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☆ China Ready to Boost Pakistan Ties but Urges Security Guarantee -Xi
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

BEIJING (Reuters) - China is willing to strengthen co-operation and promote solidarity with Pakistan but has urged it to guarantee the safety of Chinese organisations and personnel working there, China's foreign ministry said, quoting President Xi Jinping. China is a major ally and investor in Pakistan but both separatist and Islamist militants have attacked Chinese projects over recent years, killing Chinese personnel. "We hope the Pakistani side will guarantee the safety of Chinese institutions and personnel in Pakistan," the ministry cited Xi as telling Kakar. Separatist insurgents in Pakistan's resource-rich Balochistan province say China has ignored warnings not to enter deals with the Pakistani government. China has also warned of the danger or Islamist militants in Pakistan.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Xi, Anwar ul Haq Kakar, Kakar, countries.China, Liz Lee, Robert Birsel Organizations: Initiative, Wednesday Pakistan, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, Separatist Locations: BEIJING, China, Pakistan, Beijing, Pakistani, Balochistan

☆ China leaves benchmark lending rates unchanged as expected
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A woman walks past the headquarters of the People's Bank of China (PBOC), the central bank, in Beijing, China September 28, 2018. REUTERS/Jason Lee/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSHANGHAI/SINGAPORE, Oct 20 (Reuters) - China kept its benchmark lending rates unchanged at the monthly fixing on Friday, matching market expectations, as a set of economic data suggested the economy is stabilising and a weaker yuan constrained further monetary easing. The one-year loan prime rate (LPR) was kept at 3.45%, while the five-year LPR was unchanged at 4.20%. Most new and outstanding loans in China are based on the one-year LPR, while the five-year rate influences the pricing of mortgages. China cut the one-year benchmark lending rate in August but surprised markets by keeping the five-year rate unchanged.

Persons: Jason Lee, Li Gu, Tom Westbrook, Edmund Klamann, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: People's Bank of China, REUTERS, Rights, TD Securities, Barclays, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Rights SHANGHAI, SINGAPORE

☆ China’s graphite curbs send green warning shot
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Lisa Jucca | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Global demand for graphite, seen at 770,000 tonnes this year, is expected to treble by 2033, according to estimates by Fastmarkets graphite analyst Georgi Georgiev. China currently accounts for 64% of the global production of natural graphite and more than half of the artificial equivalent. More importantly, the People’s Republic refines more than 90% of the graphite into high-purity material used in EV batteries. This echoes the approach China used earlier this year to restrict exports of gallium and germanium, two metals used in chips and fibre optic cables, triggering a fall in international shipments. Mining graphite in Europe, which wants to lead in EV adoption, is simply more expensive, says Aiden Lavelle, CEO of miner European Green Metals.

Persons: Georgi Georgiev, Aiden Lavelle, Carmakers, Una Galani, Streisand Neto Organizations: Reuters, People’s, EV, Shanghai Putailai, Energy Technology, Metals, Volkswagen, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, China, Republic, Shanghai, Finland, Sweden, Beijing, Western, Europe, U.S

But when excluding both fresh food and fuel prices, inflation was 4.2%, still close to the 40-year peak of 4.3% recorded earlier this year. As the reference point for much of the financial world, the 10-year yield helps set prices for all kinds of investments and loans. The yield on the 10-year Treasury touched 4.99%, up from 4.91% late Wednesday, before paring its gain to 4.98%. Early Friday, the 10-year Treasury yield was 4.94%. A higher 10-year yield makes mortgages more expensive, knocks down prices for investments and makes it costlier for companies to borrow and grow.

Persons: Biden, ” Fatih Birol, Hong, Australia’s, India’s Sensex, Tesla, Jerome Powell, That’s, It’s, Brent Organizations: Treasury, ., Department of Energy, Strategic Petroleum Reserve, ”, Associated Press, Nikkei, China, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Big Tech, Netflix, New York Mercantile Exchange, U.S Locations: HONG KONG, Paris, Shanghai, Seoul

Much of the easing policies have lowered the buying costs, but done little to create new demand, realtor Centaline China CEO Andy Lee said. "The overall size of the pie is still the same," Lee said, referring to the market demand, adding some of the September purchase was delayed from the previous two months due to market expectations of stimulus policies. Nomura also said it is too early to call the bottom for the property sector. The moderate recovery in top-tier cities could continue to drain housing demand in low-tier cities," it said. S&P Global Ratings this week revised down its forecast for China's property sales to drop by 10%-15% this year from 2022, compared to its earlier forecast of a mid-single digit percentage drop.

