GMT EIGHT - Commercial - Investment&Financing

Significant Southbound Capital Inflows into Hong Kong Stocks—Three Investment Directions to Watch

Heavy-Duty Engine Sales Slide as Weichai Power’s Supplier Payables Near RMB 100 Billion

Nasdaq Pushes Forward—Tokenized Securities May Be Approved for Trading on Major U.S. Exchanges for the First Time

China’s First eSIM-Only Smartphone—Apple iPhone Air Confirmed to Support China Unicom eSIM

Trillions of Funds Are Pouring In! Southbound Capital Net Purchases Have Reached a New High, and Hong Kong Stocks May Be on the Verge of a Breakthrough? Five New Characteristics to Explore

Oil Prices Rise on Middle East Unrest and U.S. Tariff Push

Oil prices edged higher on Wednesday, with Brent nearing $67 a barrel and WTI close to $63, after an Israeli strike in Doha heightened geopolitical risks. Additional pressure came from U.S. President Trump’s call for the EU to impose tariffs on Russian oil, raising concerns about supply. However, ample inventories and stable OPEC+ output plans kept gains in check, leaving the market driven by political shocks but anchored by supply fundamentals.

Alibaba widens lead in China’s AI cloud as ByteDance, Huawei and Tencent trail

Alibaba Cloud now commands roughly 36 per cent of China’s AI cloud services market, well ahead of ByteDance’s Volcano Engine, Huawei Cloud, Tencent Cloud and Baidu. The jump reflects rapid enterprise adoption of generative and agentic workloads on Alibaba’s platform, tighter integration with its Qwen model family and sustained investment in AI infrastructure. While 2024 saw Alibaba and Baidu neck and neck in AI public cloud revenue, the latest readings show Alibaba pulling decisively ahead in 2025.

Pinterest’s Strategic Rebound: How a Controversial Bet on Positivity Fueled Gen Z Dominance

Pinterest’s growth is fueled by a bold, long-term strategy centered on user well-being and AI. A controversial decision to restrict features for users under 16 helped attract Gen Z, now its largest demographic. The company has achieved eight straight quarters of record user growth by focusing its AI on positive, shopping-focused experiences, proving that “a good business in positivity” is possible.

Retail Investors Redefine the IPO Landscape

Retail investors are reshaping the IPO market by directly influencing pricing and allocation. Bullish’s $1.1 billion listing highlighted this trend, as strong demand from individual traders helped lift its offering price nearly 20% above expectations. Companies and underwriters are now adjusting strategies to account for retail participation, signaling a shift toward broader, grassroots-driven market dynamics.

Baidu’s US$618 million dim-sum bond adds fuel to AI ambitions despite soft quarter

Baidu priced a 4.4 billion yuan (about US$618 million) dim-sum bond with a 1.9 per cent coupon due 2029, its second offshore yuan issuance this year, shoring up liquidity for AI investment after reporting a weaker second quarter. The deal lands amid a record year for dim-sum issuance as issuers tap lower onshore-linked rates and diversify funding.

SpaceX Strikes $17 Billion Spectrum Deal as Valuation Nears $400 Billion

Elon Musk’s SpaceX is acquiring spectrum licenses from EchoStar in a $17 billion mix of cash and stock to expand Starlink, while preparing a share sale that could lift its private valuation to about $400 billion.

Nikkei Reaches New Heights on Hopes for Stimulus and Trade

The Nikkei 225 Index in Japan reached a record high, surpassing the 44,000 mark. The rise was driven by growing anticipation of government stimulus policies and a new trade agreement that will lower U.S. tariffs on Japanese cars. The market’s positive reaction points to increased investor confidence.

Supermarket Giants Face Hefty Costs After Court Rules on Staff Underpayment

Australian supermarket giants Woolworths and Coles face hundreds of millions in new costs after a federal court ruling on staff underpayments. The decision follows a Fair Work Ombudsman case and has resulted in a preliminary estimate of a significant financial impact. This development adds to the public scrutiny both companies are currently facing regarding their profitability and pricing strategies.

