What’s going on? The US and China reached a new agreement on rare earth minerals. What does this mean? China has long restricted exports of several key rare earth minerals to the US, but that seems to be changing; China has now agreed to increase shipments of rare earths to the US (even without setting…
Tag: china
Ep 187: Apple is being sued (another one)
What’s going on? Apple was sued by US regulators alleging that it has built a monopoly in smartphones. What does this mean? While Apple undoubtedly has a solid base of loyal fans, US Department of Justice (DoJ) suspects the tactics Apple used to get there. Apple is being accused of gatekeeping its own services and…
Ep 186: Children and the economy
What’s going on? Recent research suggested that declining birth rates in many countries could reshape the global economy, which means it’s not as personal as some people might think. What does this mean? The global population will grow from today’s 8 billion to 9.7 billion by 2050 (according to UN). Yet, The Lancet (a medical…
Ep 182: Tik Tok Toe
What’s going on? The US House just passed the bill that would force ByteDance to ban or sell Tiktok’s US arm. What does this mean? To finally be executed, the bill will have to be approved by The Senate and afterward, the President, but everything seems imminent) Microsoft and Oracle already started looking into (acquiring)…
Ep 176: China announced its plan to break up Alipay and the country’s technology industry landscape
What’s going on? China announced plans to separate Alipay (payment app with more than 1 bil users). What does this mean? Alipay is considered the go-to platform for everything, from ordering food to processing payment. Its profitable lending business helped issue 10% of all China’s non-mortgage loans in 2020. Meanwhile, the Chinese government has been looking to…
Ep 174: The US’s biggest airlines lower their forecast and the industry’s outlook
What’s going on? 3 of America’s biggest airlines (United Airlines, American Airlines, and Southwest Airlines) warned that a rise in coronavirus cases will impact profits this winter. What does this mean? The Delta variant has been on the rise in the US, which is likely to put everyone off their vacations, which is apparent through the…
Ep 168: China’s slower manufacturing activity and growth forecast, and the Eurozone’s CO2 emission price boom
What’s going on? In August, China’s manufacturing activity shrank for the first time since April 2020. What does this mean? China’s economy seems to be finally slowing down after having outperformed its rivals’ during the pandemic: a widely followed manufacturing activity survey (asking factory managers how busy they’ve been compared to the month before) showed activity in…
Ep 159: Iron ore price drop and the global economy
What’s going on? Iron ore price dropped to a 4-month low, as China decided to go green. What does this mean? Iron ore is a major component of steel, which is a major component of cars, buildings, and things that helps the world stay still. The recent price drop of iron ore might be largely…
Ep 153: Foxconn’s positive quarterly result and the electronics industry
What’s going on? Foxconn (Taiwanese electronics giant) released a surprising pleasant quarterly yoy growth of 30% yoy, while reducing future sales forcast. What does this mean? Foxconn is the world’s largest manufacturer of electronic equipment for other companies, including iPhones for Apple. Strong demand for smartphones and other consumer gadgets helped its profit surge beyond…
Ep 152: SoftBank’s sad quarter and the Chinese startup investment landscape
What’s going on? SoftBank (Japanese tech conglomerate) updated disappointing quarterly results, which was 40% lower yoy. What does this mean? This shrink is partially due to the large stakes of Chinese companies that Softbank owns. The Chinese government has taken severe measures against local firms with US-listed shares E.g: Didi’s share price have decreased by the same amount…