Persons: Daniel Song, Andy Lee, Lee, Nomura, Doris Dong, Clare Jim, Gao, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: China Evergrande, HK, Demand, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, BEIJING, Beijing, Shenzhen, China, Shanghai, Guangzhou

Tokyo CNN —China has formally arrested a Japanese man who was detained in March, according to officials from Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and the Japanese Embassy in Beijing. The arrest of the Japanese national, who was reportedly an employee of a Tokyo-based pharmaceutical firm, could further rattle foreign businesses in China, which have reported feeling more unsettled this year amid a crackdown on international consulting firms on national security grounds. According to Japanese public broadcaster NHK, the man was an employee of drugmaker Astellas Pharma and was detained in March by Chinese security authorities in Beijing on suspicion of violating the country’s criminal law and anti-espionage law. In May, state security authorities said they had raided several offices of Capvision, an advisory network. The issue has been cited as headache for foreign businesses, some of which were already having trouble convincing workers to relocate to China.

Persons: Hirokazu Matsuno, Japan’s MOFA, Mao Ning, “, ”, Weeks, Bain, — CNN’s Michelle Toh, Sophie Jeong, Mengchen Zhang Organizations: Tokyo CNN, Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Embassy, NHK, drugmaker, Pharma, CNN, Foreign Ministry, Ministry of State Security, Mintz Group, American Chamber of Commerce, China’s Commerce Ministry, State Administration of Foreign Exchange Locations: China, Tokyo, Beijing, MOFA, Shanghai, Hong Kong

☆ Mexico says Tesla factory still coming, vows infrastructure spending
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Daina Beth Solomon | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A view shows the urban area of the municipality of Santa Catarina near the land where Tesla has indicated it could build a new gigafactory, in Santa Catarina, on the outskirts of Monterrey, Mexico February 28, 2023. Tesla announced the planned factory in the northern Mexican state in March, without providing a timeline for construction. After a fraught process for Tesla to confirm its Mexico plans, investors are closely watching the automaker's next steps in the country. Santa Catarina's Mayor, Jesus Nava, said local officials were beginning to improve infrastructure in the area where Tesla is set to build the factory. Musk on Wednesday said the company was "laying the groundwork to begin construction" in Mexico but did not yet have more definite plans.

Persons: Tesla, Daniel Becerril, Elon Musk, Musk, Jesus Nava, Jay Truesdale, Samuel Garcia, Daina Beth Solomon, Jamie Freed Organizations: REUTERS, MEXICO CITY, Mexico's, Santa Catarina's Mayor, Tesla, Nuevo Leon, Shanghai, Thomson Locations: Santa Catarina, Monterrey, Mexico, MEXICO, Leon, Mexican, Asia, United States, Santa

[1/2] California Governor Gavin Newsom speaks at an event for the second year of the Roybal School of Film and Television Production Magnet at the Edward R. Roybal Learning Center in Los Angeles, California, U.S., October 13, 2023. "As two of the world’s largest economies, our partnership is essential to delivering climate action for our communities and beyond," Newsom said in a statement on Wednesday. Newsom has been building up a national profile as a voice for stringent climate action, most recently gaining applause at the United Nation's Climate Ambition Summit last month for a speech railing against oil companies' climate policy obstruction. China, the world's largest methane emitter, has yet to release details of its planned methane reduction strategy despite encouragement from Kerry's team to do so. The governor also plans to tour Tesla’s Shanghai Gigafactory, which produces the largest number of electric vehicles in the world.

