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☆ China's domestic travel recovery marred by anti-spending 'special forces'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Casey Hall | Thomson Reuters | Casey Has Reported On China'S Consumer Culture Her Base In Shanghai For More Than A Decade | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/2] Passengers wait to board trains at Shanghai Hongqiao railway station ahead of the five-day Labour Day holiday, in Shanghai, China, April 28, 2023. To get to the ancient temples, pagodas and grottoes she wanted to visit, she walked roughly 30,000 steps a day. "I can control the expenses, to go to many places for the least amount of money, but it is really tiring." "Maybe I didn't wear the right shoes, but my feet started to hurt after walking more than 10,000 steps," she said, joking that she exemplified "the battle-scarred version of special forces travel." ($1 = 6.9121 Chinese yuan renminbi)Reporting by Casey Hall and Shanghai newsroom; Editing by Marius Zaharia and Lincoln Feast.

☆ China holds rates, adds more liquidity as recovery struggles
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The People's Bank of China (PBOC) said it was keeping the rate on 125 billion yuan ($18.08 billion) worth of one-year medium-term lending facility (MLF) loans to some financial institutions unchanged at 2.75% from the previous operation. Monday's operation was meant to fully meet financial institutions' needs and to "maintain reasonably ample banking system liquidity," the PBOC said in an online statement. In a Reuters poll of 30 market watchers conducted last week, 26 participants, or 86.7%, predicted no change to the MLF rate, while four respondents expected a marginal rate cut. With 100 billion yuan worth of MLF loans set to expire this month, the operation resulted in a net 25 billion yuan fresh fund injection into the banking system. The central bank also injected 2 billion yuan through seven-day reverse repos while keeping borrowing costs unchanged at 2.00%, it said in an online statement.

Landing of aircraft at night and in bad weather, for instance - crucial to regular offshore carrier operations - remain far from routine, several of the attaches and analysts said. "Carrier operations are a very complicated game, and China's got to figure this out all by itself. A new plane, the KJ-600, designed to perform a similar role to the E-2C/D Hawkeye launched from U.S. carriers, is still in testing, according to the Pentagon's latest annual report on China's military. Several countries operate aircraft carriers but the U.S. remains the most dominant, running 11 carrier battlegroups with global reach. A September editorial published in a magazine run by a PLA weapons manufacturer, titled "Four great advantages the PLA has in attacking Taiwan", did not mention the role of Chinese carriers.

☆ S.Korea summons Chinese ambassador over reaction to Yoon's Taiwan remarks
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The move came after China and South Korea exchanged harsh words over Yoon's comments in a recent interview with Reuters. "The Taiwan issue is not simply an issue between China and Taiwan but, like the issue of North Korea, it is a global issue." Asked about Yoon's comments, the Chinese foreign ministry denounced Yoon and called on South Korea to "prudently handle matters" related to Taiwan. Hours later, South Korea's foreign ministry hit back and said comments by the Chinese foreign ministry were "unspeakable". A vice foreign minister called in Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Xing Haiming and strongly protested what South Korea called "diplomatic discourtesy", the South Korean foreign ministry said in a statement.

☆ China's Didi Global to roll out self-developed robotaxis by 2025
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( Josh Ye | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The company said that it is collaborating with multiple new energy carmakers in China on developing robotaxis. "We hope they can enter Didi's network and provide services by 2025," Didi Autonomous Driving COO Meng Xing said at a company event that was livestreamed online. He also showed off a robotaxi concept car called "Didi Neuron", with robotic arms that can help passengers pick up luggage. Didi allows users in some parts of Shanghai and the southern city of Guangzhou to hail self-driving cars through its main app. Swedish carmaker Volvo, owned by Geely (GEELY.UL), supplies Didi's self-driving fleet.

