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☆ Why India is so important to Apple
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-18 | by ( Kif Leswing | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Cook said in February that Apple had its best sales quarter ever for iPhones in India in the quarter ending in December. Most phones sold in India are priced below even the least-expensive new Apple iPhone. India could end up being a big winner as Apple looks for non-Chinese manufacturing options. Tim Cook, Apple's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) reacts as a man shows him Apple's Macintosh outside the Apple store at Jio World Drive mall, Mumbai, India on April 18, 2023. Apple was bullish on India back then, too: "India will be the most populous country in the world in 2022," Cook told CNBC's Jim Cramer at the time, saying it had "huge market potential."

☆ Asia's growth will outpace both the U.S. and Europe this year, Morgan Stanley says
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-17 | by ( Sumathi Bala | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesAsia's economic growth will outpace both the U.S. and Europe this year, led by strong domestic demand, according to Morgan Stanley. "The big argument that we've been making ... for Asia, including Japan, to outperform versus U.S. and Europe — is the fact that there is domestic demand strength," Chetan Ahya, chief Asia economist, told CNBC's "Street Signs Asia" on Monday. It's going through a rebound like quite nicely because of reopening, but also for fiscal and monetary policy being supportive." Three other large Asian economies — India, Indonesia and Japan — are also showing robust domestic demand, added the economist. The agency pointed out last week that Asia's domestic demand has so far remained strong despite monetary tightening.

☆ China’s homebuyers are starting to come back
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

BEIJING — More people in China want to buy houses again, according to a first quarter survey released Monday by the People's Bank of China. The share of respondents planning to buy a home in the next three months rose to 17.5% in the first quarter. That's up from 16% in the fourth quarter survey and the highest since the first quarter of 2022, survey data showed. The increase follows the end of China's Covid controls. In the summer of 2022, a number of homebuyers decided not to pay their mortgages after Covid and financial difficulties kept developers from delivering apartments on time.

☆ Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi's revenue and profit slides
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SHANGHAI, March 24 (Reuters) - Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi Corp (1810.HK) on Friday reported a record drop in fourth-quarter revenue as the company weathered a slowdown in consumption and disruptions due to China's COVID-19 curbs. Xiaomi's sales in the fourth quarter of 2022 reached 66.05 billion yuan ($9.6 billion), down 22.8% from 85.58 billion yuan a year earlier. Net income fell to 1.46 billion over the period, down 67.3% from 4.473 billion yuan a year earlier. The company's revenue for 2022 was 280.04 billion yuan, a drop of 14.7%, while net income came in at 8.52 billion yuan, down 61.4%. China's smartphone sales endured a record fall in 2022, down 14% to 287 million units, Canalys data shows.

☆ Wealth managers ramp up staff in Hong Kong to chase Chinese demand
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-24 | by ( Summer Zhen | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

HONG KONG, March 24 (Reuters) - Wealth management firms are expanding operations aggressively in Hong Kong to meet pent-up demand from rich Chinese individuals looking to invest more money overseas after three years of COVID-19 curbs, industry sources said. Noah Holdings (NOAH.N), the largest independent wealth management firm in China, was among five private banks and wealth management firms Reuters talked to that said they held client events in the city and organised private art tours. Hywin Holdings (HYW.O), another Chinese wealth manager, invited 30 ultra-high-net worth clients to workshops, fund manager visits and even a yacht party in Hong Kong last week. Chinese financial institutions are vying for this growing wealth management business in Hong Kong. Chinese Everbright Bank and Hua Xia Bank set up private banking departments in Hong Kong in the past few months, according to sources familiar with their plans.

☆ U.S. plans to lift Covid testing requirements for travelers from China
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( Sally Bronston | Zoë Richards | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The U.S. plans to lift a Covid testing requirement for travelers from China put in place earlier this year, a source familiar with the matter said Tuesday. The U.S. began requiring pre-departure negative Covid tests for travelers ages 2 and up flying from China on Jan. 5. The policy followed a surge in coronavirus cases in China after it ended its strict "Covid-zero" policy in December. China has repeatedly been accused of undercounting Covid-related deaths. After the Covid travel policy was implemented in January, U.S. officials have seen evidence that cases, hospitalizations and deaths in China are declining, sources familiar with the decision to lift the testing requirement said.

