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☆ Tencent’s Sales Growth Lifted by Digital-Ad Recovery
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( Raffaele Huang | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

In the past few months, Tencent has secured government licenses for several blockbuster videogames in its pipeline. SINGAPORE—Chinese internet conglomerate Tencent Holdings Ltd .’s quarterly revenue rose 0.5% from a year earlier, backed by rising demand for digital advertisements, as executives said businesses were shaking off the impact from Beijing’s tough pandemic controls. October-December revenue rose to the equivalent of $20.8 billion, the company said Wednesday, after two quarters of contractions.

SAN FRANCISCO, March 21 (Reuters) - Nvidia Corp (NVDA.O), the U.S. semiconductor designer that dominates the market for artificial intelligence (AI) chips, said it has modified its flagship product into a version that is legal to export to China. On Tuesday, the company said it has similarly developed a China-export version of its H100 chip. The rules around AI chips imposed a test that bans those with both powerful computing capabilities and high chip-to-chip data transfer rates. A chip industry source in China told Reuters the H800 mainly reduced the chip-to-chip data transfer rate to about half the rate of the flagship H100. The Nvidia spokesperson declined to say how the China-focused H800 differs from the H100, except that "our 800 series products are fully compliant with export control regulations."

☆ Australia's Latitude takes systems offline, Federal Police investigate cyberattack
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

March 20 (Reuters) - Australian fintech firm Latitude Group Holdings Ltd (LFS.AX) said on Monday it had taken its platforms offline as the cyberattack detected last week remained active, adding the Federal Police was investigating the incident. Last week, the firm said personal information, mostly drivers' licence copies or licence numbers, of about 330,000 customers and applicants was stolen. Latitude said the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Cyber Security Centre were looking into the attack. Latitude shares have not traded since March 15, a day before the company first disclosed the cyberattack. Reporting by Harshita Swaminathan and Himanshi Akhand in Bengaluru; Editing by Subhranshu SahuOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ 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.

☆ Australia's Latitude Group says customer information stolen in cyber attack
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

March 16 (Reuters) - Australian digital payments and lending firm Latitude Group Holdings Ltd (LFS.AX) said on Thursday that a hacker had stolen personal information held by two service providers through employee login credentials. About 103,000 identification documents, more than 97% of which are copies of drivers' licences, were stolen from the first service provider, while about 225,000 customer records were stolen from the second service provider. Latitude said it had detected unusual activity on its systems over the last few days. "The activity is believed to have originated from a major vendor used by Latitude," the company said. Latitude said it is working with the Australian Cyber Security Centre and relevant law enforcement agencies, along with isolating and removing access to some customer-facing systems in order to contain the incident.

☆ Futures rise after bank rout, CPI data awaited
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

ET (1330 GMT) from the Labor Department, will feed into the U.S. Federal Reserve's policy decision at its March meeting. On a yearly basis, CPI grew 6.0% in February, moderating from a 6.4% in rise the previous month. SVB Financial's (SIVB.O) sudden shutdown and fears of risks to other banks hammered the sector and broader markets in the past few days. "The CPI figures out later will be watched super-closely as another hot reading will reinforce expectations that a rate rise, albeit smaller, will be on the cards next week." ET, Dow e-minis were up 117 points, or 0.37%, S&P 500 e-minis were up 16.25 points, or 0.42%, and Nasdaq 100 e-minis were up 56 points, or 0.47%.

☆ Solenis to take disinfectant maker Diversey private in $4.6 bln deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

March 8 (Reuters) - Specialty chemicals maker Solenis will buy disinfectant maker Diversey Holdings Ltd (DSEY.O) in an all-cash deal valued at $4.6 billion including debt, the companies said on Wednesday. It will contribute about 56% of its existing equity into Solenis and sell the remaining to the company for cash. Headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, Solenis manufactures specialty chemicals used in water-intensive industries and was acquired by Platinum Equity in 2021. In 2021, Diversey became Solenis' distribution partner for its complete portfolio of water and process treatment chemicals to the food and beverage industry. The company plans to finance the deal with a combination of committed debt and equity financing, including contribution from Bain.