☆ China's Didi Global unveils robotaxi concept car called Didi Neuron
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

HONG KONG, April 13 (Reuters) - Chinese ride-hailing giant Didi Global showed off a robotaxi concept car it called "Didi Neuron" during a company event broadcast online on Thursday, which has robotic arms that can help passengers pick up bottles of water or carry their luggage. The blue and white vehicle was unveiled by Didi Autonomous Driving COO Meng Xing. Reporting by Josh Ye, writing by Brenda Goh; Editing by Bernadette BaumOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ China is home to one of the world's biggest luxury markets, and it's starting to make a comeback after the country's 3-year COVID lockdowns
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( Nidhi Pandurangi | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

China is an important luxury market. Bain expects these consumers will account for 46% of the global luxury market by 2025. However, Wu's comments echoed Bain's positive outlook for China's luxury market. China's consumer price index, or CPI — the monthly change in prices paid by consumers — showed bleak data for March. It could be the reason Bank of America's Wu told CNBC that strong recovery across China's consumer sector has not yet been seen.

☆ China keeps lending benchmarks unchanged in March, as expected
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( Reuters Staff | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - China kept its benchmark lending rates unchanged for the seventh straight month in March, as expected, with the economy already benefiting from policy actions taken last week as it recovers from the pandemic. On Monday, the one-year loan prime rate (LPR) was kept at 3.65%, while the five-year LPR was unchanged at 4.30%. (Graphic: China lending rates unchanged in March here)In a Reuters poll conducted last week, all 22 participants predicted no change to either loan prime rate. “The central bank’s RRR cut was more of an emergency response to prevent overseas banking crisis from spilling over to China,” Xing said. An RRR cut nonetheless also promotes economic growth, so economists thought that last week’s made an LPR cut less likely.

☆ U.S. accuses China of trying to hide North Korea atrocities
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( Michelle Nichols | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

China and Russia argue that the 15-member Security Council, which is charged with maintaining international peace and security, should not discuss human rights issues. They say such meetings should be confined to other U.N. bodies like the U.N. Human Rights Council or the U.N. General Assembly. Thomas-Greenfield said North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs were "inextricably linked to the regime's human rights abuses." Pyongyang rejects accusations of human rights abuses and blames sanctions for a dire humanitarian situation in North Korea. "Everybody knows full well that the U.S. uses human rights to settle scores with governments not to their liking."

☆ China's Meituan to restructure ride-hailing unit, reduce service's staff - letter
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BEIJING/SHANGHAI, March 6 (Reuters) - Chinese tech giant Meituan (3690.HK) plans to restructure its ride-hailing service and reduce the number of staff it has working on the platform, according to an internal letter seen by Reuters on Monday and two sources. The company's main app is known in China as a 'superapp' which has services from food delivery to restaurant bookings. Meituan first launched the Meituan Dache app in 2017 but removed it from app stores two years later citing losses，local media reported at the time. But over the whole period, it has offered the ride-hailing service among the suite of services on its main app. Didi's Chinese service was allowed to resume new user registrations in January after it was dealt a $1.2 billion fine over data-security breaches.

☆ One of China’s richest women takes over for her father at real estate developer Country Garden
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Yang Guoqiang, founder of Country Garden, attends a signing ceremony in November 2017 in Guangdong province. VCG/Getty ImagesThe elder Yang was a farmer and construction worker before he founded Country Garden in 1992. In little more than a decade, he grew the firm into one of the largest real estate developers in the country. Last year, Country Garden was China’s No 1 developer by sales, which reached $67 billion. An aerial view of a residential project developed by Country Garden in Zhenjiang city in eastern China's Jiangsu province in October 2021.

☆ China's economic recovery is off to a slow start
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Hector Retamal | Afp | Getty ImagesBEIJING — China's economic recovery is off to a modest start. Migrant workers have mostly returned to work after China's biggest holiday of the year, and children went back to school this week. It also remains to be seen how demand from China's growth picks up as businesses resume work and travel after the Lunar New Year holiday. Robin Xing, chief China economist at Morgan Stanley, pointed out that in-person meetings are particularly important for doing business in China, and that such interactions weren't easily feasible last year. Ting Lu chief China economist, Nomura

BEIJING, Feb 7 (Reuters) - China's luxury market contracted 10% in 2022 on the year, snapping a five-year streak of high growth, as Beijing's zero-COVID policy and a slowing economy hit spending, Bain & Company said in a report on Tuesday. The luxury market grew 42% annually between 2019 and 2021 but its fortunes changed in 2022, after China doubled down on stamping out COVID-19 with city-wide lockdowns and a regulatory crackdown hit the property sector and fuelled unemployment. The figure compared to growth of 1% between 2012 and 2016, and a 26% increase in sales between 2016 and 2019, Bain said. Mirroring recent results from the likes of French luxury goods group LVMH (LVMH.PA) and Italy's Salvatore Ferragamo (SFER.MI) for 2022, Bain said all luxury categories were affected to varying degrees during the year. While categories with high online penetration, such as luxury beauty, suffered single-digit declines, the watch market fell the most, with sales dropping 20% to 25% from 2021.

