company performed:Revenue of 739.1 million euros ($804.3 million) over January to June 2023, up 21% from a year ago. This came in below analyst estimates of 853.6 million euros of revenue and 40% of year-on-year growth, according to Eikon data. EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization) of 320 million euros, down 10% from 356.3 million euros in the first half of 2022. The first-half 2023 result matches an analyst prediction of 320 million euros profit. Adyen — and other payment companies — benefited heavily in previous years from the rise in demand for e-commerce and digital payment options resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic and ensuing lockdowns.

Persons: Ethan Tandowsky, CNBC's, Adyen — Organizations: Netflix, Meta, Microsoft, Spotify, PayPal, Investors, CNBC, Apple Locations: Europe, Russia, Ukraine

☆ Amazon adds a new fee for sellers who ship their own packages
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( Annie Palmer | In Annierpalmer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Amazon is adding a new charge for third-party sellers who ship their own products instead of paying for the company's fulfillment services. Previously, there was no such fee for sellers. The e-commerce giant also charges sellers a referral fee between 8% and 15% on each sale. Regulators have examined whether Amazon pressures sellers into using its services in exchange for preferential treatment on the marketplace. In a blog post on Monday, the company argued sellers continue to flock to its sprawling marketplace "because it's a great value."

Persons: Amazon's, hasn't, Sellers, Dharmesh Mehta Organizations: CNBC, Amazon, Bloomberg, Regulators, Federal Trade Commission Locations: SFP, U.S

☆ How to sell on TikTok Shop
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( Marta Biino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

TikTok is investing heavily into e-commerce with its TikTok Shop program. TikTok is investing heavily into e-commerce with its TikTok Shop program, and it's offering perks to brands and creators who join. Read about what TikTok Shop can offer brands, according to an exec who spearheads the programTikTok / Maryam Malik / Lissette CalveiroHow to start a TikTok Shop as a sellerBrands can join TikTok Shop by applying on the platform's website. What TikTok Shop offers sellersAs TikTok worked to woo merchants, it began offering perks such as free shipping and discounts for new sellers. On TikTok Shop, creators earn money through affiliate commissions.

Persons: Read, Sellers, Maryam Malik, Lissette, TikTok, Adam Beswick, It's, they've Organizations: Center, Brands, Merchants Locations: Here's, Ecwid

☆ Keith Rabois' startup OpenStore is launching a new program to boost Shopify merchants who aren't big enough to sell their stores yet
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( Madeline Stone | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Keith Rabois' OpenStore is launching a new accelerator program for Shopify merchants. OpenStore, Keith Rabois' Shopify aggregator startup , is launching another offering for Shopify merchants. The new program, called OpenStore Boost, is an accelerator for Shopify merchants generating between $50,000 and $500,000 in net sales annually. The company has since launched OpenStore Drive , which allows Shopify merchants to pass off the day-to-day operations of their store while retaining full ownership of the business. In June, OpenStore launched a website where shoppers can browse products from all of the brands in its portfolio.

Persons: Keith Rabois, OpenStore, he's, Rabois, Jack Abraham, Matt Lanter, Jeremy Wood, Google —, It's Organizations: Google

[1/2] FILE PHOTO: The PayPal app logo seen on a mobile phone in this illustration photo October 16, 2017. "We believe (Chriss's) experience sounds highly relevant to PayPal as it reemphasizes focus on small merchants and launches PayPal Complete Payments," William Blair analysts wrote in a note. PayPal Complete Payments is a payments processing solution for small and medium-sized businesses. According to Wolfe Research, his biggest accomplishment was the company's $12-billion acquisition and integration of Mailchimp in 2021. Outgoing CEO Schulman will remain on the board of the company until its next annual meeting of stockholders in May, PayPal said.