Persons: Gavin Newsom, Edward R, Mario Anzuoni, Gavin Newsom's, Janet Yellen, Antony Blinken, John Kerry, Gina Raimondo, Newsom, Kerry, Valerie Volcovici, Deborah Kyvrikosaios Organizations: California, Roybal, of Film, Learning, REUTERS, Rights, United, Ambition, Shanghai, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles , California, U.S, California, China, Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Jiangsu

☆ China's Huawei sells 1.6 mln Mate 60 Pro handsets in six weeks - research firm
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

An advertisement for Huawei's Mate 60 series smartphones is seen outside a Huawei store in Shanghai, China September 8, 2023. REUTERS/Aly Song/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSHENZHEN, China, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Huawei Technologies (HWT.UL) has sold 1.6 million of its Mate 60 Pro handsets in six weeks, a research firm said, as the Chinese technology giant defies a smartphone slowdown to enjoy strong demand in its high-end smartphone renaissance. In its first 17 days, iPhone 15 sales were down 4.5% compared to the iPhone 14, Counterpoint said, without providing specific figures. Huawei made a surprise launch of its premium Mate 60 Pro phone in late August, which many analysts say uses a domestically made chip and marks a breakthrough in the face of years of U.S. technology sanctions against the company. In China August smartphone shipments remained largely flat, rising 0.03% year on year to 18.99 million handsets, according to the China Academy of Information and Communications (CAICT).

Persons: Aly, Ivan Lam, David Kirton, Deborah Kyvrikosaios Organizations: Huawei, REUTERS, Rights, Huawei Technologies, Apple, Counterpoint Research, Transsion, China Academy of Information, Communications, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, Rights SHENZHEN

☆ China ramps up yuan internationalisation under Belt and Road Initiative
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/2] A China yuan note is seen in this illustration photo May 31, 2017. And funding BRI projects has helped China revitalise the once-stalled process of yuan internationalisation. Another policy bank, the Export-Import Bank of China, signed a yuan-based loan agreement with Saudi National Bank, while Bank of China helped Egypt issue Africa's first yuan-denominated Panda bonds. Beijing also allocated an additional 80 billion yuan ($10.94 billion) to its Silk Road Fund for BRI projects. "Can you do this in a targeted way with MOUs with all BRI countries?

Persons: Thomas White, Vladimir Putin, Xi, Alicia Garcia Herrero, China revitalise, Malaysia's Maybank, Haoxin Mu, Natixis, Garcia Herrero, Samuel Shen, Tom Westbrook, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Initiative, Forum, Asia Pacific, Natixis, China International Capital Corp, China Development Bank, BBVA, Export, Import Bank of China, Saudi National Bank, Bank of, Fund, Thomson Locations: China, Rights SHANGHAI, SINGAPORE, Beijing, Russia, Asia, U.S, Ukraine, Africa, Europe, Egypt's, BBVA Peru, Bank of China, Egypt

☆ California governor Newsom to visit China next week to discuss climate action
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Gavin Newsom, governor of the State of California, speaks at the 2023 Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, California, U.S., May 2, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 19 (Reuters) - California governor Gavin Newsom will visit China next week to discuss climate cooperation, promote bilateral economic development and tourism and encourage cultural exchanges, his office said in a statement on Thursday. "California and China hold the keys to solving the climate crisis," Newsom said. California has played a major role in maintaining climate ties between China and the United States, the world's two biggest greenhouse gas emitters. China and the United States relaunched top-level bilateral climate talks earlier this year after a hiatus triggered by the visit of former House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan, the democratically governed island that China claims.

Persons: Gavin Newsom, Mike Blake, Newsom, Donald Trump, Xie Zhenhua, Jerry Brown, Nancy Pelosi, Xie, John Kerry, David Stanway, Christopher Cushing Organizations: of, Milken, Global Conference, REUTERS, China Climate Institute, Beijing's Tsinghua University, United States, U.S, Dubai, Thomson Locations: of California, Beverly Hills , California, U.S, California, China, Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Guangdong, . California, United States, Paris, Taiwan, Singapore

☆ Asian stocks fall, gold at over 2-month high as Middle East tension weighs
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Ankur Banerjee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

U.S. stocks ended sharply lower on Wednesday as elevated Treasury yields weighed, with investors assessing the latest batch of quarterly corporate results and forecasts. Tesla (TSLA.O) CEO Elon Musk said on Wednesday that he was concerned about the impact of high interest rates on car buyers as the company missed Wall Street expectations on third-quarter gross margin, profit and revenue. Meanwhile, Federal Reserve policymakers are signalling a pause in hiking interest rates for another couple months. A Reuters poll of economists indicated that the Federal Reserve will keep its key interest rate on hold on Nov. 1 and may wait longer than previously thought before cutting it. Spot gold was at $1,948.16 per ounce, just shy of $1,962.39 its highest since Aug. 1 touched on Tuesday.

