Blog #Business Trends

China's deflationary spiral continues, with prices falling for six consecutive quarters, nearing a record streak last seen during the late 1990s Asian Financial Crisis.

Albertsons terminated its $25 billion merger agreement with Kroger after a federal judge blocked the deal and filed a lawsuit accusing Kroger of failing to secure regulatory approval.

A federal judge has blocked Kroger's $24.6 billion merger with Albertsons, citing concerns that it would reduce competition in the supermarket industry. U.S. District Judge Adrienne Nelson sided with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), highlighting evidence that the two companies are significant competitors and that the merger would eliminate this rivalry.

Resource nationalism is no longer exclusive to military juntas, as democracies like Botswana, Senegal, and Zambia are also pushing for improved terms in resource deals.

Juan Soto has signed a record-breaking 15-year, $765 million contract with the New York Mets, including a $75 million signing bonus and an opt-out option after five years.

Cyril Han, currently the President and CFO of Ant Group Co., will assume the role of CEO on March 1, 2025, as the company seeks to rejuvenate growth following a regulatory crackdown. Han will succeed Eric Jing, who will remain as chairman, while Han will oversee all business operations and daily management.

Elon Musk’s AI startup, xAI, raised nearly $6 billion in equity financing, as disclosed in a filing by its CFO, Jared Birchall, marking a significant step in its expansion within the competitive AI market.

China plans to boost domestic manufacturing by giving locally made products a price advantage in government procurement processes. According to a draft rule by the Ministry of Finance, products made in China will be considered at prices 20% lower than their actual sales figures compared to foreign-made goods.

JPMorgan, AT&T, and Dunkin’ Brands have pulled ads from Twitch following accusations that the platform promotes antisemitic content, particularly surrounding streams by popular commentator Hasan Piker regarding the Israel-Gaza conflict.

South Africa clarified there are no plans to establish a BRICS currency, despite speculation and misreporting. Instead, discussions within the bloc focus on facilitating trade using members' national currencies.

China's central bank governor, Pan Gongsheng, reaffirmed plans to maintain an accommodative monetary policy in 2025 to counter economic challenges, including a potential trade war with the US under Donald Trump’s second term.

Elon Musk’s approach to Washington politics has been unconventional, marked by significant cuts to Tesla’s lobbying efforts and a reliance on his personal involvement rather than traditional lobbyists.