Persons: Thomas White, Alex Chriss, Dan Schulman, William Blair, Wolfe, Darrin Peller, Chriss, Schulman, Niket, Pooja Desai Organizations: PayPal, REUTERS, PayPal Holdings, Intuit, eBay, Intuit's, Wolfe Research, Reuters, Thomson Locations: San Jose , California, Bengaluru

☆ Shopify's ecosystem is about to face a major test: Large partners like Klaviyo are eying an IPO, while smaller startups may struggle to compete
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Madeline Stone | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

As Shopify's app ecosystem matures, it's becoming a make-or-break moment for some developers and partners. If they succeed in the public markets, it's a positive sign for the Shopify ecosystem. Upcoming IPOs will be a testSome Shopify ecosystem companies are eying the public markets, even in a year when IPO activity has been slow. That will make it even more important for Shopify's app partners to ensure their solution is differentiated from competitors. "This shared focus is why we're committed to ensuring a healthy Shopify ecosystem that fosters innovation, scale, and speed."

Persons: Shopify, it's, it'll, Amit Jhawar, Ben Parr, Parr, lockdowns, Sid Murlidhar, we're, Chris Wattie, Jhawar, Glen Coates, It'll, Chris Grouchy, Convictional, Roger Kirkness, Rick Watson Organizations: Shopify, Reuters, Shopify Ventures, Global, RMW Commerce Consulting Locations: Klaviyo, Ottawa , Ontario, Canada, Shopify

☆ Bain puts Chindata minority owners out of misery
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MELBOURNE, Aug 14 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Bain Capital has just taught a refresher course in the perils of being a minority investor. On Friday the buyout firm agreed to take Chindata private in a deal that values the Chinese data centre operator it already controls at $3.2 billion. But those who bought in when the U.S. private equity firm took Chindata public in 2020 or were hoping for a bidding war – or both – have good reason to be disappointed. Second, a unit of state-owned conglomerate China Merchants Group countered Bain with a $3.4 billion deal, which Chindata took a month to acknowledge. And it has let investors holding another fifth or so of Chindata stock into the buyout group.

Persons: Bain’s, Bain, Chindata, Antony Currie, BoE, Robyn Mak, Katrina Hamlin Organizations: MELBOURNE, Reuters, Bain Capital, China Merchants Group, China Merchants, Twitter, FC Barcelona’s, Messi, Siemens, Thomson Locations: New York

☆ Chinese online retailer Pinduoduo has a 'hyper-aggressive' culture with hours surpassing a '996' schedule, analysts write
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( Madeline Stone | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Temu's sister company Pinduoduo may have a "9127" culture, Bernstein analysts wrote. This is a play on "996" work culture, which encourages work from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week. Temu sister company Pinduoduo is known for having an exceptionally intense workplace culture, Bernstein analysts wrote in a note published this week. "996" is a reference to a work culture that encourages tech employees to work from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week. While Shein remains ahead of Temu in terms of buyer awareness, Temu sees high buyer retention rates, the Bernstein analysts noted.

Persons: Temu's, Bernstein, Temu, Jack Ma, Richard Liu Qiangdong, Robin Zhu, Pinduoduo, Shein Organizations: Morning, PDD Holdings, Pinduoduo, Representatives, Local Locations: China, Shanghai

☆ Chinese data center operator Chindata to go private in $3.16 bln deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Aug 11 (Reuters) - Chindata Group said on Friday it would go private in a sweetened $3.16 billion deal with investor Bain Capital, ending months of uncertainty over the future of the Chinese data center operator that also received interest from China Merchants Group. It also marks a premium of about 43% to the closing price of Chindata shares before the initial approach was made public. U.S.-listed shares of Chindata, which operates data centers in China, India and Southeast Asia, rose 3% after the bell. Data centers operators have enjoyed a surge in demand in recent years as more businesses take to the web. The go-private deal announced on Friday will be funded through a combination of cash and debt financing provided by Shanghai Pudong Development Bank, Chindata said.

Persons: Chindata, Manya Saini, Shinjini Organizations: Chindata, Bain Capital, China Merchants Group, Nasdaq, China Merchants Capital, Shanghai Pudong Development Bank, Thomson Locations: U.S, Chindata, China, India, Southeast Asia, Bengaluru

☆ Kantamanto market: At one of the world’s largest clothing dumps, textiles are getting a new lease of life
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Jenny Marc | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

They belong to a vendor in one of the world’s largest secondhand clothing markets, who plans on selling these clothes for a small profit. Using research, advocacy and innovation, the foundation draws attention to textile waste and finds ways to reuse it. A water stream across the street from Kantamanto textile market is choked with discarded clothing, essentially becoming a makeshift landfill. They purchase used clothing by the bale, without knowing what’s inside, in hopes of selling it for profit. The regulations will make the collection of textile waste mandatory in 2025, but the organization says these changes won’t be enough.