Chinese AI Chip Giant's Shares Plunge After Warning of "Risk"

Cambricon Technologies' shares plunged by more than 7% after the company warned investors of significant risks, including a valuation disconnect. The move followed a more than 140% stock rally over the past month. Despite a record first-half profit and strong revenue growth driven by national policy, the company cautioned against its high price-to-earnings ratio and potential volatility.

Alibaba shares jump 19% on cloud unit acceleration, report of new AI chip

Alibaba (9988.HK) surged 19.2% to 89.70 Hong Kong dollars as of publication, following strong cloud unit growth and reports of a new AI chip in development.

Opendoor’s Rally Raises Questions on Long-Term Viability

Opendoor’s stock has soared on retail enthusiasm and hopes for recovery in iBuying, but weak financials and structural challenges suggest it is unlikely to become a long-term wealth builder for investors.

Snowflake Gains on AI Data Cloud Expansion Into Africa

Snowflake’s entry into South Africa with its AI Data Cloud lifted shares 22.6% in a down week for tech. Strong regional engagement and global growth momentum have reinforced investor confidence, even as the stock trades at a premium to fair value.

Tech Titan Trims Ranks: Google Slashes Small-Team Managers in Efficiency Push

Google has cut more than a third of its small-team managers as part of a strategic push for efficiency and reduced bureaucracy. The company also implemented a voluntary buyout program, which has been accepted by a small percentage of eligible employees, in an ongoing effort to manage costs and streamline its workforce.

EVs and Batteries Are Recharging Hong Kong’s IPO Market

A wave of electrification listings—capped by Shuangdeng’s eye-catching debut—has helped restore Hong Kong’s status as a preferred venue for mainland issuers, with battery and EV supply-chain names drawing global funds and strong retail participation.

Shuangdeng’s 55% Pop on Hong Kong Debut Signals Battery IPO Appetite

Energy-storage battery maker Shuangdeng surged about 55 per cent in its Hong Kong trading debut after pricing at HK$14.51 per H share, highlighting strong investor demand for electrification plays and adding momentum to the city’s 2025 IPO rebound.

Nvidia Faces Uncertain Outlook in China as H20 Ban Reversal Comes With New Costs

Nvidia’s recovery in China hinges on its ability to offset a 15% levy, navigate regulatory headwinds, and secure production capacity despite recent U.S. policy reversals.

Global Oil Market Shaken by U.S.-India Trade Tensions and Ukraine Conflict Uncertainty

Oil prices are rising due to a combination of geopolitical tensions. The U.S. has threatened India with a tariff increase for buying Russian crude, while uncertainty persists over the Ukraine conflict. A larger-than-expected drop of 6 million barrels in U.S. crude stocks also supported prices, despite forecasts of an upcoming market surplus.

A $10 Billion Cloud Deal Signals a New Era for Meta and Google

Meta and Google have signed a six-year, more than $10 billion cloud deal. This partnership allows Meta to use Google Cloud's services for its major AI push, including its Llama models. The agreement strengthens Google's position in the cloud market, which recently saw a nearly 32% revenue jump. It highlights the growing importance of third-party cloud infrastructure in the race for AI dominance.

Blind Box Boom: How Labubu Propelled Pop Mart to Global Stardom

Propelled by the global craze for its Labubu dolls, Pop Mart International’s first-half net profit increased nearly five-fold. The company, which saw a 204% revenue jump, is expanding its global footprint and exploring new entertainment ventures, cementing its position as a major player in the worldwide toy market.

China’s F&B Sector Faces Historic Shakeout with 3 Million Closures

Nearly three million restaurants and cafes shut down across China in the past year, reflecting oversupply, weak demand, and rising costs that have pushed the once-thriving food and beverage industry into crisis.

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