Bottom line: Qihoo’s apparent attempt to unify its various products around the 360.com brand looks smart strategically, but it needs to improve its search and cellphone businesses to win back investor interest.
Qihoo pays record for 360.com domain
I’m not usually someone to write about publicity stunts, but one such new ploy by struggling security software maker Qihoo 360 (NYSE: QIHU) has piqued my interest as it hints at some major new strategic moves. The actual news is quite straightforward, saying Qihoo has paid a record $17 million for the 360.com web domain. This news was almost certainly leaked by Qihoo, since companies pay large sums for domains all the time and the news never makes big headlines since it is kept private. That hints that Qihoo may have big plans for 360.com, most likely as a platform to unify its current stable of domains and brands. Read Full Post…
The following press releases and media reports about Chinese companies were carried on February 5. To view a full article or story, click on the link next to the headline.
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Yum’s (NYSE: YUM) China Sales Fall Less Than Expected, Shares Rise (English article)
Baidu (Nasdaq: BIDU) to Invest $100 Mln In Lenovo Unit Fancy Maker – Source (English article)
Bottom line: Sougou could gain some momentum in the search market this year following some innovative new tie-ups with WeChat, while Xunlei’s stock will remain under pressure as it gets dogged by more piracy issues.
Sogou launches news feature on WeChat
More than a year after emerging as China’s third-largest search engine with the merger of 2 second-tier players, Sogou is finally making an interesting move by launching a news app that takes advantages of its ties to Internet titan Tencent (HKEx: 700). The move looks particularly promising, since the rapid rise of another similar app called Today’s Headlines shows that this is clearly an area with strong demand. The move could pose a serious challenge to the high-flying Today’s Headlines, which earlier this week was named as one of China’s top 10 mobile apps for 2014. (previous post) Read Full Post…
Bottom line: UCWeb’s new India tie-up with Facebook looks like a good step that will help its global expansion, while Qihoo’s new Microsoft alliance looks mostly like inconsequential hype.
UCWeb ties with Facebook in India
A couple of new corporate tie-ups are in the headlines today, led by word of a potentially major new alliance between Alibaba-owned (NYSE: BABA) web browser UCWeb and global social networking giant Facebook (Nasdaq: FB). The other tie-up, which looks far less interesting but still potentially significant, and will see security software specialist Qihoo 360 (NYSE: QIHU) work with Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) in advertising services. This second alliance is just the latest in a long recent string for Qihoo, and seems aimed at breathing life into its struggling stock that is being rapidly abandoned by impatient and disappointed investors. Read Full Post…
The following press releases and media reports about Chinese companies were carried on January 15. To view a full article or story, click on the link next to the headline.
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Dalian Wanda (HKEx: 3699) Says 4 Investors To Put $3.9 Bln Into 20 New Malls (English article)
Wanda Cinema Line Issues Stock At Low Price, Well Below Other Valuations (Chinese article)
Suning (Shenzhen: 002024) Forms Logistics, Financing Unit (Chinese article)
Bottom line: Unbecoming behavior by people like Alibaba’s Jack Ma and JD.com’s Richard Liu reflect poorly on China’s corporate sector, and reflects a lack of professional standards.
Alibaba’s Ma, JD’s Liu on bad behavior
Alibaba’s (NYSE: BABA) charismatic founder Jack Ma is known for speaking his mind, but he was on the defensive last week after inflammatory remarks he made about rival JD.com (Nasdaq: JD) were published in a book. JD.com graciously accepted Ma’s rare apology for the remarks, even as its founder Richard Liu was also in the Internet gossip columns for his own controversial behavior related to a rumored break-up with his longtime young girlfriend. Read Full Post…
Tech executives welcomed in the New Year with some intriguing hints on their microblogs, with posts suggesting major new moves in China from global media titan News Corp (Nasdsaq: NWSA) and online video operator LeTV (Shenzhen: 300104). In the former case, a local tech executive posted a photo of himself meeting with Rupert Murdoch in China, indicating the News Corp chief was back doing business in the country after a long absence. In the latter case, LeTV chief Jia Yueting was hinting that his company could soon become the latest Chinese Internet firm to enter the overheated smartphone market. Read Full Post…
The following press releases and media reports about Chinese companies were carried on December 30. To view a full article or story, click on the link next to the headline.
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The following press releases and media reports about Chinese companies were carried on December 24. To view a full article or story, click on the link next to the headline.
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Citic Bank Buys BBVA’s Stake In Financial Unit For $1.05 Bln (English article)
Billionaire Wang’s Dalian Wanda (HKEx: 3699) Property Firm Falls in HK Debut (English article)
MIIT Says To Issue 4G FDD-LTE Licenses Next Year (Chinese article)
NQ Mobile (NYSE: NQ) Board Authorizes Up to $80 Mln Share Buyback (PRNewswire)
Enlight Media (Shenzhen: 300251), Qihoo (NYSE: QIHU) Form Online Video JV (English article)
The following press releases and media reports about Chinese companies were carried on December 23. To view a full article or story, click on the link next to the headline.
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Group Buying Site Meituan Lands $700 Mln Series D Funding – Sources (English article)
Changjiang Electronics (Shanghai: 600584) Offers $780 Mln For Stats ChipPac (English article)
Huace Film (Shenzhen: 300133) Invests In Korea’s Next World Entertainment (Chinese article)
Qihoo 360 (NYSE: QIHU) To Offer Free Voice Calling With New Internet App (Chinese article)
Alibaba (NYSE: BABA) To Launch Own-Brand Products, No Smartphone Plans (Chinese article)
Bottom line: Qihoo’s new joint venture looks like a smart tie-up to promote its software and online services, while Xiaomi’s resumption of India sales looks like a hollow win in its patent battle with Ericsson.
Qihoo, Coolpad in JV
A trio of smartphone stories are in the news today, including updates on major news involving security software specialist Qihoo 360 (NYSE: QIHU) and the ultra-cool Xiaomi. The first headline has Qihoo moving into the overheated smartphone space through a major new joint venture with domestic giant Coolpad (HKEx: 2369). In the second headline, Xiaomi has been allowed to resume selling some of its smartphones in India, after a judge last week ordered it to stop sales amid an ongoing patent dispute with Swedish mobile technology giant Ericsson (Stockholm ERICb). Read Full Post…