Persons: Ghana CNN — Kennie MacCarthy rummages, MacCarthy, ” MacCarthy, Andrew Caballero, Reynolds, Jenny Marc, “ I’ve, ”, –, Kayayei, “, Liz Branson, MacCarthy – Organizations: Ghana CNN, Bloomberg, Charities, CNN Merchants, Foundation, CNN, European Commission Locations: Accra, Ghana, Kantamanto, Europe, North America

☆ PayPal’s stablecoin may be a payments catalyst, but it will face these near-term hurdles, BofA says
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Tanaya Macheel | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

PayPal 's new stablecoin — known as PYUSD — has the potential to facilitate payments , but it must overcome several headwinds before it takes off, Bank of America said. "Over the longer term, we expect PYUSD to experience additional adoption headwinds as competition from [central bank digital currencies] and yield-bearing stablecoins increases," the analyst added. "Over the longer term, we expect PYUSD to experience additional adoption headwinds as competition from CBDCs and yield-bearing stablecoins increases," he said. "Investors may have been fine holding non-yield bearing stablecoins, such as USDT and USDC, when rates were close to zero, but yield-bearing stablecoins will likely become increasingly available and attractive." Instead, Bank of America expects PYUSD to target the "largely untapped" market for blockchain-enabled asset transfers, payments and remittances.

Persons: —, headwinds Shah, PYUSD, Shah, — CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: PayPal, Bank of America Locations: U.S

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File PhotoAug 10 (Reuters) - China's Alibaba Group Holding (9988.HK) reported its strongest quarterly revenue growth in almost two years on Thursday, boosted by a mid-year shopping festival that attracted bargain hunting consumers amid a sober economic environment. The Chinese e-commerce giant posted first-quarter revenue of 234.16 billion yuan ($32.29 billion), up 14% from the prior-year quarter which was hit by strict pandemic lockdowns. The figurebeat analysts' estimates of 224.92 billion yuan, according to Refinitiv data. Regulatory concern has eased for China's tech giants, including Alibaba, this year, with Chinese authorities keen to boost private sector confidence. (1 Chinese yuan renminbi = $0.1387)Reporting by Yuvraj Malik in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta and Sharon SingletonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Daniel Zhang, Eddie Yongming Wu, Alibaba's, Joseph Tsai, Yuvraj Malik, Shounak Dasgupta, Sharon Singleton Organizations: REUTERS, HK, Cloud Intelligence Group, Tmall, PDD Holdings, Thomson Locations: U.S, China, Alibaba, Bengaluru

☆ Bernstein says crypto may finally have its killer application
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Tanaya Macheel | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

According to Bernstein, stablecoins are "the monster crypto killer-app" and could be a nearly $3 trillion market over the next five years. "Going forward, we expect tokenized stablecoins to be a $2.8 trillion market, led by regulated, onshore stablecoins." The stablecoin market has dropped sharply this year despite bitcoin being up about 75%. In July, it hit an all-time high of $83.8 billion and now accounts for 68.5% of the overall stablecoin market. The crypto market currently awaits a vote in Congress on a key stablecoin bill , which has just advanced to the House with three other crypto bills for the first time.

Persons: Bernstein, stablecoins, Gautam Chhugani, Chhugani, bitcoin, — CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: U.S .

☆ New DoorDash customers are turning to the app for grocery deliveries and flowers, not just restaurant meals
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

DoorDash is seeing a surge in non-restaurant orders from new customers, including grocery and flower deliveries. The delivery company has 100,000 retail stores on its app, surpassing Instacart's 80,000 merchants. The company said more new customers are turning to the app for non-restaurant orders as DoorDash has grown its retail selection to more than 100,000 stores. In July, online grocery sales dropped 7% to $7.2 billion compared to July 2022 , according to the latest monthly Brick Meets Click/Mercatus Grocery Shopping Survey. Driving the downturn was delivery sales, which decreased 13.3% to $2.6 billion , according to the July survey released August 9.

