Blog #Business Trends

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.

Indian billionaire Gautam Adani denied U.S. charges accusing him and his Adani Group executives of running a large-scale bribery scheme. Speaking at an awards ceremony in Jaipur, Adani called the allegations "baseless" and vowed to pursue "all possible legal recourse."

Andre Agassi, despite chronic back pain and a noticeable limp, recently showcased his skills on a pickleball court in Sydney, receiving applause and engaging in playful trash talk.

Top cryptocurrency executives and investors are urging President-elect Donald Trump to create a national bitcoin stockpile, a move that could closely integrate the volatile cryptocurrency industry into the U.S. financial system.

Volkswagen and its Chinese joint venture with SAIC Motor Corp. sold their assembly plant in Xinjiang to the Shanghai Motor Vehicle Inspection Center, a government-owned firm, citing economic reasons.

Donald Trump’s plan to impose 25 percent tariffs on all Canadian and Mexican products starting January 20 is unlikely to fulfill his campaign promise of lowering prices. These tariffs could significantly impact Americans’ grocery bills, as Canada and Mexico are the U.S.'s largest trading partners.