☆ Tesla has growing competition in China — these are the most popular electric SUVs challenging Elon Musk in the crucial market
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

(Note: Since China considers both electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles as "new energy vehicles," this ranking includes both types of EVs.) BYD SongThe BYD Song Plus DM-i plug-in hybrid. The BYD Song Plus DM-i plug-in hybrid. BYD Yuan PlusThe BYD Yuan Plus. BYD TangThe BYD Tang electric SUV.

☆ Oil set to close higher in 2022, a turbulent year marked by tight supplies
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-30 | by ( Florence Tan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

FILE PHOTO: A view shows Chao Xing tanker at the crude oil terminal Kozmino on the shore of Nakhodka Bay near the port city of Nakhodka, Russia August 12, 2022. U.S. West Intermediate crude was at $78.88 a barrel, up 48 cents, or 0.6%, after closing 0.7% lower on Thursday. Brent is set to close 2022 with a 5.76% gain after rising 50.2% in 2021. Also, China’s zero-COVID restrictions, which were only eased in December, squashed oil demand recovery hopes at the world’s No. Looking ahead on supplies, western sanctions will push Russia to divert more crude and refined products exports from Europe to Asia.

☆ Oil set to end turbulent 2022 with second annual gain
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-30 | by ( Alex Lawler | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

FILE PHOTO: A view shows Chao Xing tanker at the crude oil terminal Kozmino on the shore of Nakhodka Bay near the port city of Nakhodka, Russia August 12, 2022. “Next year is set to be another year of uncertainty, with plenty of volatility.”On Friday, Brent crude was up 32 cents, or 0.4%, to $83.78 a barrel by 0915 GMT. So I think oil prices may fall to $60 next year,” he said. Oil’s fall in the second half of 2022 came as central banks hiked interest rates to fight inflation, boosting the U.S. dollar. 2 consumer in 2022 posted its first drop in oil demand for years.

☆ Oil set to end volatile 2022 with second annual gain
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-30 | by ( Laila Kearney | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

FILE PHOTO: A view shows Chao Xing tanker at the crude oil terminal Kozmino on the shore of Nakhodka Bay near the port city of Nakhodka, Russia August 12, 2022. REUTERS/Tatiana MeelCrude surged in March with international benchmark Brent reaching $139.13 a barrel, the highest since 2008, after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine upended global crude flows. U.S. crude was set to rise about 5% in 2022, following last year’s gain of 55%. “So I think oil prices may fall to $60 next year..Oil’s decline in the second half of 2022, largely on rising interest rates to fight inflation, boosted the U.S. dollar. The world’s top oil importer and second biggest consumer in 2022 posted its first drop in oil demand for years.

☆ Oil set to end turbulent 2022 modestly higher
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-30 | by ( Florence Tan | Emily Chow | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

FILE PHOTO: A view shows Chao Xing tanker at the crude oil terminal Kozmino on the shore of Nakhodka Bay near the port city of Nakhodka, Russia August 12, 2022. Brent looked set to end the year with a 7.6% gain, after jumping 50.2% in 2021. So I think oil prices may fall to $60 next year,” he said. Oil prices cooled quickly in the second half this year as central banks across the world hiked interest rates to fight inflation, boosting the U.S. dollar. Also, China’s zero-COVID restrictions, which were only eased in December, squashed oil demand recovery hopes for the world’s No.

☆ China holds benchmark lending rates for 4th consecutive month
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SHANGHAI, Dec 20 (Reuters) - China kept benchmark lending interest rates unchanged for the fourth consecutive month on Tuesday, matching the forecasts of most market watchers who nevertheless expect further monetary easing to prop up a slowing economy. The one-year loan prime rate (LPR) was left at 3.65%, while the five-year LPR was held at 4.30%. Market watchers regard MLF announcements as guides to any LPR changes. Xing Zhaopeng, senior China strategist at ANZ, said with rates unchanged, household spending would continue without any increase in disposable income. Most new and outstanding loans in China are based on the one-year LPR, while the five-year rate influences the pricing of mortgages.

