Xinhua Denies Speculations of Foreign Investment Decline in China [TheGuru=Hong Seong-hwan] China's state-run Xinhua News Agency has refuted speculation that foreign companies are pulling out of China. According to the Korea Institute for Foreign Economic Policy, Xinhua refuted the pullout theory in a commentary on Nov. 21, citing the increasing number of stores in China by large food and beverage companies such as KFC, McDonald's, and Starbucks, Apple's announcement of plans to invest more in the country, GE Healthcare's doubling of R&D investment in China, and AstraZeneca's announcement of a $475 million investment plan. "Foreign capital shows that China is still a fertile ground for foreign investment and business," Xinhua said, "proving that the exaggerated claims by some Western media that there are no more opportunities in the Chinese market are not true." "The State Council issued the 'Action Plan for Expanding the Attraction and Utilization of Foreign Capital through Higher Openness to the World' to expand the market access of foreign capital and increase the degree of freedom for foreign investment, demonstrating China's willingness and action to share development opportunities with the world," Xinhua said. According to the "International Balance of Payments for 2023" released by the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on March 18, foreign direct investment in China totaled $30 billion last year. That's down 82 percent from the previous year. The $27.5 billion was the lowest level since 1993, when it was recorded, Bloomberg analyzed. It's less than a tenth of the $344.1 billion in 2021, when it peaked...
Adapting to Shifting Consumer Patterns: The Trend Towards Small-Scale Store Expansion in the U.S.The retail industry in the United States continues to expand small-scale stores. Analysis suggests that retail companies are responding to changed consumer purchasing patterns amid the COVID-19 pandemic. According to KOTRA, on the 30th, Whole Foods Market, a large organic supermarket chain in the US, plans to open a new small-scale store called Whole Foods […]
China's BYD Hits a High: Records $4 Billion Profit Amid EV Boom BYD, China's largest electric vehicle company, posted record operating profit last year. BYD's revenue last year was CNY602.15 billion (USD11.17 trillion), up 42.04% year-on-year, and operating profit was CNY30.41 billion (USD5.6 trillion), up 8 China's largest electric vehicle company BYD achieved record operating profit last year. BYD's revenue last year was CNY602.15 billion (USD11.17 trillion), an increase of 42...
Valkyrie CIO Predicts Ripple ETF Approval Ahead of Ethereum [Dugguru=Sung-Hwan Hong] It has been observed that a Ripple (XRP) spot exchange traded fund (ETF) is likely to be approved before an Ethereum (ETH) spot ETF. It will be interesting to see if global managers will start to launch Ripple spot ETFs. "I don't think an Ethereum spot ETF will be approved in May because I believe that Ethereum can be a security," said Stephen McClurg, co-founder and chief investment officer of Valkyrie Investments, in a conversation with a reporter from U.S. financial media Fox Business, according to industry sources. "I think it's more likely that Ripple or Litecoin (LTC) will be approved before Ethereum." However, no manager has yet formalized the launch of a Ripple or Litecoin spot ETF. Seven asset managers, including BlackRock, Fidelity, Ark Investments, and Grayscale, have filed to list an Ethereum spot ETF. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is expected to make a decision on May 23 on whether to approve ETH spot ETFs. The market is betting that an ETH spot ETF is unlikely to be approved. This is because unlike Bitcoin, which is proof-of-mining (POW), Ethereum is proof-of-stake (POS), which raises ongoing securities issues. Eric Balchunas, an ETF analyst at Bloomberg, previously put the likelihood of an ETH spot ETF approval at 70% in January, but recently downgraded it to 30%. "The approval process for an ETH spot ETF is different from that for a bitcoin spot ETF," he explained, "and we've lowered our odds of approval given the lack of progress with more than 70 days to go before the deadline."
