Pony.ai, a Chinese company specializing in autonomous driving technology, is considering launching self-driving taxi services in Hong Kong. Their initial plan is to offer these 'robotaxi' services to the staff of Hong Kong International Airport.

The firm, having showcased its sixth-generation autonomous taxi at the Hong Kong airport the previous month, stated that the location was already prepared to, or intending to, implement self-driving vehicles.

The firm, presently managing over 250 autonomous taxis and 190 automated trucks, did not provide an immediate response to a comment request on Friday.

In 2024, China reached an all-time high in the issuance of panda bonds, and experts predict a more robust performance in 2025. Analysts forecast an increase in the issuance of these yuan-denominated panda bonds, surpassing last year's record.

Experts predict further expansion this year, considering the nation's necessity to bolster its economy and an ongoing strategy to increase the usage of the yuan for global transactions.

Last year, 109 panda bonds were issued in China, totaling 194.8 billion yuan (US$26.7 billion), as per the data provided by Wind, a Chinese financial data firm. This signifies a 16% growth in the number of issued bonds and a 26% annual increase in their value.

"The main factor influencing the yield gap between China and the rest of the world is the prior shift in utilizing profits for repatriation," stated Gary Ng, a leading economist at Natixis.

"Furthermore, an increasing number of sovereign issuers are looking to broaden their foreign exchange funding risk."

Major e-commerce companies are participating in China's newest trade-in initiative due to intense rivalry. Alibaba and JD.com are some of the first to partake in this revamped discount scheme aimed at customers purchasing home appliances.

On Wednesday, Alibaba's high-end shopping platform, Tmall, which predominantly features recognized brands, initiated fresh discounts for consumers purchasing household gadgets.

On the same day, competitor JD.com initiated a comparable initiative that enables customers in certain provinces such as Hubei, Hunan, and Jiangsu to buy suitable home appliances with the help of government subsidies.

Alibaba is the proprietor of the South China Morning Post.

Interpreting the signs: A shaky year awaits China's market due to policy unpredictability

Following a lackluster year, firms like Morgan Stanley, UBS, and Goldman Sachs, among others, are presenting their forecasts for Chinese stocks in 2025.

Other entities like JPMorgan Asset Management and T. Rowe Price Group are keen on seeing additional proof of economic and corporate earnings stability before they invest further.

Goldman Sachs stands out from the crowd. The American investment bank is the most optimistic in comparison to its international counterparts, predicting at least a 13 percent increase in China's primary equity index. This confidence is based on the anticipation of faster earnings growth and better value assessments due to policy backing.

"Unless there are clearer plans about the execution of more forward-thinking strategies by the government, the market will continue to remain restricted and likely to fall short of expectations," stated Aaron Costello, the chief of Asian operations at Cambridge Associates, during an interview. "In order for Chinese stocks to significantly surpass others, we need to witness the policy proclamations leading to a real reduction of deflationary effects and a resurgence in business profits, both of which are going to require time."

Silence on set: China's cinema sector battles for significance in evolving media scene

Amid dwindling box office returns and harsh rivalry from digital amusements, China's movie business risks losing its place in cultural prominence.

Cecilia Hu, a 25-year-old marketer from Wuhan, was once a frequent cinema visitor, attending at least one movie per month. Nonetheless, she only managed to go once last year – to watch Big World, a recent film featuring her favorite pop star, Jackson Yee.

Even though she was excited at first, Hu walked out of the theater feeling let

She acknowledged that Yee delivered a good performance, however, she felt the movie was overall unattractive. The inclusion of a romance plot seemed especially unsuitable.

Currently, Hu stated that she now opts to enjoy well-established classics at home rather than being a "test subject" at the cinema. Missing out on the cinema doesn't seem like a "social isolation" anymore, she further mentioned, given that "nobody else is attending" as well.

Dengta Data, a Chinese box office analytics firm, disclosed in a recent study that last year, 57% of moviegoers attended the cinema just once, leading to a total attendance of 1.01 billion. This represents a significant decrease of 22.3% compared to the year before.

Major technology companies in China pledge to resolve algorithm concerns in the face of government regulatory measures. ByteDance's Douyin, PDD's Pinduoduo, and Xiaohongshu have committed to tackle problems associated with algorithm misuse.

Leading Chinese online platforms have promised to better their algorithms, following a campaign initiated by China's internet regulator to tackle the inappropriate use of the technology that supports the recommendation features of apps and websites.

Legal experts suggest that Trump's appeal to TikTok is a test for the US Supreme Court. By requesting the court to suspend a law until he assumes his role, some argue that the incoming US president might be exceeding his power.

The peculiar appeal by US President-elect Donald Trump to the Supreme Court, asking them to delay a forthcoming prohibition on TikTok until he assumes office, has led legal experts to speculate about the court's potential response or even recognition of his request.

Last week, Trump submitted an amicus brief, urging the supreme court to deliberate on the legality of a law. This law mandates ByteDance, the Chinese company that owns TikTok, to sell the app to a non-Chinese entity by January 19 or risk being banned in the United States.

The legislation claims that TikTok, an app for brief videos with an estimated user base of 170 million in the US, constitutes a threat to national security as its private user data could potentially be accessed by Chinese government agencies. The court consented to hear the case after TikTok presented an urgent appeal citing First Amendment rights to free speech. The court has set the date for verbal debates to begin on January 10.

Trump is set to assume the presidency on January 20. However, by explicitly asking for a halt to any proceedings, legal experts suggest he is asking the court to overstep its constitutional boundaries.