Persons: Aly, Treasuries, Anderson Alves, Joe Biden, Alves, Elon Musk, Christopher Waller, Jerome Powell, Brent, Ankur Banerjee, Christopher Cushing Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Japan's Nikkei, Gaza, HK, Reuters, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, Reserve, European Economics & Financial, Federal Reserve, OPEC, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, Shenzhen, China, Rights SINGAPORE, Asia, Pacific, Japan, U.S, Israel, China's, London, United States, Venezuela

[1/4] Tesla China-made Model 3 vehicles are seen during a delivery event at its factory in Shanghai, China January 7, 2020. To prevent demand from waning, market leader Tesla, with industry-leading profit margins, has been the first and most aggressive in slashing prices, forcing others to follow suit and squeezing margins. "If interest rates remain high ... it's that much harder for people to buy the car. They simply can't afford it," Musk said, adding he would "accelerate" expansion of the Mexico factory if interest rates come down. That is not expected in the United States until June 2024, based on current market estimates , with recent robust economic data suggesting the central bank might leave interest rates higher for longer.

Persons: Aly, Elon Musk, Musk, Tesla, Ford, Tom Narayan, Narayan, Abhirup Roy, Ben Klayman, Jamie Freed Organizations: REUTERS, FRANCISCO, Wednesday, General Motors, Ford, EV, GM, Chevrolet Silverado, GMC, Air, RBC Capital Markets, Reuters, Thomson Locations: China, Shanghai, Mexico, Michigan, Detroit, U.S, United States, San Francisco

☆ China's new home prices extend declines, defying broader recovery
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Liangping Gao | Ryan Woo | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/File PhotoNew home prices fell 0.2% month-on-month but narrowed from a 0.3% drop in August, according to Reuters calculations based on National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) data. Of the 70 cities in the home price data, 54 reported declines in prices last month, up from 52 in August. New home prices in tier-three cities fell 0.3% month-on-month after a 0.4% drop in August. However, demand remained lukewarm in smaller cities struggling with excess supply while nationwide the property sector remains in a deep slump. Ma attributed the fall to the fact that Guangdong province is home to many private developers with liquidity problems.

Persons: Tingshu Wang, ”, Ma Hong, Goldman Sachs, Ma Organizations: REUTERS, National Bureau of Statistics, Zhixin Investment Research Institute Locations: BEIJING, Beijing, China, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Guangdong

☆ EV battery firm CATL's Sept China market share slumps, bodes ill for Q3 results
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

People walk past the booth of the battery manufacturer Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL) at the Auto Shanghai show, in Shanghai, China April 18, 2023. CATL reports quarterly results on Thursday, and investors will be on the look out for the extent the world's largest EV battery maker bore the brunt of the EV sales slowdown in China and rising pressure from automakers to cut battery prices. "This... is an incentive for CATL to offer some price cuts to secure its market share." CATL's setback also comes amid weakening EV sales in China that stoked an intense price war among automakers and a subsequent cost reduction pressure on battery firms and other suppliers. Shares in Shenzhen-listed CATL dropped 15% so far this year, lagging a 6% drop in broader market (.CSI300).