Trump's Truth Social Rockets on Wall Street: A 10% Surge Marks Day TwoThe stock price of Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG), the parent company of the social media platform Truth Social, founded by former U.S. President Donald Trump, has seen a substantial rise for two consecutive days following its debut on the New York Stock Exchange. According to the Wall Street Journal, on the 27th, TMTG’s […]
Nvidia Accelerates New Product Releases, Solidifies AI DominanceNvidia, the global AI leader, is expected to strengthen its dominance in the AI market as the launch cycle of its new products is being shortened. Moon Jun Ho, a researcher at Samsung Securities, believes that “The anticipation of Nvidia’s dominance in the AI market is continuously strengthening due to the shortened new product launch […]
Cocoa Prices Hit Record High, Surpass Copper and BitcoinThe price of cocoa, the primary ingredient in chocolate, has reached an all-time high, surpassing the $9,000 mark for the first time. This surge is attributed to concerns of supply shortages due to reduced production caused by climate change. According to Bloomberg, on the 25th (local time), cocoa futures traded in New York closed at […]
Colin Huang Becomes China's Second Richest Thanks to 'Temu Effect'Colin Huang, the founder of the Chinese e-commerce company Pinduoduo, has surpassed Tencent chairman Ma Huateng to become the second wealthiest person in China. This is mainly due to the rapid rise of Pinduoduo’s ultra-low-cost online shopping mall, Temu, in global markets, including the United States, which has driven up Pinduoduo’s stock price. According to […]
China Challenges U.S. at WTO Over Inflation Reduction ActChina “not environmental protection, but ‘discriminatory law'” China has filed a lawsuit at the World Trade Organization (WTO) against the United States’ Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). According to reports from Yonhap News and the WTO on the 27th, the dispute resolution process began at the WTO following China’s request to rectify the discriminatory subsidy execution […]
Elon Musk Offers Free Test Drive of Tesla's Full Self-Driving System to Boost SalesTesla, an electric vehicle company, is offering its Full Self-Driving (FSD) system free for a month to customers in the United States. This move is seen as a response to a slowdown in sales despite the growing popularity of electric vehicles. According to Reuters and other sources, on the 26th, CEO Elon Musk wrote on […]
FedEx Exceeds Quarterly Earnings Expectations Despite Revenue DropFedEx (FDX), a global transportation company, exceeded quarterly earnings expectations. Despite a decrease in revenue, profits increased due to cost-cutting measures. FedEx’s third quarter (December to February) revenue was $21.74 billion, a decrease of 1.9% from the previous year, and operating profit was $1.24 billion, an increase of 19.3%. EPS (earnings per share) recorded $3.51, […]
TPG Plans to Raise $5 Billion Asia Fund with 10% Allocated to Korean MarketTexas Pacific Group (TPG), a global private equity managing firm, is set to establish a massive Asia buyout fund worth approximately $5 billion. They plan to invest around 10% of this fund into the South Korean market. According to Bloomberg and other sources, on the 26th, TPG is planning to close its eighth Asia buyout […]
JP Morgan: Bitcoin Outshines Gold as Top Investment ChoiceJP Morgan has rated Bitcoin’s investment value higher than gold’s. The Bitcoin spot ETF market is projected to grow to $220 billion in 2-3 years. On the 25th, JP Morgan stated in an investment report, “Bitcoin is taking up a larger share in investors’ portfolios than gold. When adjusting for volatility factors, the preference for […]
Top Choice: Lotte Hotel Moscow Voted Best in the AreaLotte Hotel Moscow has been selected as the best hotel in the region. Its exceptional facilities and stylish interior have received high praise. According to Zoon, a Russian review specialist media, on the 24th, Lotte Hotel Moscow was chosen as the “Best Local Hotel.” Zoon selected superior hotels based on evaluations of the hotel’s rooms, […]
Saudi Arabia's Ambitious Shift Towards Automated ManufacturingSaudi Arabia is aiming to reduce its dependence on the oil industry and leap towards becoming a powerhouse in automated manufacturing. According to industry sources on the 24th, Saudi Arabia is striving to restructure its industries around future advanced technologies, reducing its reliance on oil, which accounts for 40% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) […]