☆ China Favors Chips, AI Executives Over Internet Tycoons at Top Political Meetings
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-05 | by ( Shen Lu | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference opened at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Saturday. A number of prominent Chinese internet executives have been left out of the country’s top political meetings in Beijing this week, giving way to experts in artificial intelligence and semiconductors as Chinese leader Xi Jinping ’s priorities shift amid rising technology competition with the U.S.Pony Ma , Robin Li and William Ding , the chief executives of Chinese internet companies Tencent Holdings Ltd., Baidu Inc. and NetEase Inc. respectively, are conspicuous in their absence from this year’s list of delegates to the National People’s Congress, China’s legislative body, and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, a political advisory body. Also missing was Lenovo Group Ltd. CEO Yang Yuanqing .

☆ Crypto Companies Behind Tether Used Falsified Documents and Shell Companies to Get Bank Accounts
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( Ben Foldy | Ada Hui | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

In late 2018, the companies behind the most widely traded cryptocurrency were struggling to maintain their access to the global banking system. Some of their backers turned to shadowy intermediaries, falsified documents and shell companies to get back in, documents show. One of those intermediaries, a major tether trader in China, was trying to “circumvent the banking system by providing fake sales invoices and contracts for each deposit and withdrawal,” Stephen Moore , one of the owners of Tether Holdings Ltd., said in an email viewed by The Wall Street Journal.

☆ Crypto Firms Ditch Silvergate, a Favorite Bank Partner
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( Caitlin Ostroff | Charley Grant | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

A raft of crypto companies cut ties on Thursday with Silvergate Capital Corp., whose focus on the crypto industry was once its selling point but quickly became a liability. Crypto firms Coinbase Global Inc., Circle Internet Financial Ltd., Paxos Trust Co. and Galaxy Digital Holdings Ltd. all announced plans Thursday to stop banking with Silvergate. Late Wednesday, Silvergate said that it was at risk of being “less than well-capitalized” and was evaluating its ability to continue doing business. Its stock dropped 55% Thursday.

Fan Bao, founder of China Renaissance Holdings, was detained last month by antigraft investigators. Chinese financier Fan Bao , who went missing last month, has been detained by authorities in mainland China in connection with a corruption investigation targeting a former senior executive at the investment bank he founded, according to people familiar with the matter. The investment bank, China Renaissance Holdings Ltd., disclosed on Feb. 16 that it had been unable to contact Mr. Bao, who serves as the bank’s chairman and chief executive. On Sunday, it said in a regulatory filing that it had since discovered Mr. Bao is aiding an investigation being carried out by authorities in China, which it didn’t name.

☆ MSC, world's biggest shipping company and U.S.-China trade bellwether, isn't talking like a recession is coming for economy
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( Lori Ann Larocco | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

"The return post-Chinese New Year has been positive," Toft said. SONAR FreightWaves data shows the slow pick up in global freight orders post-Chinese New Year. Ocean freight rates, which were the largest inflationary pressure on products, have dropped sharply back to pre-pandemic levels. Rejections for ocean freight have increased, which means containers filled with product for the current or upcoming season are delayed. At a time when ocean carriers are increasingly canceling sailings because of the decrease in ocean freight orders, MSC has responded by increasing the size of its fleet.

☆ Norwegian Cruise sees weak annual profit as fuel, labor costs soar
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Feb 28 (Reuters) - Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd (NCLH.N) on Tuesday forecast full-year profit below Wall Street estimates, as the cruise operator struggles with soaring fuel and labor costs even as travel demand bounces back. Cruise operators like Carnival Corp (CCL.N) and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH.N) have been struggling with rising interest rates, a stronger dollar and soaring food as well as fuel prices due to the conflict in Ukraine. The cruise operator forecast a profit 70 cents per share for 2023, compared with estimates for a profit of $1.06, according to IBES data from Refinitiv. The company forecast a loss of 45 cents per share for the first quarter, compared with estimates for a loss of 33 cents per share. Fourth-quarter revenue rose to $1.52 billion from $487.4 million a year earlier, compared with analysts' average estimate of $1.50 billion.