☆ Japan's factory output posts biggest fall in 8 months on weak autos, chips sectors
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( Kantaro Komiya | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

In contrast, retail sales posted their fastest growth in nearly two years, separate data showed, highlighting the divergent paths between soft manufacturing and robust service-sector activity. Factory output fell 4.6% in January from a month earlier on a seasonally adjusted basis, government data showed on Tuesday. Separate data showed Japanese retail sales rose 6.3% in January from a year earlier, beating a median market forecast for a 4.0% gain and posting an eleventh consecutive month of expansion. Despite the production cuts, retail sales of autos rose 19.3% year-on-year, suggesting strong pent-up demand among domestic consumers caused by delivery delays. Compared with the previous month, retail sales expanded 1.9% in January, following a 1.1% rise in December, the data showed.

☆ Oil little changed as Russian supply cuts support prices
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( Sudarshan Varadhan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Companies Polski Koncern Naftowy Orlen SA FollowSINGAPORE, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Oil was little changed in early trade on Monday, as Russia's plans to deepen oil supply cuts continued to support prices, while increasing global inflation risks and rising crude inventories in the United States weighed. Oil prices have fallen by about a sixth in the year since Feb. 24, 2022, when Russian troops first marched into Ukraine. Two weeks after the invasion, prices surged to a record high of nearly $128 a barrel over supply concerns, but have since cooled over fears of a global economic slowdown. "China's manufacturing PMI data for February will be key to steering the oil prices for this week. A rebound in Chinese economic data will boost sentiment and improve the demand outlook," said Tina Teng, an analyst at CMC Markets.

☆ China's COVID-19 epidemic has 'basically' ended, but not completely over
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Tingshu WangBEIJING, Feb 23 (Reuters) - Health authorities in China said on Thursday the country's COVID-19 epidemic has "basically" ended, but it is not completely over as it found seven imported cases of the highly-transmissible XBB.1.5 variant since Jan. 8. Officials, speaking at a news event with several departments attending, said China's "major decisive victory" over COVID has set an example for populous nations in prevention and control. Health officials and experts were also monitoring the XBB.1.5 sub-variant of Omicron for months. Officials said on Thursday one local case of the variant was linked with an imported case on Feb. 3. Reporting by Beijing newsroom; Writing by Bernard Orr; Editing by Jacqueline Wong and Emelia Sithole-MatariseOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ I worked on a cruise ship for eight months because I wanted to travel. The low pay and exhausting schedule weren't worth it.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( Hannah Towey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Chris Libreros worked on a cruise ship for eight months after working in the hotel industry. So he helped me get a job in the Guest Services department, which is like the general front desk of a cruise ship. We were originally scheduled to depart from Hong Kong, but because of China's COVID restrictions, they moved the cruise ship over to Singapore. On a cruise ship, most crew don't get any days off. If someone from the US were to work on a cruise ship, they would have to expect a decrease in salary.

☆ Japan says economy in modest recovery, caution over global slowdown
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TOKYO, Feb 21 (Reuters) - Japan kept its assessment of the economy unchanged in February as consumer spending remained on a recovery trend despite soft exports and factory output due to the global economic slowdown. The government also retained its caution over the impact of global monetary tightening, price hikes and supply constraint in its monthly report. The new economic assessment comes after data last week showed Japan's economy averted recession but rebounded much less than expected in the fourth quarter last year as business investment slumped. "The economy is picking up moderately, although some weakness is seen recently," the Cabinet Office said in its monthly economic assessment, which was unchanged from January. The Cabinet Office said recovery in Japan's factory output was "stalling" in the latest report.

☆ China declares 'decisive victory' over COVID-19
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Jennifer LorenziniBEIJING, Feb 17 (Reuters) - China's top leaders declared a "decisive victory" over COVID-19, claiming the world's lowest fatality rate, although experts have questioned Beijing's data as the coronovirus tore across the country after largely being kept at bay for three years. China abruptly ended its zero-COVID policy in early December, with 80% of its 1.4 billion population becoming infected, a prominent government scientist said last month. Though there were widespread reports of packed hospital wards and mortuaries, China recorded only about 80,000 COVID deaths in hospitals in the two months after dropping its curbs. "With continuous efforts to optimise COVID-19 prevention and control measures since November 2022, China's COVID-19 response has made a smooth transition in a relatively short time," China's Politburo Standing Committee (PSC) said in a meeting on Thursday. The meeting stressed that China will increase the vaccination rate for the elderly, and strengthen the supply and production of medical goods.

