DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ China's Baidu beats quarterly revenue estimates on ad recovery, cloud
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

China's Baidu beat analysts' estimates for first-quarter revenue on Thursday, driven by a recovery in advertising sales and higher demand for its AI-powered cloud products. The company, China's largest search engine provider, reported revenue of 31.51 billion yuan ($4.37 billion) for the three months ended March 31, compared to analysts' average estimate of 31.21 billion yuan as per LSEG data. "Baidu Core's online marketing revenue remained stable, while the end-to-end optimization of our AI technology stack continued to propel the growth of our AI Cloud revenue during the quarter," said co-founder and CEO Robin Li in an earnings release. Revenue from Baidu Core, which includes its search-based ad sales, cloud offerings and autonomous driving initiatives, grew 4% to 23.8 billion yuan. Baidu reported adjusted net income of 7 billion yuan for the quarter, beating the analysts' average estimate of 5.57 billion yuan, according to LSEG data.

Persons: ERNIE Bot, Baidu, Robin Li Organizations: Baidu Locations: ZHEJIANG, CHINA

☆ Inflation data commands center stage next week and provides a test for the market rally
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-11 | by ( Zev Fima | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +10 min

All three major U.S. stock indexes closed higher for the week, led by the Dow Jones Industrial Average . The Nasdaq Composite added 1.14% while the S & P 500 advanced 1.85% in a relatively quiet week of economic updates. Within the portfolio, Disney and Wynn Resorts released quarterly numbers; we took issue with the stock reaction to both reports. It also raises the stakes around major economic releases, such as next week's consumer inflation report. In the week ahead, earnings season continues — headlined by Walmart on Thursday — and inflation data will dominate the economic calendar.

Persons: We've, Jim Cramer, Dow Jones, we'll, We'll, Stanley Black, Decker, Jack, JACK, Arcutis, Spero, JD.com, Armour, Jim Cramer's, Jim, Carlo Allegri Organizations: Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Disney, Wynn Resorts, Procter, Procter & Gamble, Walmart, CPI, PPI, Club, Home Depot, Biotech Corporation, Music Entertainment, Central Puerto S.A, TeraWulf Inc, Paysafe Group Holdings, QuickLogic Corporation, Kopin Corp, Royalty Corp, Agilysys Inc, Crop Solutions Corp, Inovio Biomedical, Intercorp Financial, Lithium, Argentina ) Corp, Sea, Sony Group Corporation, SONY, Holding, HudBay Minerals, Autolus Therapeutics, Game Technology, Nu Holdings, Dragonfly Energy Holdings Corp, Bakkt Holdings, Prestige Consumer Healthcare, SilverCrest Metals, Inc, Mining Corp, Acurx Pharmaceuticals, Cresco Labs, Dole plc, DOLE, Arcos Dorados Holdings, ARCO, Cisco Systems, Grab Holdings, Copa Holdings S.A, Technologies, Iris Energy, KORE Group, Super, Spero Therapeutics, ZTO, Baidu, Deere & Company, NICE, Lightspeed Commerce, Ship Lease, Canada Goose Holdings, Drainage Systems, Consolidated Water Co, Outlook Therapeutics, Despegar.com, Corp, DXC Technology Company, Flowers Foods, Bruker Corporation, WYNN, CNBC, Foods Locations: Procter &, Central, Cayman, Lithium Americas, Argentina, Manhattan, New York City

☆ China's 'Netflix' iQiyi pivots toward an aging population in an AI era
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

BEIJING — Chinese video streaming platform iQiyi is turning its attention to the country's aging population, while using artificial intelligence tools to bolster content production. One of iQiyi's near-term goals is to improve the product offering for older users, CEO and founder Gong Yu said Tuesday at the company's annual conference. Gong also pointed to estimates that predict about one-fourth of China's population will be considered elderly in 2033, rising to one-third in 2053. Fewer children, Gong said, means each child becomes more important. He said iQiyi would improve the quality of its content for children.

Persons: Gong Yu, Gong Organizations: Netflix, CNBC Locations: China, U.S, BEIJING, iQiyi's

☆ IQiyi, the Netflix of China, posts first year of profits and says it's 'excited' about Sora
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesBEIJING — Chinese video content and streaming company iQiyi CFO Wang Jun said he is "excited" about potential new business opportunities with the emergence of OpenAI's text-to-video tool Sora. Speaking exclusively to CNBC on Thursday, Wang said such tools can help iQiyi tell stories more creatively, and that internally, it is exploring the text-to-video space. For 2023, iQiyi said Wednesday its original content accounted for a record 65% of major dramas it released. Other major Chinese video platforms with longer-form content include Tencent Video, Alibaba -owned Youku and Bilibili . Recent data insights show more people across China are watching iQiyi's content on internet-connected television sets, and, increasingly screens inside electric cars, Wang said.

