The start of a new year is seeing 2 of China’s top smartphone and telecoms equipment makers lay out their new goals for 2014, with the fast-rising Xiaomi aiming to continue its explosive growth as the more mature Huawei targets more modest gains. Meantime, another leading telecoms player, ZTE (HKEx: 763; Shenzhen: 000063), is also detailing a major reorganization aimed at rekindling growth as it tries to diversify beyond its core business of building networks for big telcos. All of these plans are consistent with previous signals from each of the 3 companies, and in that regard aren’t very surprising. But they do provide a hint of where priorities will lie in the new year. Read Full Post…
The following press releases and media reports about Chinese companies were carried on January 3. To view a full article or story, click on the link next to the headline.
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It’s quiet outside as markets reopen on this first work day after the New Year, so I thought I’d start off 2014 with some predictions for the year ahead in the sectors that I cover. Generally speaking, I do think the first half of the year will see a continuation of strong momentum that began in late 2013 for many sectors. But that momentum will slow as we near the mid-year mark, and 2014 could end with a whimper as the Chinese economy continues to slow and Beijing pushes for higher quality growth. Read Full Post…
The following press releases and media reports about Chinese companies were carried on December 19. To view a full article or story, click on the link next to the headline.
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I was somewhat amused today to read an announcement from stodgy domestic smartphone maker ZTE (HKEx: 763; Shenzhen: 000063) trumpeting the success of a “cool” new online campaign for its high-end brand of nubia smartphones. But after giving the matter some thought, I do have to compliment ZTE for its new approach to create some buzz around its smartphones, which currently enjoy a reputation as dependable but also quite stodgy and low-end products. Most Chinese refer to phones from domestic names like ZTE, Huawei and Lenovo (HKEx: 992) as guochan, literally meaning “made in China,” which carriers distinctively negative overtones for inferior quality and lack of imagination. ZTE is clearly trying to cast off that image for its nubia line with this new China-based campaign. Read Full Post…
The following press releases and media reports about Chinese companies were carried on December 13. To view a full article or story, click on the link next to the headline.
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China Everbright Bank To Launch $2.8 Bln Hong Kong IPO On Tuesday (English article)
Alibaba Invests $361 Mln In Haier’s (HKEx: 1169) “Big Goods” Logistics (English article)
Canadian Solar (Nasdaq: CSIQ) Signs Loan Agreement For Solar Projects In Japan (PRNewswire)
Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei is not the world’s most talkative man, so when he says something in a rare media interview it’s worth taking notice. In this case Ren has personally stated that Huawei is temporarily halting its efforts to sell its telecoms equipment in the US, providing the final word on a controversial topic that has made headlines for much of the past year. But of course nothing is ever final, and a top US-based Huawei spokesman has quickly added that the company is ready to enter the US if and when Washington ever relaxes its informal ban on the company’s networking equipment. Read Full Post…
Next year is set to become the year of 4G in China, with the nation expected to spend well over 100 billion yuan ($16.4 billion) on new mobile networks that offer lightning-fast data speeds for mobile subscribers. The spending bonanza marks an excellent chance for China to show its commitment to free trade, after many were disappointed when foreign companies received only a small fraction of the business in a major series of contracts back in August. Read Full Post…
The following press releases and media reports about Chinese companies were carried on November 30-December 2. To view a full article or story, click on the link next to the headline.
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Autohome Lowers Fund-Raising Target, Sets Price Range For New York IPO (English article)
Canadian Solar (Nasdaq: CSIQ), LDK (NYSE: LDK) Dispute To Get Re-Hearing (PRNewswire)
Trina Solar (NYSE: TSL) Announces Joint Venture with Yabang Group (PRNewswire)
ZTE (HKEx: 763) Eyes $800 Mln In India Revenue Next Year (English article)
3 China Telcos To Spend 100 Bln Yuan On 4G Networks In 2014 (Chinese article)
Smartphone makers may soon be getting an ally from China’s cash-rich Internet companies, with word that e-commerce leader Alibaba is preparing a massive giveaway in a bid to boost its mobile business. This move looks strikingly similar to something Alibaba did nearly a decade ago, when it made the strategic decision to offer its e-commerce services for free on its newly launched Taobao platform. That decision was derided by eBay (Nasdaq: EBAY), its chief rival in China at the time, which said that giving away services for free was not a real business model. As Chinese Internet historians know, eBay ultimately lost that battle and Alibaba has gone on to become one of the world’s biggest e-commerce companies. Read Full Post…
The following press releases and media reports about Chinese companies were carried on November 19. To view a full article or story, click on the link next to the headline.
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Mary Ma’s New Role At HK Securities Regulator: New Life For Alibaba IPO? (Chinese article)
Xiaomi to Convert After-Sales Locations to Retail Stores (English article)
Minsheng Bank (HKEx: 1988) Gets Approval For 20 Bln Yuan Bond Issue (HKEx announcement)
ZTE (HKEx: 763) To Roll Out Smart Watch In 2014 – Executive (Chinese article)
AsiaInfo-Linkage (Nasdaq: ASIA) Announces Stockholder Vote Date For Buyout (PRNewswire)