BENGALURU/MELBOURNE, Feb 14 (Reuters) - Australia's iron ore giants BHP Group, Rio Tinto and Fortescue are set to report a steep drop in their earnings, which is set to compress their payouts to shareholders, after China's COVID lockdown drove down iron ore prices. Average realised prices for iron ore fell sharply in the six months to December, hitting earnings. First-half net profit at Fortescue, reporting on Feb. 15, is seen declining to $2.34 billion from $2.78 billion. Underlying half-year profit at Rio Tinto, which reports on a calendar year cycle, is seen declining 48% to $4.77 billion from $9.21 billion. Rio will report on Feb. 22.

☆ As Brits reel from a cost-of-living crisis, the UK stock market quietly booms to an all-time high
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The sun rises over the city on Feb. 6, 2023 in London, United Kingdom. LONDON — The U.K. is facing the weakest growth prospects in the G-7 and a catalogue of cost-of-living pressures that are pushing the poorest into crisis and intensely squeezing the budgets of middle-income households. The FTSE 100 index has smashed through three intraday records over the last week, starting last Friday and hitting new heights in Wednesday's and Thursday's sessions. The most recent uptick for the FTSE 100 shows that, as well as occurring despite harsh cost-of-living pressures, they are also linked to them. Meanwhile, the strong performance of commodity stocks has also lifted the index higher as they have been boosted by a rise in prices, supply constraints and, recently, the prospect of China's Covid-19 reopening.

☆ South Korea to restart issuing short-term visas for China travellers on Feb 11
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SEOUL, Feb 10 (Reuters) - South Korea plans to resume issuing short-term visas for travellers from China on Saturday after China improved its COVID-19 situation, Seoul officials said on Friday. South Korea suspended issuing short-term visas to Chinese visitors last month after China abruptly ended its stringent "zero-COVID" policy, leading to a wave of infections. Beijing retaliated against Seoul by halting short-term visas for South Korean travellers. South Korea's prime minister, Han Duck-soo, last week hinted at lifting restrictions before the end of February if China's COVID situation became "manageable." Reporting by Hyonhee Shin and Choonsik Yoo; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman and Gerry DoyleOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ What do Chinese travelers want? Luxury 'star-rated' hotels, says new survey
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | Chris Dwyer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The research points to growing demand for high-end and luxury hotels in China now that the country has ended domestic travel restrictions — and a Covid wave has passed. watch nowThe report said that "37% of the consumers prefer higher star-rated hotels, up from 18% in 2020, with higher-income consumers showing even stronger appetites for luxury hotel stays (47% vs. 31% in 2020)." "The growing mid-/high-income population in China will fuel continued growth in demand for upscale hotels," the UBS report said. "At present, the number of upscale and luxury hotel guest room contribution and brand penetration rate in China are both lower than in North America." "China's hotel groups are still exploring the upscale hotel market, and we think acquisition of established overseas upscale brands may be their best option, and that founding joint ventures with real estate developers could provide property management resources for expansion into the upscale hotel market."

☆ Analysis: Oil rebound more likely this year, $100 a barrel possible, OPEC sources say
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( Alex Lawler | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

OPEC and OPEC+ do not publish oil price forecasts and do not have a price target. Officials and ministers from OPEC and OPEC+, are often reluctant to discuss the direction of prices on the record. Reuters spoke privately to five more OPEC country officials about the prospect of $100 oil. The IEA, which represents 31 countries including top consumer the United States, did not immediately reply on Friday to a request for comment on what $100 oil would mean for its members. In November, Birol said $100 oil was a real risk for the global economy.

☆ Pressure on China’s factories grows as U.S. demand falls
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

China News Service | China News Service | Getty ImagesBEIJING — For some factories in China, it's not full steam ahead after the end of zero-Covid. The official Lunar New Year holiday in China ended Jan. 27, but the travel period runs until Feb. 15. He expects U.S. consumer demand to pick up later this year. China's exports to the U.S. barely grew in 2022, and the U.S. economy is expected to slow further in 2023. watch nowWhen asked by CNBC in January, China's customs administration acknowledged the pressure on China's exports from slowing external demand, and noted rising risks of a global recession.

