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Thursday 8 May 2025
Chinese semiconductor equipment firms post mixed 2024 results amid US pressures
Chinese listed semiconductor equipment and materials companies released their 2024 annual financial reports in late April, revealing strong revenue growth but a decline in overall profitability. Despite intensified US sanctions, the sector demonstrated resilience through increased capital investments and strategic restructuring, signaling China's determination to bolster its semiconductor industry
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Thursday 8 May 2025
Geely bids to take Zeekr private at US$6.4 billion valuation
Billionaire Li Shufu is ramping up a push to streamline his sprawling business empire, with his Hong Kong-listed Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd. offering to take premium electric-car maker Zeekr Private
Thursday 8 May 2025
Tesla debuts LiDAR-free self-driving system in China as FSD awaits approval
Tesla has rolled out a new camera-based driver-assistance system in China while awaiting government approval for its Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology. Unlike most Chinese EV makers that rely on LiDAR sensors, Tesla is sticking to a vision-only approach, it says offers superior performance and lower costs
Thursday 8 May 2025
Solar industry reveals ultimate impact of US tariff tsunami
The US recently imposed final anti-dumping duties on solar cell and module manufacturers from four Southeast Asian countries—Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Cambodia—with rates of 34.4%, 395.9%, 375.2%, and a staggering 3,521% for Cambodia
Wednesday 7 May 2025
Anduril's founder sounds alarm on US-China military rivalry, touts AI as key to Taiwan Strait stability
In a recent speech, Palmer Luckey, the innovative force behind defense technology firm Anduril Industries, invoked a hypothetical Taiwan Strait conflict to underscore the pivotal role of artificial intelligence (AI) in modern warfare
Wednesday 7 May 2025
Chinese panel makers cut output amid weak demand and US tariffs
A combination of rising US tariffs, reduced benefits from China's "trade-in" subsidy program, and mounting inventory challenges has prompted Chinese panel makers to scale back production during the five-day May Day holiday. This measure aims to support prices, which have remained relatively flat since the end of April, preventing a sharp drop amid slowing purchasing activity from television brands
Wednesday 7 May 2025
US manufacturing renaissance spurs China's strategic semiconductor expansion
China's foundry industry has seen explosive growth in mature semiconductor manufacturing over the past five years—a trend reflected in ASML's financial disclosures, where Chinese businesses once accounted for as much as 40–50% of revenue. But by early 2025, that figure had dropped to about 25%
Wednesday 7 May 2025
Chinese rivals threaten Transsion's Africa smartphone crown
Once crowned the undisputed "smartphone king of Africa," China's Transsion is now battling mounting challenges. While revenue continues to climb, the company faces declining margins and growing pressure from rivals in its core African markets
Wednesday 7 May 2025
ASEAN+3 reaffirms commitment to regional financial stability amid global uncertainties

Finance ministers and central bank governors from the ASEAN+3 countries convened in Milan on May 4, 2025, for the 28th ASEAN+3 Finance Ministers' and Central Bank Governors' Meeting (AFMGM+3), co-chaired by Malaysia and China. The high-level dialogue underscored regional economic resilience, despite mounting global challenges, and produced a strong joint statement committing to bolstered financial cooperation, macroeconomic stability, and sustainable growth

Wednesday 7 May 2025
China EV makers hit the brakes on autonomy after fatal Xiaomi crash
The fatal crash involving a Xiaomi SU7 and three students has sparked nationwide backlash and triggered a fundamental shift in how Chinese automakers market self-driving technology. The buzzword "smart driving" is rapidly being phased out in favor of the more conservative and safety-conscious term "assisted driving.
Wednesday 7 May 2025
US, China to hold first formal trade talks in Geneva with tariff clashes still ongoing
China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on May 7 that Vice Premier He Lifeng, the nation's top economic policymaker, will visit Switzerland from May 9 to 12. During his stay, he is scheduled to hold talks with US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent. Following the visit, Vice Premier He will travel to France from May 12 to 16 to co-chair the tenth round of the China-France High-Level Economic and Financial Dialogue
Wednesday 7 May 2025
China's Pony AI is Uber's latest robotaxi partner in Middle East
Robotaxi company Pony AI will partner with ride-hailing giant Uber Technologies Inc. to launch in the Middle East this year, as the auto industry's push into autonomous driving gathers pace
Wednesday 7 May 2025
Export controls take US$1.5B toll, but AMD bets big on AI accelerator boom
On May 6, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) reported robust first-quarter results for 2025 despite looming challenges from new US export controls on shipments to China and evolving AI diffusion regulations. CEO Lisa Su emphasized the company's resilience in navigating tariff uncertainties and regulatory constraints, particularly impacting its data center GPU business. With a focus on AI infrastructure growth and strategic partnerships, AMD remains optimistic about its market position and long-term opportunities in the US$500 billion AI accelerator market
Wednesday 7 May 2025
As Qualcomm stalls in China, MediaTek powers up
Recently, the two major Android SoC brands, MediaTek and Qualcomm, have shared their market outlooks. Both companies maintain a positive view of their non-smartphone business performance and future growth potential. Regarding financial forecasts for the next quarter, MediaTek expresses more optimism than Qualcomm, anticipating possible growth quarter over quarter
Wednesday 7 May 2025
Tesla deepens China supply chain ties as 95% of Model Y parts are sourced locally
Tesla announced on May 6 that more than 95% of the parts used in every Model 3 and revamped Model Y produced at its Shanghai Gigafactory are sourced domestically, underscoring the high level of localization in its China supply chain
Wednesday 7 May 2025
Russia's Baikal Electronics ships 85,000 CPUs under sanctions, eyes China ties for next-gen chips
Founded in 2012, Russian CPU developer Baikal Electronics has shipped 85,000 processors as of the end of 2024, defying international sanctions and growing technological isolation sparked by the Russia–Ukraine war. The majority of shipments were low-power Baikal-T chips, designed for embedded systems and telecom infrastructure, underscoring the company's emphasis on domestic, utilitarian computing needs