Persons: Tony Xu, DoorDash, Xu, Grubhub, Uber, It's, Petco, Staples, Brittain Ladd, Instacart, confidentially Organizations: Service, Albertsons, Aldi, Target, Walgreens, Dollar Locations: Wall, Silicon, Stanford, PetSmart, North America

Da Ponte denied a Bloomberg report that the payments processor paused development of its stablecoin in February. But da Ponte argues this troubled backdrop is exactly why PayPal is poised to succeed. Then there's the hypothetical digital dollar that would be the Fed's take on a central bank digital currency, or CBDC. "We have a large base of consumers; we have a large base of merchants," da Ponte said of PayPal's "two-sided network." Da Ponte sees PayPal's more than 20-year tenure in the payments space as one of the company's chief advantages in the stablecoin market.

Persons: Jose Fernandez da Ponte, PayPal's, Da Ponte, Paxos, it's, Ponte, stablecoins, Nic Carter, Stablecoins, Carter, Andy Bromberg, Andreessen Horowitz, Bromberg, PYUSD, Jeremy Allaire, Allaire, Patrick McHenry, McHenry Organizations: PayPal, CNBC, Bloomberg, SEC, New, Regulators, Valley Bank, U.S ., U.S, Castle, Ventures, Companies, Eco, Coinbase Ventures, Paypal, Facebook, Financial Services, America Locations: U.S, New York, Bromberg, web3, United States, R, DexTools

☆ PayPal bets on crypto's future with US-dollar-backed stablecoin PYUSD
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( Allison Morrow | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

The stablecoin, PayPal USD, is fully backed by the US dollar and is “designed to reduce friction” for payments within virtual spaces and provide faster, cheaper transfers of money across borders. But PayPal is betting on a future in which digital currency is more mainstream and merchants may request payment in stablecoins to avoid credit card processing fees. In May 2022, the “algorithmic” stablecoin TerraUSD collapsed when the crypto token backing it, Luna, collapsed. The value of PayPal USD, or PYUSD, doesn’t rely on a complex algorithm the way Terra did. In other words: every PayPal USD should be worth $1.00, no matter what.

Persons: ”, Dan Schulman, Stablecoins, Stablecoins aren’t, TerraUSD, Luna, Kwon, Charles Cascarilla Organizations: New, New York CNN, PayPal, Securities, Exchange Commission, Paxos Trust Locations: New York, cryptocurrencies, Venmo, Terra

A group of people shows posters in front of the Parque Tejo stage for the XXXVII World Youth Day, in Lisbon, Portugal August 5, 2023. The Church is no exception, said 29-year-old Braga, who linked the issue to racism rooted in slavery and colonialism. "The Church has great power to turn the tables," said Braga, who at Saturday's evening vigil with Francis wore a T-shirt saying "Jesus was Black". "Our ancestors built these spaces and today we are a minority here," said Vanessa Pitangui, who held a Black Lives Matter sign. Reporting by Catarina Demony; Additional reporting by Michael Francis Gore and Pedro Nunes; Editing by Barbara LewisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Pedro Nunes LISBON, Pope Francis, Francis, Tamara Braga, Braga, Jesus, Vanessa Pitangui, Catarina Demony, Michael Francis Gore, Pedro Nunes, Barbara Lewis Organizations: REUTERS, Catholic Church, Thomson Locations: Lisbon, Portugal, Brazil, American, Rio de, Asia, Africa, Europe, Americas

☆ Cheat Sheet: How Smart Chefs Use Spices to Make Summer Recipes Even Better
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-05 | by ( Reem Kassis | Photographs Dan Perez For The Wall Street Journal | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

RIGHT IN the heart of Jerusalem’s Old City lies the centuries-old Suq El-Attarine, or spice merchants’ market. Whether you head there by descending the stairs past Damascus Gate or navigating the labyrinth of stone-lined alleyways from the Holy Sepulchre, the aroma of this narrow marketplace is inescapable. Through domes punctuated with apertures for light and ventilation, the sun often dances upon the vivid goods on display. At first glance, the spice heaps shimmer like a collection of precious gemstones, an analogy that isn’t far from historical reality. Once, spices were indeed worth more than gold.