The summary, prepared by John Sauer, Trump's choice for solicitor general, portrays Trump as "the appropriate constitutional figure to settle the disagreement via political avenues".

The text asserts that only Trump has the ultimate negotiation skills required to reach a solution that takes into account both national security issues and the future of TikTok.

Analysts believe Alibaba is primed for expansion following their divestment from physical retail properties.

By letting go of Sun Art and Intime, a now 'asset-light' Alibaba is predicted to have a more competitive edge against other online commerce competitors.

The Chinese real estate industry: the increase in house purchases indicates a promising future for a sector that has been struggling for the past four years. There are indications of a rebound in China's real estate market, as home sales in key cities are on the rise, raising expectations for a stable market by 2025.

Housing developers in Mainland China got a promising kickoff to the new year as home sales increased towards the end of 2024. This follows a commitment by the Chinese authorities to prevent further decline in housing prices.

In 30 prominent mainland cities, there was an 86% increase in average home sales in the last quarter, compared to the prior quarter, according to information provided by China Real Estate Information Corp (CRIC).

Residential property sales in the four premier cities – Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen – increased by 35 per cent in December compared to the same period the previous year, as reported by CRIC. When compared to the average monthly sales in the third quarter, there was a whopping 80 per cent increase in December, as the data revealed.

According to the data from CRIC, there was a 23% drop in new home sales across the 30 cities sampled for the year. This represents a 3.75 percentage point reduction in the decline over the initial 11 months of the year.

Three forty-nine

Xi's call to action establishes economic goals for Chinese authorities, forgiving them for past errors.

"This signifies a crucial indicator for the upcoming 'stabilization' phase," stated Ding Zuyu, the executive director of E-House China Enterprise Holdings. "A consistent upward pattern, rather than a fleeting emotion after the implementation of lenient policies, has been clearly shown."

Ding predicted that while there will be a market adjustment in 2025, the cost of new homes is projected to rebound and match the rates of 2019. Additionally, the prices of previously owned homes are set to attain the rates seen in 2017.

A developer in Hong Kong slashes rates in Shau Kei Wan venture due to market saturation

The latest pricing guide lowers the district's average cost to its least since September 2016 for initial offerings, according to data from Midland Realty.

Hip Shing Hong (Holdings) is now accepting requests for 50 properties at Oria in Shau Kei Wan, following an unsuccessful sale in June 2023. The medium-sized private developer has decided to reduce the prices of 30 of these properties by over 30%, as per the updated list released on Thursday.

The apartments in the 23-floor building are on average valued at HK$19,544 per square foot, which is close to a nine-year low for new launches in the area, as reported by Centaline Property. The Island Garden project by Nam Fung Group had a similar average pricing of HK$19,409 per square foot back in September 2016.

Quarter to Seven

Despite the enhancing quality of life in Hong Kong, a growing number of its residents are showing interest in relocating to mainland China.

"Developers lack the power to hike prices," stated Jeff Yau, a real estate analyst at DBS Bank (Hong Kong), in a media conference on Thursday. He added that because some heavily leveraged home builders are feeling the squeeze to liquidate their stock for cash, there won't be much leeway for price growth in 2025.

The value of houses dropped by 6.6% in the initial 11 months of the previous year, cumulatively declining by 27% from the highest point in the market in September 2021, based on the government's statistics. Experts suggest that prices may start to level off by the middle of the year after slight recoveries in October and November.

A developer in Hong Kong reduces costs in the Shau Kei Wan project due to market oversupply

The updated pricing brings the average cost in the area to its lowest since September 2016 for initial releases, according to data from Midland Realty

The revised price list drives the average cost in the region to the lowest point since September 2016 for first-time releases, as per information from Midland Realty.

Hip Shing Hong (Holdings) is now accepting orders for 50 properties at Oria in Shau Kei Wan, following a failed sale attempt in June 2023. The medium-scale private developer has announced a price reduction of over 30 per cent on 30 of these properties, as per the updated list released on Thursday.

The apartments in the 23-story building are valued at an average of HK$19,544 per square foot, which is close to a nine-year low for initial property offerings in the area, as per Centaline Property's data. Back in September 2016, Nam Fung Group set the price for its Island Garden project at an average of HK$19,409 per square foot.

Quarter to Seven

Despite the enhanced quality of life in the city, an increasing number of residents from Hong Kong are expressing a desire to relocate to mainland China.

"Developers lack the capacity to hike prices," stated Jeff Yau, a real estate industry analyst at DBS Bank (Hong Kong), during a press conference on Thursday. He further added that due to the financial strain on some heavily leveraged home builders who need to liquidate their stock for cash, significant price increases are unlikely in 2025.

The value of homes dropped by 6.6% in the initial 11 months of the previous year, resulting in a total decrease of 27% since the market's high point in September 2021, as per governmental statistics. Analysts predict that prices might level off by the middle of this year after slight recoveries in October and November.

Apple has consented to settle a Siri eavesdropping lawsuit by paying out $95 million. The collective legal action alleges that Apple captured personal dialogues when Siri was inadvertently triggered.

The suggested resolution, submitted to a federal court in Oakland, California, on Tuesday, was accompanied by Apple's staunch denial of any wrongdoing.

"Apple has persistently rejected and still refutes any accusations of misconduct and responsibility," stated the technology giant in the suggested settlement, which needs a judge's consent to be completed.

The tech powerhouse from California has positioned user privacy as a significant aspect of its brand reputation. This is a primary reason why it maintains a firm grip on its integrated system of hardware and software.