Persons: Wang Jun, Wang, OpenAI, Sora, iQiyi Organizations: Bloomberg, Getty, CNBC, Apple Locations: BEIJING, U.S, Beijing, China

Passersby wait at a crossing in front of an electronic board showing Japan's Nikkei average outside a brokerage, in Tokyo, Japan, March 17, 2023. REUTERS/Androniki Christodoulou/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 21 (Reuters) - A look at the day ahead in Asian markets from Alden Bentley, U.S. The benchmark S&P 500 (.SPX) is now less than 2% away from its highest level this year that was reached in July. There are few potential U.S. market moving events this week, besides Tuesday's day early release of the minutes from the Federal Open Market Committee's last meeting. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Androniki, Alden Bentley, Satya Nadella, Sam Altman Organizations: Nikkei, REUTERS, Breaking, Finance, Markets, Reuters, Microsoft, Treasury, Fed, Federal, Reserve Bank of Australia, Bank Indonesia, Kuaishou Technology, Tongcheng Travel, Alden Bentley Our, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Alden, U.S, Asia

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

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

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

☆ China was once a women’s soccer superpower. This year’s World Cup is a first step in reclaiming that status
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( Simone Mccarthy Andrew Mcnicol Candice Zhu Cnn | Simone Mccarthy | Andrew Mcnicol | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

The rapid development of women’s soccer programs across Europe and the Americas has fielded a new generation of powerful teams-to-beat. I hope through these matches, we can form a clearer picture of the current position of Chinese women’s soccer,” she told state media earlier this month. China scores against New Zealand during a group match at the 1991 Women's World Cup in Guangzhou. That’s even as more than thirty years ago, when China hosted the first ever-women’s World Cup in its southeastern Guangdong province. But as norms change, seeing China’s women’s team competing on the world stage at events like the World Cup would also “inspire girls” to play, Peng added.

Persons: Shui, ”, Xiao Yuyi, Rajanish, Xi, –, China's Zhang Ouying, Carla Overbeck, Vincent Laforet, Wang Shuang, Germain, Zhang Linyan, Chan Yuen Ting, Chen guo, Chan, Denmark’s Amalie Vangsgaard, Zhang, they’d, China's, Gary Day, William Bi, “, it’s, Qi Peng, China’s, Peng Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, AFC Asian, womens, FIFA, Americas, Roses, Denmark, Haiti, AFC, Asian, America, Rose Bowl, Veterans, Paris Saint, Swiss, Grasshopper Club, League, Jiangsu, CNN, New Zealand, Sports, AP Soccer, Xi, Sport Management, Manchester Metropolitan University, “ Locations: Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, United States, Europe, China, England, South Korea, Mumbai, India, Pasadena , California, France, “, Guangzhou, Guangdong, Beijing

☆ What one key business indicator is saying about China's consumer recovery
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

"For 618, generally of course brands will be trying, but compared to before it's a bit more tired," said Ashley Dudarenok, founder of ChoZan, a China marketing consultancy. In the first quarter, the median disposable income of urban residents in China was officially 12,175 Chinese yuan ($1,739), up 3.9% from a year ago. A focus on affordabilitySluggish economic growth and uncertainty about future income have weighed on Chinese consumer spending since the Covid-19 pandemic. watch nowBrands are keen to spend more on ByteDance's Douyin, likely taking away from ad spending on Alibaba's Taobao and Tmall e-commerce platforms, Oliver Wyman's Xie said. And for brands spending on Douyin, he said the return on investment per ad dollar was getting lower.

Persons: Jade Gao, Ashley Dudarenok, Dudarenok, let's, Microsoft's Bing, Dave Xie, Oliver Wyman, Douyin, Oliver Wyman's Xie, ByteDance isn't, doesn't, Pinduoduo, Sun Hao, Sun, didn't, Trip.com, Kelly Shi Organizations: Afp, Getty, Baidu, Retail, Brands, Growth, Nestle, Netflix Locations: Beijing, BEIJING, China

☆ Here are Wednesday's biggest analyst calls: Tesla, Wynn, Walmart, Alphabet, Western Alliance & more
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Michael Bloom | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Here are Wednesday's biggest calls on Wall Street: Bernstein reiterates Tesla as underperform Bernstein said after the automaker's shareholder meeting that it sees trouble ahead. Bank of America upgrades AppLovin to buy from neutral Bank of America said it sees accelerating revenue growth for the mobile tech company. Stephens reiterates Walmart as overweight Stephens said it's standing by its overweight rating heading into Walmart earnings Thursday. Bank of America reiterates ServiceNow as buy Bank of America said the software company is well positioned for AI. " Stephens reiterates Western Alliance as overweight Stephens said it's standing by its overweight rating on the regional bank.

