China South Asia Policy

Business

Burger King China Shifts to Local Control: CPE Invests $350M for Majority Stake in Ambitious Expansion Drive

Restaurant Brands International (RBI) has formed a joint venture with private equity firm CPE, ceding majority control of Burger King's China operations in a deal aimed at turbocharging growth. The partnership targets a more than tripling of restaurants to over 4,000 by 2035, leveraging local expertise and capital.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Huntington Bancshares Completes Cadence Bank Merger, Solidifying Southern Expansion Strategy

Huntington Bancshares has finalized its merger with Cadence Bank, a move that significantly extends its regional footprint into Texas and the Southern U.S. and reshapes its competitive standing.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Investment Outlook 2026: Four Sectors Facing Headwinds Amid Shifting Monetary Policy

As the Federal Reserve prepares for a potential policy shift in 2026, analysts flag real estate, financials, energy, and consumer discretionary as vulnerable sectors. Structural challenges and changing macroeconomic conditions could pressure performance despite broader market gains.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

NVIDIA Awaits China's Final Nod for H200 AI Chip Sales, CEO Jensen Huang Says

NVIDIA's CEO Jensen Huang indicates that Chinese regulatory approval for the sale of its flagship H200 AI chip is still pending, amid high demand from major tech firms and ongoing U.S.-China tech tensions.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

SouthGobi Resources Stock Soars 486% Over Five Years, Highlighting Long-Term Value

Investors who held shares in SouthGobi Resources Ltd. (CVE:SGQ) since 2019 have seen a staggering 486% return, a powerful case study in long-term equity investing despite recent volatility.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Norfolk Southern Unveils Major East Coast Rail Corridor, Aiming to Unclog Freight Bottlenecks

Norfolk Southern has inaugurated its new 'East Edge' double-stack corridor, a decades-in-the-making infrastructure project linking Chicago to New England. The move is set to bolster intermodal capacity in the Northeast and could sharpen the railroad's competitive edge and investor appeal.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Precious Metals Plunge: Gold and Silver See Sharpest Drop in Decades Amid Policy Shifts

Gold prices tumbled from a record $5,600 to $4,770 per ounce, while silver plummeted 31% in a single day—the steepest decline since 1980. Analysts point to shifting U.S. monetary policy expectations and eased geopolitical anxieties as key drivers behind the sudden sell-off.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Terns Pharma Secures Global Rights for Key Drug, Fueling Expansion Ambitions Beyond China

Terns Pharmaceuticals has restructured a key licensing deal with China's Hansoh, gaining exclusive worldwide rights for its TERN-701 oncology drug outside Greater China. The strategic move, coupled with a recent analyst price target surge, signals the company's aggressive push into international markets.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

South Korea's AI-Fueled Stock Surge Hits a Wall as Global Risk Aversion Spreads

The Kospi index plunged over 5% in its sharpest drop since April, halting program trading and dragging down chip giants Samsung and SK Hynix. The selloff, fueled by global risk-off sentiment and doubts over AI spending, tests the resilience of one of the world's hottest equity markets.

Feb 2, 2026

World

China Executes Four in Cross-Border Crackdown on Multi-Billion Dollar Myanmar Scam Syndicate

Chinese authorities have executed four individuals convicted of leading a massive online fraud and gambling ring based in Myanmar, linked to over $4 billion in illicit proceeds and the deaths of six Chinese nationals. The move is part of a widening crackdown on cross-border criminal networks targeting Chinese citizens.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Seeking Stability in Asian Markets: Three Dividend Stocks for February 2026

Amidst a backdrop of steady interest rates and cautious global growth, Asian dividend-paying companies offer investors a potential harbor. We examine three firms from across the region balancing yield with operational resilience.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Xi's Financial Vision Resurfaces: China Eyes Yuan's Global Role Amid Dollar Uncertainty

A renewed emphasis by President Xi Jinping on building a 'strong financial nation' with a globally powerful currency is being interpreted as a signal for accelerated yuan internationalization, as global confidence in the dollar shows signs of strain.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Markets Retreat as AI Bubble Fears Resurface, Oil Prices Tumble

Global markets stumbled on Monday, with Asian shares and U.S. futures declining sharply. The sell-off was led by a significant pullback in South Korean tech stocks amid renewed concerns over an AI sector bubble, while oil prices dropped over $2 per barrel.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Euro's Surge Casts Shadow Over ECB Policy Meeting

The European Central Bank convenes this week with a resurgent euro presenting a fresh dilemma, threatening to dampen inflation and undermine the export engine of the eurozone's largest economies just as recovery gains momentum.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Trump Taps Kevin Warsh for Fed Chair, Banking on a Loyalist to Reshape Central Bank Policy

President Trump nominates former Fed governor Kevin Warsh to lead the central bank, setting the stage for a potential shift in monetary policy and a test of the institution's famed independence.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Baidu's Ernie AI Assistant Hits 200 Million Monthly Users, Cementing Role in China's Tech Race

Baidu's flagship AI assistant, Ernie, has surpassed 200 million monthly active users, a milestone reported by the Wall Street Journal. The growth underscores Baidu's deepening integration of AI across its ecosystem amid fierce competition with domestic tech rivals.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Navigating the Financial Sector: Two Stocks to Watch, One to Avoid Amid Policy Uncertainty

While the financial sector remains the economy's cornerstone, policy headwinds have capped its recent performance. We analyze one credit rater and a fintech disruptor that show resilience, alongside a legacy asset manager facing challenges.

Jan 30, 2026

World

Immigrant Rights Groups Sue ICE Over Policy Allowing Warrantless Home Entries

A coalition of immigrant advocacy organizations has filed a federal lawsuit challenging a newly revealed ICE policy that permits agents to enter private residences without judicial warrants, arguing it violates constitutional protections against unreasonable searches.

Jan 30, 2026

World

UK PM Announces China Lifts Sanctions on Six British Parliamentarians Amid Thawing Ties

Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed during his Beijing visit that China has removed sanctions against six UK MPs and peers, a move signaling a diplomatic reset after years of tension over human rights concerns.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

A.O. Smith Navigates Flat Sales with Sharper Margins, Charts Course Through Inflation and China Headwinds

A.O. Smith's Q4 2025 earnings reveal a tale of two stories: revenue that missed expectations but profits that beat them. The water technology leader is leaning into commercial strength and operational discipline to expand margins, even as it braces for a challenging 2026 marked by input cost inflation and persistent softness in its China business.

Jan 30, 2026