Persons: Aly, Qiaoyi Li, Zhang Yan, Brenda Goh, Miyoung Kim Organizations: Amperex Technology, ., Auto, REUTERS, Rights, Electric, EV, Citi, China Automotive Battery Innovation Alliance, HK, LSEG, Ford, Thomson Locations: Auto Shanghai, Shanghai, China, Rights BEIJING, Michigan, U.S, Shenzhen

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's coalition unveiled in July a strategy toward de-risking Germany's economic relationship with China, calling Beijing a "partner, competitor and systemic rival". German investment in Asia excluding China is rising as a share of overall investment. "No company is going to say that it will leave China," said Sandra Ebner, senior economist at Union Investment, Germany's second-largest fund manager. "But what companies are increasingly doing is to produce in China for China and to position themselves around China for the remaining Asian or global market." In July, German Economy Minister Robert Habeck travelled to India with a delegation of executives to discuss opportunities for German companies.

Persons: Thomas Nuernberger, Nuernberger, Olaf Scholz's, Volker Treier, Munk, Ferdinand Munk, Scholz, Angela Merkel's, Martin Brudermueller, Max Zenglein, Juergen Matthes, Markus Horn, Matthias Bianchi, Joe Biden, Wolfgang Niedermark, Jan Roennfeld, Roennfeld, Sandra Ebner, BDI's Niedermark, Robert Habeck, Christoph Steitz, Sarah Marsh, Maria Martinez, Aditya Kalra, Sarita Chaganti Singh, Xinghui, Orathai, Brenda Goh Organizations: Reuters, Commerce and Industry, Volkswagen, Mercedes, Benz, BASF, IW Institute, Big, Mercator Institute for China Studies, Economic Institute, Horn, German Association of, Indonesian Chamber of Commerce, Union Investment, Thomson Locations: FRANKFURT, BERLIN, Berlin, Beijing, China, Taiwan, India, Asia, Germany, Europe, Vietnam, South Korea, Indonesia, South China, European, Thailand, United States, Mexico, Indonesian, Eastern Germany, Malaysia, Frankfurt, New Delhi, Xinghui Kok, Singapore, Bangkok, Shanghai

☆ Israel-Hamas war fuels debate and nationalist sentiment on Chinese social media
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

“The lack of condemnation of Hamas by Chinese officials gives it support,” she said. As an increasing number of China watchers and Israeli scholars pointed out the rise in antisemitic sentiment in China, some Chinese diplomats appeared to have taken note. The Israeli diplomatic outpost has been active on Chinese social media, Lavi, from the Diane & Guilford Glazer Israel-China Policy Center told CNN. China bans foreign social media platforms and censors comments deemed marginally sensitive by the Chinese Communist Party. “Many comments also highlight China’s peace-making efforts and draw parallels between the suffering of the Palestinian people and China’s own historical experiences with colonization.”

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, Yuval Waks, ” Waks, Waks, “, Beijing’s, Wang Yi, Israel, Antonio Guterres, Israel “, Adolf Hitler, Xiao Qiang, ”, Xiao, Lavi, Diane, Guilford Glazer, Hua Chunying, ’ “, Mohammed Al, Masri, Noa Argamani, ” Wendy Zhou, Mao, Zhou Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Palestinian, Hamas, Weibo, Embassy, United Nations, UN, School of Information, University of California, China Policy Center, Israeli Embassy, Diane, CNN, Shifa, Ahli Baptist Hospital, Reuters, Georgia State University, Chinese Communist Party, Israel, Palestine, Palestinian Authority Locations: China, Hong Kong, Israel, Gaza, Beijing, Israeli, Weibo, United States, University of California Berkeley, Guilford Glazer Israel, Shanghai, Al, Ahli, Gaza City

☆ From Russia to the Middle East: Why China can’t afford another big conflict
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Now, as Israel’s war against Palestinian militant group Hamas threatens to spiral into a broader conflict that could shatter stability in the Middle East, China has called for a ceasefire while criticizing Israel’s actions. It also highlights China’s deep economic interests in both Russia and the Middle East, which it wants to safeguard at all cost. The world’s second largest economy depends on Russia and the Middle East for much of its energy needs. The Middle East is also a cornerstone in the Belt and Road Initiative. “Regional conflagration means long instability and long instability means no business for China in the Middle East,” he added.

