China Inc by BBW

China's corporate pivots: Alibaba's food delivery gambit and WuXi AppTec’s geopolitical hedge

Alibaba will retire the Ele.me takeout dining brand and merge it with its newer Taobao Instant Commerce. What's driving the move? And WuXi AppTec is the latest Chinese major to jump on the Middle Eastern bandwagon, with plans to potentially open a new center in Saudi Arabia. Why are a growing number of Chinese companies taking the Middle Eastern plunge?

From classroom crackdowns to shifting cabin crews, China adapts to new realities

Vocational educator Hiducation has become one of the few education companies to test the waters in Hong Kong's booming IPO market. Are investors ready to welcome this group again after a bloody crackdown three years ago? And budget carrier Spring Air is rolling out the welcome mat for more senior flight attendants as old as 40. Are other Asian airlines like to follow this "air auntie" trend, and what's behind it?

From green energy to property woes, China turns to financial engineering

Solar and wind farm builder Xinte has announced plans to start collateralizing its assets using asset backed securities. Is this the start of a new trend for such companies? And China International Travel is spinning off its real estate business that was once a money spinner but has become a dud lately with the sinking property market. How should investors view this kind of move?

From software to the skies, China’s self-sufficiency drive meets economic reality

Observers noticed a key government document on rare earths was created using homegrown Chinese word processing software. Is this part of China's "delete America" campaign? And China's homegrown C919 regional jet has suffered a setback after Vietnam's Vietjet returned two leased models. What does this mean for the aircraft's future?

China bets big on stocks as consumers fret over pre-made food

Team China has pumped $550 billion into the country's two main stock markets, buying up nearly 5% of the market value of all listed companies. What's the thinking behind this strategy? And pre-made foods are in the spotlight after a popular blogger criticized a major restaurant chain for using such products. Why is this such a sensitive subject in China?

Nasdaq gets tough on small Chinese IPOs, as an AI-fueled energy storage boom takes off

The Nasdaq is preparing to crack down on smaller listings by Chinese companies. What's driving the move, and what are the broader implications? And energy storage has become the latest flavor of the day by new Chinese IPO candidates. What's driving this trend, and is it real or just another bubble?

Cango to build on bitcoin mining foundation with HPC pivot

Cango's public relations and investor relations director Juliet Ye details the company's strategic pivot to transform from a pure-play crypto miner into an integrated energy and high-performance computing (HPC) platform. The multi-phase strategy leverages Cango's existing energy and computing infrastructure as a foundation to build a more diverse business model with revenues from mining, AI client services, and energy trading.

China tech: virtualizing debt, AI for daters

Linklogis has jumped on the crypto bandwagon in a new blockchain alliance with XRP Ledger, owner of the ripple cryptocurrency. What's the significance of this tie-up? And leading dating app operator Hello Group has added an AI function that suggests ice-breakers for young men to say to their dates. Will this help to get young people spending again?
Read at: https://thebambooworks.com/china-tech-virtualizing-debt-ai-for-daters-linklogis-momo

Dancing robots and K-pop diplomacy: China's economic and social gambits

Unitree plans to file for an IPO by year end, capitalizing on the recent popularity of its dancing humanoid robots. But are these products really ready for market? And China has quietly lifted a nearly decade-old ban on K-Pop. What's behind the sudden change of heart?

China’s state-driven stocks, and its corporate wars abroad

China's stock market rally is fast approaching its one-year mark, with the benchmark Hang Seng and Shanghai composite indexes both up around 40%. How much longer can it last, especially given the weak state of China's economy? And internet giants Meituan and DiDi have sued each other in Brazil, where they are competing in the takeout dining market. How is this case likely to end up? Read at: https://thebambooworks.com/chinas-state-driven-stocks-and-its-corporate-wars-abroad/