Musk's Effect? X Users Drop 23% Since AcquisitionThe number of social media app users, X (formerly Twitter), for Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, continues to decrease, NBC reported on the 23rd. According to the mobile app market analysis company Sensor Tower, the average daily active user count of mobile apps in the U.S. last month was around 27 million, showing an approximate […]
Iran's Currency Crisis: Rial Hits Record Low as Diplomatic Tensions SoarAmid Persian New Year celebrations, Iran’s currency plummeted to an all-time low of 613,500 rials per dollar on March 24th. On the last working day before the March 18th holiday, it was 590,000 rials per dollar. The exchange rate significantly affects other markets, including housing and rentals. Many Iranians have seen their life savings evaporate […]
From Virtual Try-Ons to Smart Mirrors: The Latest in US Beauty TechThe winds of technological innovation are blowing strongly in the American beauty industry. According to analysts, the American beauty tech market is expected to grow rapidly, but there are still many challenges to overcome. On the 23rd, the KOTRA Los Angeles Trade Office introduced the current status and prospects of the American beauty tech market […]
U.S.-China Relations in Focus: Yellen's Strategic Visit to Address OverproductionScheduled next month, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is poised to embark on high-level talks in China, focusing on managing U.S.-China relations. This visit marks her first trip to China in nine months, coinciding with rising concerns in global markets about China’s industrial overproduction. Politico reported on March 24th that Yellen will meet with high-ranking officials […]
Ruble Holds Steady: All Eyes on Interest Rate DecisionRussian Ruble. (Photo=Yonhap News) The Russian ruble is showing signs of stability. On the 21st (local time), the Russian ruble showed stability, boosted by high oil prices, ahead of the central bank meeting on Friday. The central bank is expected to maintain the interest rate at 16% for the second consecutive meeting. The ruble traded […]
Xinhua Denies Speculations of Foreign Investment Decline in China [TheGuru=Hong Seong-hwan] China's state-run Xinhua News Agency has refuted speculation that foreign companies are pulling out of China. According to the Korea Institute for Foreign Economic Policy, Xinhua refuted the pullout theory in a commentary on Nov. 21, citing the increasing number of stores in China by large food and beverage companies such as KFC, McDonald's, and Starbucks, Apple's announcement of plans to invest more in the country, GE Healthcare's doubling of R&D investment in China, and AstraZeneca's announcement of a $475 million investment plan. "Foreign capital shows that China is still a fertile ground for foreign investment and business," Xinhua said, "proving that the exaggerated claims by some Western media that there are no more opportunities in the Chinese market are not true." "The State Council issued the 'Action Plan for Expanding the Attraction and Utilization of Foreign Capital through Higher Openness to the World' to expand the market access of foreign capital and increase the degree of freedom for foreign investment, demonstrating China's willingness and action to share development opportunities with the world," Xinhua said. According to the "International Balance of Payments for 2023" released by the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on March 18, foreign direct investment in China totaled $30 billion last year. That's down 82 percent from the previous year. The $27.5 billion was the lowest level since 1993, when it was recorded, Bloomberg analyzed. It's less than a tenth of the $344.1 billion in 2021, when it peaked...
Adapting to Shifting Consumer Patterns: The Trend Towards Small-Scale Store Expansion in the U.S. The retail industry in the United States continues to expand small-scale stores. Analysis suggests that retail companies are responding to changed consumer purchasing patterns amid the COVID-19 pandemic. According to KOTRA, on the 30th, Whole Foods Market, a large organic supermarket chain in the US, plans to open a new small-scale store called Whole Foods […]
China's BYD Hits a High: Records $4 Billion Profit Amid EV Boom BYD, China's largest electric vehicle company, posted record operating profit last year. BYD's revenue last year was CNY602.15 billion (USD11.17 trillion), up 42.04% year-on-year, and operating profit was CNY30.41 billion (USD5.6 trillion), up 8 China's largest electric vehicle company BYD achieved record operating profit last year. BYD's revenue last year was CNY602.15 billion (USD11.17 trillion), an increase of 42...
