China’s Factory Recovery Struggles Against Weak Domestic Demand

China’s manufacturing sector improved in August, but the recovery remained too weak to pull factory activity back into expansion. The official manufacturing purchasing managers index rose to 49.8 from 49.2 in July, beating market expectations but remaining below the 50 threshold that separates expansion from contraction. The result marked a second consecutive month of contraction…

Aon Targets USI to Deepen Its Hold on the Middle Market

Aon is reportedly nearing an agreement to acquire USI Insurance Services from private equity firm KKR for about $17 billion including debt, in a transaction that would deepen Aon’s position in the highly fragmented insurance brokerage market. If completed, the acquisition would give Aon a much larger platform in the middle market, where businesses often…

China’s EV Price War Squeezes BYD’s Profit Growth

BYD’s first-half results show how China’s increasingly crowded electric vehicle market is changing the economics of even its largest manufacturers. The company remains one of the world’s biggest electric vehicle producers, but intense competition in its home market has weakened sales and squeezed margins, forcing BYD to rely increasingly on overseas expansion to support earnings.…

Meta and Google Backed Jio as IPO Reshapes Its Digital Business

The regulatory clearance for Jio Platforms to launch an initial public offering marks a significant step in Reliance Industries’ effort to bring its telecommunications and digital businesses into the public markets. India’s market regulator has cleared a proposed fresh issue of up to 270 million shares, potentially making the offering the largest initial public offering…

Hormuz Shock Pushes Europe and Asia Toward Renewable Energy

The disruption of energy supplies caused by the war involving Iran is giving governments in Europe and Asia a stronger economic reason to accelerate renewable energy investment. The immediate concern is not climate policy but energy security: dependence on imported oil and natural gas has exposed major economies to sharp price increases and supply risks…

Nvidia’s AI Financing Model Faces Scrutiny Over Control and Circularity

Nvidia has paused some revenue-sharing arrangements with artificial intelligence cloud companies, according to reports, only weeks after introducing a financing model designed to help smaller providers obtain the expensive computing equipment needed to build large artificial intelligence systems. The reported pause does not amount to an abandonment of Nvidia’s broader financing strategy, but it highlights…

Anthropic Turns to Custom Chips to Reduce AI Infrastructure Dependence

Anthropic’s reported discussions with artificial intelligence chip startup MatX highlight a strategic problem that is becoming increasingly important for leading artificial intelligence companies: access to computing power is no longer simply a purchasing issue. It is becoming a question of how much control an AI developer wants over the hardware on which its models are…

Shein Rebuilt Its China Ties to Secure a Hong Kong Listing

Shein’s long-awaited stock market debut is the result of a significant strategic adjustment. After spending years presenting itself as a global company and pursuing listings in New York and London, the fast-fashion retailer is preparing to enter public markets through Hong Kong, after obtaining approval from Chinese regulators. The shift reflects more than a change…

Meta Settlement Pushes Social Media Toward Global Child Safety Rules

Meta’s settlement with almost all United States states over alleged harm to teenagers is becoming more than a costly legal resolution. It is emerging as a reference point for governments trying to determine how far social media companies should be required to go in protecting children from platform features that can encourage excessive use. Meta…