☆ Norwegian Cruise 2023 profit forecast falls short; shares slide
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Feb 28 (Reuters) - Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd (NCLH.N) forecast for its first annual profit in three years fell short of estimates on Tuesday, as the cruise operator battles soaring fuel and labor costs. Shares fell about 7% in premarket trading after the company's first-quarter loss expectation was bigger than expected. The cruise operator forecast an adjusted profit of 70 cents per share for 2023, compared with estimates of $1.06, according to IBES data from Refinitiv. However, affluent passengers unaffected by high inflation have boosted booking volumes and occupancy rates, helping the company beat fourth-quarter revenue estimates. The "wave season" is the period during January - March where cruise operators offer special deals and discounts for the year to attract customers.

☆ Singapore ride-hailing firm Grab beats on revenue, pulls forward profitability timeline
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( Sheila Chiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Revenue for the fourth quarter of 2022 grew 310% to $502 million, up from $122 million a year ago. We should be getting back to pre-Covid levels by fourth quarter this year. The company said that it is bringing forward its group adjusted EBITDA breakeven guidance to the fourth quarter of 2023, half a year earlier than its previous guidance. Deliveries reboundDeliveries revenue increased to $268 million in fourth quarter 2022, up from $1 million in the same period in 2021. Incentives dropped to 8.2% of gross merchandise volume in the fourth quarter from 9.4% in the previous quarter.

☆ Grab forecasts 2023 revenue above estimates on demand boom
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Feb 23 (Reuters) - Grab Holdings Ltd (GRAB.O), Southeast Asia's biggest ride-hailing and food delivery firm, on Thursday forecast its annual revenue above estimates on bets that consumers will continue to rely on its services following a pandemic-driven demand boom. Decade-old Grab, a household name in eight Southeast Asian countries, forecast its 2023 revenue between $2.20 billion and $2.30 billion. Analysts have forecast annual sales to scale $1.97 billion, according to Refinitiv data. Grab also delivered an about four-fold revenue surge in the fourth quarter to $502 million, helped by higher demand and a reduction in incentives. Reporting by Nivedita Balu in Bengaluru; Editing by Sherry Jacob-PhillipsOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Grab forecasts 2023 revenue above estimates, brings forward profit target
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Feb 23 (Reuters) - Grab Holdings Ltd (GRAB.O), Southeast Asia's biggest ride-hailing and food delivery firm, on Thursday forecast upbeat 2023 revenue and pulled forward its profitability timeline on hopes that consumers will continue to rely on its services. New York-listed shares of a decade-old Grab, a household name in eight Southeast Asian countries, gained 6% in premarket trading. The company forecast its 2023 revenue between $2.20 billion and $2.30 billion. For the year, Grab forecast loss before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization between $275 million and $325 million. Grab also delivered an about four-fold revenue surge in the fourth quarter to $502 million, helped by higher demand and a reduction in incentives.

☆ ChatGPT Fever Sweeps China as Tech Firms Seek Growth
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( Karen Hao | Shen Lu | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The viral popularity of ChatGPT has stirred a frenzy within China where tech companies, battered by a two-year regulatory clampdown and the Covid-19 pandemic, have been seeking new sources of growth. Search engine owner Baidu Inc., e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. and social-media conglomerate Tencent Holdings Ltd. are among those that have announced investments to develop their own equivalents to the artificial-intelligence chatbot, which isn’t available in China. Stocks of other Chinese companies have surged in recent weeks as they have jumped on the bandwagon, triggering state media to issue a warning about the speculative rally.