SHANGHAI/HONG KONG, Dec 9 (Reuters) - Investors caught off-guard by China's dramatic COVID policy pivot are betting on both greed and fear as the economy starts to gradually reopen, snapping up shares in businesses from travel agencies and casinos to funeral companies. Providers of death care services, including Hong Kong-listed Fu Shou Yuan International Group (1448.HK), China's biggest cemetery operator and funeral service provider, have also drawn investors. The positioning for both the bright and dark side of China's COVID pivot reflects growing concerns from investors surprised by the rapid policy change, especially as COVID vaccination rates among the elderly remain relatively low. "But we still think that the way China can flatten the curve of new COVID cases without doubling down on tightening looks quite challenging." Morgan Stanley Chief China economist Robin Xing said China's economy may remain sluggish for another quarter or two, but growth will pick up after Spring.

UNMASKINGGlobal oil and energy consumption have been falling since the third quarter under the impact of exceptionally high prices and a slowing economy. But the impact was initially masked by concerns about the planned introduction of the price cap on Russia's crude and refined products exports. Traders anticipated the price cap and Russia's response would cut production by more than the economic slowdown cut consumption. LESSONS FROM 2014The recent slump in oil prices shares some, though not all, characteristics with the slump occurring in the third quarter of 2014 ("A brief history of the oil crash", Reuters, January 2015). It is also probable recent hedge fund liquidation has exaggerated the recent fall in oil prices creating some headroom for a short-term rebound; positions are now unusually low.

Cloud computing has dominated the tech industry, created armfuls of multi-billion dollar companies, and it's still growing exponentially. All of that makes cloud computing an excellent career choice now and for years to come. To that purpose, we created this list of people to know who are working on the next iterations of the cloud. We looked for leaders in six categories that make up the cloud universe — or cloudverse. Read on for the 2022 Cloudverse 100 list, organized alphabetically.

☆ Elon Musk showed off updates to his brain chips and said he’s going to install one in himself when they are ready
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Ashley Capoot | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Elon Musk's health tech venture Neuralink shared updates to its brain-implant technology during a "show and tell" recruitment event Wednesday night. "We're confident there are no physical limitations to restoring full body functionality," Musk said. Neuralink could begin to test the motor cortex technology in humans in as soon as six months, Musk said. "You could have a Neuralink device implanted right now and you wouldn't even know. Musk showed footage of a monkey with a computer chip in its skull playing "telepathic video games," which Neuralink first debuted over a year ago.

☆ One of China's biggest retailers is cutting executive pay to create a fund to help lower-level employees buy homes
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( Aaron Mok | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The e-commerce titan will allocate $1.4 billion to help rank-and-file employees buy homes. The move comes amid China's "common prosperity" campaign to reduce economic inequality in the country. The billionaire's philanthropy is part of China's "common prosperity" campaign to close the income gap and bolster social equality in the country. He brought up the slogan "common prosperity" multiple times in his opening speech, Insider reported. ByteDance founder Zhang Yiming donated 500 million yuan, or $77.3 million, in June of 2021 to Fangmei Education Development Fund, named after Zhang's grandmothers in his hometown of southeastern Longyan city.

☆ China leaves lending benchmarks unchanged for 3rd straight month in Nov
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SHANGHAI, Nov 21 (Reuters) - China kept its benchmark lending rates unchanged for the third straight month on Monday, as a weaker yuan and persistent capital outflows continued to limit Beijing's ability to ease monetary conditions to support the economy. As expected, the one-year loan prime rate (LPR) was kept at 3.65%, while the five-year LPR was unchanged at 4.30%. The latest official data showed that overseas investors had sold their holdings of China's onshore bonds for a ninth straight month in October, the longest streak of outflows on record. "We think there's probability to lower the 5-year LPR in December due to the downturn in the property market," said Xing Zhaopeng, senior China strategist at ANZ. Most new and outstanding loans in China are based on the one-year LPR, while the five-year rate influences the pricing of mortgages.

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