Persons: ”, Eswar Prasad, refiners, Vladimir Putin, Xi, Sergei Guneyev, Russia’s, Putin, Russia —, Wang Yi, Jean, Loup Samaan, Joe Biden, QatarEnergy, Ahmed Aboudouh, Antony Blinken, Blinken, “ Organizations: Hong Kong CNN —, Moscow, Palestinian, Cornell University, Getty, Initiative, Shanghai’s Fudan University, United, China’s, Middle East Institute of, National University of Singapore, Wednesday, Jihad, Energy, China Petroleum & Chemical Co, Sinopec, Fudan University, Chatham House, US Department of State Locations: China, Hong Kong, Hong Kong CNN — Beijing, Ukraine, East, Palestine, Israel, United States, Russia, Beijing, Moscow, Saudi Arabia, Russian, AFP, Pakistan, Iran, Hamas, Tehran, Gaza, Qatar, China’s, Qatari, London, “, Persian, ”

☆ The 16 most valuable global AI companies in sports, plus other takeaways from new data on VC investment in the sector
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Margaret Fleming | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

While generative AI startups are attracting more investment overall, 2023 could be a notably slow year for venture capital investment in sports AI following several years of activity, according to new data from PitchBook. The year could mark the lowest level of investment in the sector since 2018 when PitchBook tracked just under $200 million in VC activity. Both those years had 114 VC investments, compared to just 54 in 2023 through mid-October, PitchBook data shows. These are the top 16 highest-valued sports AI companies globally in 2023, according to PitchBook:1) SigmaStar — $4.55 billion. The Beijing-based computer vision technology company offers solutions in sports and health, evaluating movement in real-time, according to its website.

Persons: PitchBook, Hudl, STATSports, Creatz, Ligatech, Simplebet, Zepp Organizations: Yi Technology, WSC Sports, Cleveland Cavaliers, Kakao, Arsenal FC, US, National Soccer Team, Duke University, Kansas City Chiefs, Ligatech, Tempus, Francisco's Tempus, Chelsea FC, NFL, Sports, NBA, MLS, Premier League, AI Research Locations: deepfakes, Beijing, Israel, New York, Korean, Europe, Mexico, Lincoln , Nebraska, Northern Ireland, Shanghai, PitchBook, Los Angeles, China, Vancouver

☆ Analysis: Wall Street's 'Magnificent Seven' face moment of truth as earnings season arrives
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Lewis Krauskopf | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Valuations have swelled, with the Magnificent Seven trading at an average forward price-to-earnings ratio of 33.5, compared with the S&P 500's P/E of 18.3. “Everybody knows these guys are going to make money," said Sameer Samana, senior global market strategist at the Wells Fargo Investment Institute (WFII), referring to the Magnificent Seven. "The reallocation of funds going forward is going to suggest lower returns and more difficulty for the Magnificent Seven to maintain their leadership." The seven companies' combined market capitalization topped 30% of the S&P 500's overall market value earlier this month, according to LSEG Datastream. Some investors are also drawing distinctions among the seven stocks.

Persons: Aly, Tesla, Sameer Samana, Tajinder Dhillon, Tim Pagliara, CapWealth, Pagliara, Elon Musk, LSEG Datastream, Torsten Slok, Patrick Kaser, Kaser, Lewis Krauskopf, Ira Iosebashvili, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Apple, REUTERS, Microsoft, Nvidia, U.S, Tesla, Wells, Investment Institute, Google, Facebook, Federal, Treasury, “, Global, Apollo Global Management, Brandywine Global, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, Apple

☆ Tesla downshifts out of ludicrous mode
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Jonathan Guilford | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The Model Y maker’s gross and operating profit margins were once the envy of the entire American automotive industry. As Tesla began rolling more vehicles off the production line than it could sell, however, Musk repeatedly offered discounts to rev demand. Even setting aside tough financial comparisons because of the factory shutdowns needed to retool its best-selling vehicles, progress has been sluggish. Tesla’s gross margin at its core automotive business, adjusting for regulatory credits, has fallen nearly in half, to 16.3%, according to the latest quarterly results released on Wednesday. Tesla sold just a hair under half of all U.S. battery-powered rides in the third quarter, according to Cox Automotive, down from 75% in early 2022.