Baidu's revenue rose 10% to 31.14 billion yuan ($4.54 billion) in the quarter to March 31, surpassing analysts' estimates of 29.97 billion yuan, according to Refinitiv data. Revenue from Baidu Core, which includes search-based ad sales, cloud offerings and its autonomous driving initiatives, grew 8% to 23 billion yuan. Baidu reported net income of 5.83 billion yuan, compared to net loss in the year-ago quarter. The company's much-touted rival to ChatGPT, Ernie bot, has yet to be officially launched, despite having been partially unveiled to the public in mid-March. "During our testing of Ernie bot, we have engaged in close discussions with the regulators," Li said.

☆ Lightning Round: Wait for Snowflake's earnings breakout to buy more
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Jim Cramer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

In this videoShare Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailLightning Round: Wait for Snowflake's earnings breakout to buy more"Mad Money" host Jim Cramer weighs in on stocks, including Enphase Energy, Snowflake, IQIYI, Crowdstrike and Permian Basin Royalty.

☆ These 74 stocks across 5 categories of AI are the top picks from the sector's leading fund managers.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-18 | by ( Laila Maidan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

These 74 stocks are picked by AI ETF managers. What she believes is unique about her fund is its heavy focus on quantum computing technology, making up 41.22% of the fund. While big data is used for different technologies, it enables AI to work with massive data sets in its machine-learning process. TipRanks, a financial technology website that uses AI to analyze financial data, created a stock list for what they deem are the best AI stocks based on popularity. TipRanks' list of nine of the best AI stocks have large market caps and are likely to remain relevant for a long time.

☆ Bank of America loves this under-the-radar streaming stock out of China, sees 30% gain
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( Sarah Min | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

There's plenty of upside for one streaming stock out of China, according to Bank of America. "IQ's strategy to focus on in-house content with higher quality control and lower production costs continues to benefit its subscription growth and ROI. IQ 1D mountain 1-day chart iQIYI shares are up more than 30% in 2023, following a 16% gain last year. What's more, the firm is expected to ramp up the level of in-house production. IQ is able to produce hit dramas across different genres and deliver increasing number of hit in-house content over the past several years," the note continued.

☆ Chinese video streaming platform iQIYI to raise $600 mln through convertible bonds
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

March 1 (Reuters) - Chinese video streaming company iQIYI Inc (IQ.O) said on Wednesday it would raise $600 million through the issue of convertible notes and use the funds to repay debt. U.S.-listed shares of iQIYI were down nearly 7% in premarket trading. Video-streaming app Bilibili (9626.HK), , e-commerce group Pinduoduo (PDD.O) and peers have recently piled into the convertible debt boom. Bilibili in January raised money through a discounted sale of its American depositary shares for repurchasing a convertible note. The convertible notes will mature on March 15, 2028, the company said.

☆ China tech companies are closely watching ChatGPT's A.I. skills. Here's what they're doing
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Big tech companies in the U.S. and China rushed this month to announce they are working on similar AI tools. PingCap launched "Chat2Query" for customers outside China in January that uses a publicly available application programming interface from OpenAI. "We think the revolution may not be in AI search but in every business," he said in Mandarin, translated by CNBC. Transformative potentialFang said he was directly inspired by OpenAI's early version of ChatGPT tech in 2020. In contrast, he said generative AI tech can immediately provide value since it operates where users are already producing and consuming content.

☆ Baidu says its alternative to ChatGPT is coming to the public in March
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Sun Yilei | ReutersBEIJING — Chinese tech giant Baidu said Wednesday its artificial intelligence product Ernie bot is set to open to the public next month. "We will embed Ernie bot into Baidu search first and we'll open it to the public in March," Baidu CEO Robin Li said Wednesday during an earnings call, according to a FactSet transcript. Stock Chart Icon Stock chart icon Baidu 12-month share performanceDespite widespread assessments that ChatGPT is transformative for tech, businesses don't have a clear path to monetization yet. For Ernie bot, public partnership announcements include Baidu-backed video streaming platform iQiyi's plans for connecting to the bot for search and AI-generated content. Baidu-backed electric car startup Jidu — which is set to start deliveries this year — also said it plans to incorporate Ernie bot.

☆ 'China's Netflix' iQiyi launches an immersive VR ride based on its own show
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-20 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Human players appear as avatars in iQiyi's immersive Luoyang VR experience, which opened to the public in Shanghai in February 2023. Baidu -backed iQiyi is sometimes dubbed China's Netflix since the Chinese online video platform also sells TV series and movies to subscribers. Tickets cost 198 yuan ($29) to 398 yuan each, according to a Yelp-like entry on China's DianPing app. Zhang Hang, iQiyi vice president who heads the company's Dreamverse studio behind the VR project, previously told reporters he expected the VR experience could see about 40,000 visitors a year per store. Zhang cast the VR experience more as a movie than an interactive game.

☆ The AI craze has sent some stocks soaring up to 300%. This list of over 74 stocks across 5 categories features the top picks from the sector's leading fund managers.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( Laila Maidan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

Search resuls for: "iQiyi"

18 mentions found