Locations: Jerusalem’s Old City, Damascus

Until last week, Corona Plaza in Queens was bustling: taqueros flipping fresh tortillas and vendors hawking Central American crafts over a soundtrack of cumbia and train traffic. There were produce stands, live bands and surging crowds, all in a public square that was named one of the 100 best places to eat in the city. But last Thursday and Friday, sanitation workers swept through the plaza, removing several stalls and threatening to penalize vendors who did not have a city permit to operate — nearly all of the more than 80 who regularly work there. In the days since, the grilled-meat stands and jugs of agua fresca have been replaced with protest signs. A spokesman for the Sanitation Department said removing the unpermitted vendors was necessary because the plaza had become so crowded that it was impassable, “with dirty conditions, with semi-permanent structures bolted into the ground, illegal vending right in front of storefronts.”

Organizations: Corona, hawking, Sanitation Department Locations: Corona Plaza, Queens, American, New York

☆ Analysis-China's stubborn savers risk precipitating liquidity trap
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( Winni Zhou | Rae Wee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

“Based on Japan’s experience in the 1990s, there is the risk that China is entering a liquidity trap due to the risks of balance-sheet recession,” said Natixis’s chief economist for Asia Pacific Alicia Garcia Herrero. Fan Gang, a prominent economist and former adviser to the central bank, told a forum in June that China faces a liquidity trap but not a Japan-style deflationary morass. Yet about 180 domestic A-share companies say in their stock filings that they have invested in CDs this year. China’s 220 million retail stock investors, equivalent to Brazil’s population and the biggest drivers of daily moves, have kept to the sidelines this year. “I wouldn’t pour money into the stock market any time before I see a clear rising trend,” he said.

Persons: Florence Lo, ”, Asia Pacific Alicia Garcia Herrero, “, Byron Gill, ‘, ” Gill, Betty Wang, Wu, ” Wu, John Organizations: REUTERS, Companies, Asia Pacific, Pacific Opportunities Fund, U.S, Bank, ANZ, Eastroc Beverage, China Merchants Bank, Bank of Ningbo’s Locations: SHANGHAI, SINGAPORE, Japan, China, Bank, Shanghai

Analysts see the same lack of confidence in today's Chinese households and companies that Japan grappled with in the 1990s. But in China's case there is a key difference; there is no deflationary threat yet, nor have banks switched off lending. Fan Gang, a prominent economist and former adviser to the central bank, told a forum in June that China faces a liquidity trap but not a Japan-style deflationary morass. China's policymakers have cut rates and encouraged banks to lend more in efforts to revive economic growth after the pandemic. China's 220 million retail stock investors, equivalent to Brazil's population and the biggest drivers of daily moves, have kept to the sidelines this year.

Persons: Florence Lo, Asia Pacific Alicia Garcia Herrero, Byron Gill, Gill, Betty Wang, Wu, John, Winni Zhou, Rae Wee, Vidya Ranganathan, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: REUTERS, Companies, Asia Pacific, Pacific Opportunities Fund, U.S, Bank, ANZ, Eastroc Beverage, China Merchants Bank, Bank of Ningbo's, Thomson Locations: SHANGHAI, SINGAPORE, Japan, China, Bank, Shanghai, Singapore

☆ TikTok is building an e-commerce team to go after pre-owned luxury bag buyers and sneakerheads
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( Dan Whateley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

TikTok is hiring staffers to sell pre-owned luxury items like bags and collectibles like sneakers. Its investment in pre-owned goods shows how far the company's "everything store" ambitions extend. It's hiring a "Head of Pre-Owned Luxury" operation lead in Seattle to develop a go-to-market strategy and build a team of sellers focused on pre-owned luxury items. TikTok's plan to invest more in pre-owned luxury sales arrives as some TikTok Shop merchants have already been testing selling pre-owned luxury goods like jewelry, watches, and Chanel handbags, The Fashion Law reported. The market for pre-owned luxury items has exploded in China in the last few years, including on Douyin.

Persons: It's, TikTok, Chanel, trickier Organizations: Street, TikTok Locations: Seattle, China

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