☆ Crypto Company Circle Focuses on Growth After Canceled SPAC Merger
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( Mark Maurer | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +6 min

Circle is still hiring even as many crypto companies are laying off staff and some have filed for bankruptcy following the run on the stablecoin TerraUSD last spring. The crypto company had been preparing to go public via a merger with a special-purpose acquisition company, a move to access the capital market, enhance its transparency and further expand operations internationally. A SPAC typically has as long as two years to find its merger partner, clear the SEC’s review process and complete the deal. Circle, which was founded in 2013, intends to make another bid to go public, though likely not this year, Mr. Fox-Geen said. Circle in 2021 said that Poloniex LLC, its discontinued crypto exchange business, paid $10.4 million to settle a case brought by the SEC.

☆ Meta in Talks to Reboot China Business With VR Headsets
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( Raffaele Huang | Newley Purnell | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Tencent Holdings Ltd. is in talks to sell Facebook parent Meta Platforms Inc.’s popular virtual-reality headset in China, home to the world’s biggest pool of internet users. Tencent, China’s biggest videogame company, has proposed to Meta that it become the exclusive seller of Meta’s Quest 2 headsets in China, people familiar with the discussion said. Tencent has also sought to publish Chinese versions of existing videogames for the device, they said.

☆ Tencent in Talks to Sell Meta’s Quest 2 VR Headset in China
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( Raffaele Huang | Newley Purnell | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

☆ Factbox: Chinese business tycoons, executives who disappeared from public view
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Following is a list of some other high-profile Chinese executives who have abruptly gone missing from public view in recent years. Three months later, On Nov. 27, the company said Yang had resumed his duties after assisting an investigation in China. Shares and bonds related to CEFC China Energy plunged on the news, which was first reported by Chinese magazine Caixin. Chinese financial regulators in 2020 took over brokerages, trust companies and insurers linked to the group. Reporting by Brenda Goh and Xie Yu; Editing by Sumeet Chatterjee and Sonali PaulOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Feb 17 (Reuters) - Chinese dealmaker Bao Fan, founder of investment bank China Renaissance Holdings Ltd (1911.HK), has gone missing in the latest disappearance of a top business executive, unnerving investors and sending its stock down as much as 50% on Friday. A China Renaissance spokesperson referred Reuters request for comment on Friday to the investment bank's public filing. The firm earned $20.6 million in Chinese related investment banking fees in 2022, down from $43.13 million a year earlier, the data showed. Bao started China Renaissance in 2005 as a two-person team, seeking to match capital-hungry startups with venture capitalist and private equity investors. China Renaissance is also an active investor in the tech sector.

☆ Factbox-Five facts about missing star Chinese dealmaker and his firm
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-18 | by ( Xie Yu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Well-known Chinese dealmaker Bao Fan, founder of investment bank China Renaissance Holdings Ltd, has gone missing in the latest disappearance of a top business executive in the country, unnerving investors. FILE PHOTO: Fan Bao founder and CEO of China Renaissance speaks at the WSJD Live conference in Laguna Beach, California October 25, 2016. Here are five facts about Bao and his firm --* Bao entered China’s prestigious Fudan University in 1989, and later received his master’s degree from the BI Norwegian School of Management. Its investment management business has assets worth around 48.6 billion yuan by the end of last June. It earned $20.6 million in Chinese related investment banking fees in 2022, down from $43.13 million a year earlier.

☆ Factbox: Five facts about missing star Chinese dealmaker and his firm
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-18 | by ( Xie Yu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

HONG KONG, Feb 18 (Reuters) - Well-known Chinese dealmaker Bao Fan, founder of investment bank China Renaissance Holdings Ltd (1911.HK), has gone missing in the latest disappearance of a top business executive in the country, unnerving investors. Here are five facts about Bao and his firm --* Bao entered China's prestigious Fudan University in 1989, and later received his master's degree from the BI Norwegian School of Management. Its investment management business has assets worth around 48.6 billion yuan by the end of last June. * The firm is currently ranked ninth on China's equity capital markets league table for 2023, according to Refinitiv. It earned $20.6 million in Chinese related investment banking fees in 2022, down from $43.13 million a year earlier.

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