Valkyrie CIO Predicts Ripple ETF Approval Ahead of Ethereum [Dugguru=Sung-Hwan Hong] It has been observed that a Ripple (XRP) spot exchange traded fund (ETF) is likely to be approved before an Ethereum (ETH) spot ETF. It will be interesting to see if global managers will start to launch Ripple spot ETFs. "I don't think an Ethereum spot ETF will be approved in May because I believe that Ethereum can be a security," said Stephen McClurg, co-founder and chief investment officer of Valkyrie Investments, in a conversation with a reporter from U.S. financial media Fox Business, according to industry sources. "I think it's more likely that Ripple or Litecoin (LTC) will be approved before Ethereum." However, no manager has yet formalized the launch of a Ripple or Litecoin spot ETF. Seven asset managers, including BlackRock, Fidelity, Ark Investments, and Grayscale, have filed to list an Ethereum spot ETF. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is expected to make a decision on May 23 on whether to approve ETH spot ETFs. The market is betting that an ETH spot ETF is unlikely to be approved. This is because unlike Bitcoin, which is proof-of-mining (POW), Ethereum is proof-of-stake (POS), which raises ongoing securities issues. Eric Balchunas, an ETF analyst at Bloomberg, previously put the likelihood of an ETH spot ETF approval at 70% in January, but recently downgraded it to 30%. "The approval process for an ETH spot ETF is different from that for a bitcoin spot ETF," he explained, "and we've lowered our odds of approval given the lack of progress with more than 70 days to go before the deadline."
Trump's Truth Social Rockets on Wall Street: A 10% Surge Marks Day Two The stock price of Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG), the parent company of the social media platform Truth Social, founded by former U.S. President Donald Trump, has seen a substantial rise for two consecutive days following its debut on the New York Stock Exchange. According to the Wall Street Journal, on the 27th, TMTG’s […]
Nvidia Accelerates New Product Releases, Solidifies AI Dominance Nvidia, the global AI leader, is expected to strengthen its dominance in the AI market as the launch cycle of its new products is being shortened. Moon Jun Ho, a researcher at Samsung Securities, believes that “The anticipation of Nvidia’s dominance in the AI market is continuously strengthening due to the shortened new product launch […]
Cocoa Prices Hit Record High, Surpass Copper and Bitcoin The price of cocoa, the primary ingredient in chocolate, has reached an all-time high, surpassing the $9,000 mark for the first time. This surge is attributed to concerns of supply shortages due to reduced production caused by climate change. According to Bloomberg, on the 25th (local time), cocoa futures traded in New York closed at […]
Colin Huang Becomes China's Second Richest Thanks to 'Temu Effect' Colin Huang, the founder of the Chinese e-commerce company Pinduoduo, has surpassed Tencent chairman Ma Huateng to become the second wealthiest person in China. This is mainly due to the rapid rise of Pinduoduo’s ultra-low-cost online shopping mall, Temu, in global markets, including the United States, which has driven up Pinduoduo’s stock price. According to […]
China Challenges U.S. at WTO Over Inflation Reduction Act China “not environmental protection, but ‘discriminatory law'” China has filed a lawsuit at the World Trade Organization (WTO) against the United States’ Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). According to reports from Yonhap News and the WTO on the 27th, the dispute resolution process began at the WTO following China’s request to rectify the discriminatory subsidy execution […]
Elon Musk Offers Free Test Drive of Tesla's Full Self-Driving System to Boost Sales Tesla, an electric vehicle company, is offering its Full Self-Driving (FSD) system free for a month to customers in the United States. This move is seen as a response to a slowdown in sales despite the growing popularity of electric vehicles. According to Reuters and other sources, on the 26th, CEO Elon Musk wrote on […]