Persons: BYD, Elon Musk, Tesla, Musk, they’re, Jeffrey Goldfarb, Sharon Lam Organizations: Reuters, U.S, HK, General Motors, Ford, Cox Automotive, Reuters Graphics, Thomson Locations: Detroit, United States, China, Shanghai

☆ China Ready to Liaise With Russia on Mid-East Crisis - Chinese State Media
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

BEIJING (Reuters) - China is ready to maintain communication and coordination with Russia to cool down the Israel-Palestinian crisis, its Middle East special envoy said after meeting with his Russian counterpart this week, Chinese state media reported. China and Russia share the same position on the Palestinian issue, Zhai Jun said after meeting with Russia's special representative for Middle East and African countries in Doha, Qatar on Thursday. He said China is saddened by the humanitarian crisis, and is ready to play a "positive role in the resumption of Palestinian-Israeli peace talks", as well as the "genuine implementation" of the two-state solution, state media said. (Reporting by Liz Lee and Shanghai newsroom; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman)

Persons: Zhai Jun, Liz Lee, Muralikumar Anantharaman Organizations: Middle Locations: BEIJING, China, Russia, Israel, Middle East, Doha, Qatar, Shanghai

☆ Chinese gallium prices hit 7-month high as demand improves, shipments resume
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Florence Lo/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Chinese prices of chip-making metal gallium hit their highest since February this week on stronger domestic demand and growing hopes of recovering exports, analysts and suppliers said. The spot price of gallium metal reached 1,975 yuan ($269.95) per kg on Oct. 18, up 18% since the start of July and up 8% since Aug. 1, data from consultancy Shanghai Metals Market showed. The Ministry of Commerce said last month that some Chinese companies have obtained export licences for gallium and germanium products. European prices of gallium metal surged by 68% from early July to $475 per kg on Oct. 18 and was up 23% from August, data from information provider Fastmarkets showed. ($1 = 7.3162 Chinese yuan)Reporting by Amy Lv and Dominique Patton in Beijing; Editing by Shounak DasguptaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Florence Lo, Li Yilan, Antaike, Amy Lv, Dominique Patton, Shounak Dasgupta Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, . Geological Survey, Shanghai Metals, Beijing, Commerce, Fastmarkets, Thomson Locations: China, Rights BEIJING, Beijing

☆ Chinese EV stocks tank after Tesla earnings disappoint
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Sheila Chiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

(Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images)Shares of Chinese EV-makers were battered on Thursday after Tesla reported disappointing third-quarter results on Wednesday where the company missed estimates. It was the first time Tesla, co-founded by Elon Musk, missed on both earnings and revenue since second-quarter 2019. On Thursday morning, Hong Kong-listed shares of Chinese EV makers BYD and Xpeng fell 2.18% and 8.76% respectively. Musk said the company is working to bring down the prices of its cars amid high interest rates, but it is as challenging as "Game of Thrones, but pennies." "I'm worried about the high interest rate environment we're in," he said, adding that it will be much harder for consumers to purchase cars if interest rates were to increase further.

Persons: Tesla, Elon Musk, Li Auto, Geely, Musk Organizations: Shanghai International Automobile Industry, National Exhibition, Convention Center, Getty, Elon Locations: SHANGHAI, CHINA, Shanghai, China, Hong Kong, Xpeng

☆ Wind-powered cargo ships with sail-like 'wings' could reduce fuel use by 30%
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Lucy Handley | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The Pyxis Ocean sailed from China to Brazil in September 2023, partially powered by large 'wings'. CargillA cargo ship with a difference is set to dock at the Polish port of Gdynia early next week. The wings have been folded down when the ship docked at ports on its journey. "If you can reduce the volume [of fuel] by 30% you have another gain, [in] that you don't have to put your ship all full of tanks instead of cargo capacity," Dieleman said. One of the folded-down 'wings' that helped the Pyxis Ocean sail from China to Brazil, arriving in September 2023.

Persons: Cargill, Jan Dieleman, Dieleman, we're, it's Organizations: Cargill, Transportation, CNBC Locations: China, Brazil, Gdynia, Shanghai, Paranagua, Spanish, Tenerife, Poland

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