☆ Tesla's bitcoin holdings fell nearly $1.8 billion in value last year, as Elon Musk called crypto a 'sideshow'
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-02 | by ( Ryan Hogg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The value of Tesla's bitcoin holdings fell nearly $1.8 billion last year, a company filing showed. CEO Elon Musk distanced himself from crypto last year, calling it a "sideshow to the sideshow." But 2022 saw a bloodbath for the vast majority of crypto assets, after a bull rally through most of 2021 where prices peaked. "We're neither here nor there on cryptocurrency," Musk told investors. The value of bitcoin has risen more than 40% through 2023 in a sign of returning bullishness for riskier assets after a dour 2022.

Here's the Club's condensed earnings reaction for Starbucks, Ford Motor and Qualcomm. Guidance Starbucks' fiscal 2023 guidance remains unchanged, CFO Rachel Ruggeri said on the company's earnings call, despite continued headwinds related to China's Covid recovery. Ford Motor Quarterly commentary Ford Motor (F) reported a messy fourth quarter Thursday, with adjusted earnings per share coming in well below Street expectations and overshadowing a topline revenue beat. F 5D mountain Ford (F) 5-day performance Guidance Ford said Thursday it expects full-year adjusted earnings before interest and taxes to total between $9 billion and $11 billion. Qualcomm Quarterly commentary Qualcomm 's (QCOM) fiscal 2023 first-quarter earnings topped analysts' estimates Thursday, despite lighter-than-projected revenues in the three months ended Dec. 25.

In France, the bloc's second-biggest economy, factory activity returned to growth albeit not as strongly as initially forecast. In Asia, factory activity contracted in January as the boost from China's COVID reopening had yet to take full effect. China's factory activity shrank more slowly in January after Beijing lifted tough COVID curbs late last year, a private sector survey showed. China's Caixin/S&P Global manufacturing (PMI) nudged up to 49.2 in January from 49.0 in December, staying below the 50 mark for a sixth straight month. Factory activity expanded in January in Indonesia and the Philippines but shrank in Malaysia and Taiwan, PMI surveys showed.

☆ Morning Bid: Lights, camera, action
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Investors are pricing in a quarter-of-a-percentage-point increase in the Fed's benchmark interest rate, which would mark the smallest hike since U.S. central bankers kicked off their tightening cycle 10 months ago with one the same size. But the forecasts still risk lagging behind policymakers' guidance on how high rates will go. The Bank of England is also expected to raise its interest rates by half a percentage point to 4% on Thursday. For today, European markets will focus on euro zone January flash PMI data, while results are due from Vodafone (VOD.L), GSK (GSK.L) and Novartis (NOVN.S). Germany and Italy figured among the biggest euro zone countries that recorded negative growth rates for the quarter but France and Spain expanded.

☆ Asia's factory activity contracts despite China's COVID reopening
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( Leika Kihara | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

China's factory activity shrank more slowly in January after Beijing lifted tough COVID curbs late last year, a private sector survey showed. The data was contrasted with a better-than-expected official PMI survey issued on Tuesday. South Korea's factory activity contracted for a seventh straight month in January. Factory activity expanded in January in Indonesia and the Philippines but shrank in Malaysia and Taiwan, PMI surveys showed. The International Monetary Fund on Tuesday slightly raised its 2023 global growth outlook on "surprisingly resilient" demand in the United States and Europe and the reopening of China's economy after Beijing abandoned its strict pandemic controls.

☆ Iron ore prices could rally as one leading producer remains reluctant to share, analyst says
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

"Indian iron ore exports … have really come off in the last few months. India's exports of iron ore plunged by 90% year on year in October last year, and recorded an year-on-year decline as steep as 96% in September. Udit Kulshrestha | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesAccording to Refinitiv, around 60% of global iron ore exports are destined for China. Iron ore exports from India were affected by a 50% tax on low-grade iron ore exports, which was reversed in late November. India's iron ore exports won't be the biggest factor in price volatility, however.

☆ IMF downgrades UK growth forecast, predicting only economic decline among G-7 countries
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON — The International Monetary Fund downgraded its outlook for the U.K. economy even as it turns more optimistic on global growth. Its new 2023 forecast on Monday evening also sees the U.K. as the only "advanced economy" to contract, by 0.6%. This is 0.9 percentage points lower than its previous estimate. The IMF forecasts 1.4% growth in the U.S. in 2023, 0.7% growth in the euro area, 1.8% growth in Japan and 1.5% growth in Canada. Meanwhile, it hiked its outlook for the global economy by 0.2 percentage points from its last report in October, to 2.9%.

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