FedEx Exceeds Quarterly Earnings Expectations Despite Revenue Drop FedEx (FDX), a global transportation company, exceeded quarterly earnings expectations. Despite a decrease in revenue, profits increased due to cost-cutting measures. FedEx’s third quarter (December to February) revenue was $21.74 billion, a decrease of 1.9% from the previous year, and operating profit was $1.24 billion, an increase of 19.3%. EPS (earnings per share) recorded $3.51, […]
TPG Plans to Raise $5 Billion Asia Fund with 10% Allocated to Korean Market Texas Pacific Group (TPG), a global private equity managing firm, is set to establish a massive Asia buyout fund worth approximately $5 billion. They plan to invest around 10% of this fund into the South Korean market. According to Bloomberg and other sources, on the 26th, TPG is planning to close its eighth Asia buyout […]
JP Morgan: Bitcoin Outshines Gold as Top Investment Choice JP Morgan has rated Bitcoin’s investment value higher than gold’s. The Bitcoin spot ETF market is projected to grow to $220 billion in 2-3 years. On the 25th, JP Morgan stated in an investment report, “Bitcoin is taking up a larger share in investors’ portfolios than gold. When adjusting for volatility factors, the preference for […]
Top Choice: Lotte Hotel Moscow Voted Best in the Area Lotte Hotel Moscow has been selected as the best hotel in the region. Its exceptional facilities and stylish interior have received high praise. According to Zoon, a Russian review specialist media, on the 24th, Lotte Hotel Moscow was chosen as the “Best Local Hotel.” Zoon selected superior hotels based on evaluations of the hotel’s rooms, […]
Saudi Arabia's Ambitious Shift Towards Automated Manufacturing Saudi Arabia is aiming to reduce its dependence on the oil industry and leap towards becoming a powerhouse in automated manufacturing. According to industry sources on the 24th, Saudi Arabia is striving to restructure its industries around future advanced technologies, reducing its reliance on oil, which accounts for 40% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) […]
Musk's Effect? X Users Drop 23% Since Acquisition The number of social media app users, X (formerly Twitter), for Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, continues to decrease, NBC reported on the 23rd. According to the mobile app market analysis company Sensor Tower, the average daily active user count of mobile apps in the U.S. last month was around 27 million, showing an approximate […]
Iran's Currency Crisis: Rial Hits Record Low as Diplomatic Tensions Soar Amid Persian New Year celebrations, Iran’s currency plummeted to an all-time low of 613,500 rials per dollar on March 24th. On the last working day before the March 18th holiday, it was 590,000 rials per dollar. The exchange rate significantly affects other markets, including housing and rentals. Many Iranians have seen their life savings evaporate […]
From Virtual Try-Ons to Smart Mirrors: The Latest in US Beauty Tech The winds of technological innovation are blowing strongly in the American beauty industry. According to analysts, the American beauty tech market is expected to grow rapidly, but there are still many challenges to overcome. On the 23rd, the KOTRA Los Angeles Trade Office introduced the current status and prospects of the American beauty tech market […]
U.S.-China Relations in Focus: Yellen's Strategic Visit to Address Overproduction Scheduled next month, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is poised to embark on high-level talks in China, focusing on managing U.S.-China relations. This visit marks her first trip to China in nine months, coinciding with rising concerns in global markets about China’s industrial overproduction. Politico reported on March 24th that Yellen will meet with high-ranking officials […]
Ruble Holds Steady: All Eyes on Interest Rate Decision Russian Ruble. (Photo=Yonhap News) The Russian ruble is showing signs of stability. On the 21st (local time), the Russian ruble showed stability, boosted by high oil prices, ahead of the central bank meeting on Friday. The central bank is expected to maintain the interest rate at 16% for the second consecutive meeting. The ruble traded […]
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