At 8 o'clock, here are the latest news: Chow Tai Fook responds to the price increase of gold jewelry; The number of stock accounts of minors in South Korea soared nearly tenfold in the first quarter; The production and delivery of Zhangxue Motorcycle's 820RR are suspended.
Today's Hot Topics Guide
- Li Qiang Meets with Representatives of the US Business Community
- WeChat Establishes an 800 - person Team to Adapt to HarmonyOS, Accounting for About Half of the Developers
- Chow Tai Fook Responds to the Price Hike of Gold Jewelry
- South Korea Demands Samsung and the Labor Union Resume Negotiations on May 16
- The US Senate Approves Kevin Warsh as the Chairman of the Federal Reserve
Top 3 Big News
The number of stock accounts held by minors in South Korea soared nearly tenfold in the first quarter
Recently, Samsung Electronics' market value exceeded the $1 trillion mark, making it the second - highest - valued company in Asia. Driving this strong momentum is the return of South Korea's trading army of up to 14 million people, who have invested approximately 37.7 trillion won (equivalent to about 172.2 billion yuan) in the domestic stock market.
In the South Korean stock market, signs of mania are evident everywhere. They are increasing their bets on the stock market through record - high borrowing. A "fear of missing out" (FOMO) is permeating offices, restaurants, and even family gatherings across South Korea. This intense sentiment has even prompted more and more investors to start buying stocks for their children. According to data compiled by Toss Securities, the number of new accounts opened by minors under 18 in South Korea in the first quarter of this year surged nearly tenfold compared to the same period last year. (China News Service)
Zhangxue Motorcycle's 820RR Suspends Production and Delivery
On the evening of May 13th, Zhangxue Motorcycle released the "Explanation on the Upgrade of the 820RR Oil Pump": When some 820RR motorcycles are in the idle state after starting, there is a probability that the oil pump may have poor oil supply. Currently, the production of the 820RR has stopped and the delivery is suspended. The new oil pump has completed testing, all problems have been resolved, and the mold has been modified. The new mold is expected to be completed by the end of this month. At that time, the 820RR owners will be notified to go to the store for a free replacement. The new oil pump will completely solve the problem of poor oil supply. To express their apology, Zhangxue Motorcycle will offer two forms of compensation to the 820RR owners (whose oil pumps have the above - mentioned problems), including two free maintenance services and an extension of the engine warranty for one year. (Hongxing News)
Chow Tai Fook Responds to the Price Hike of Gold Jewelry
Recently, there have been rumors in the market that Chow Tai Fook has raised the prices of its fixed - price gold jewelry. On May 13th, several Chow Tai Fook stores in Nanjing said in an interview that the system for some fixed - price gold jewelry will be updated after the stores close on the evening of the 14th, and a new round of price adjustments will be officially implemented on May 15th. The prices of some models will increase by 10% - 15%. On the 14th, Chow Tai Fook responded that this price adjustment only involves a very small number of products, and the prices of most products will remain unchanged.
Regarding the reason for the price hike, Chow Tai Fook said that the pricing of our jewelry is determined by multiple factors, including raw material costs, design and production, operating expenses, taxes, and brand value. At the same time, market conditions and consumer expectations are also taken into consideration. (China News Service)
Large Companies/ Major Events
Fuel surcharge for air tickets to be raised starting from the 16th
It is learned from airlines such as Air China, China Southern Airlines, and Xiamen Airlines that the fuel surcharge for tickets of domestic routes in China sold from 0:00 on May 16th will be raised. The specific standards are as follows: For flights of 800 kilometers (inclusive) or less, each passenger will be charged 90 yuan; for flights over 800 kilometers, each passenger will be charged 170 yuan. Infant passengers are exempt from the fuel surcharge, and the fuel surcharge for tickets of child passengers, disabled revolutionary servicemen, and police officers disabled on duty will be halved. For tickets of domestic routes in China sold before May 15th (inclusive), if changes are made after May 16th (inclusive), the price difference will not be collected according to the new standard. (CCTV News)
Li Qiang Meets with Representatives of the American Business Community
On the afternoon of May 14, Li Qiang, the Premier of the State Council, met with representatives of the American business community who accompanied US President Trump on his visit to China at the Great Hall of the People. Heads of companies such as Apple, NVIDIA, Meta, Cargill, Tesla, Boeing, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, GE Aerospace, Qualcomm, Visa, Micron Technology, Mastercard, BlackRock, Blackstone, Lumentum, Illumina, and the New York Stock Exchange attended the meeting. (Xinhua News Agency)
Railways to Offer Off - peak Mid - week Ticket Purchase Discounts for Elderly Passengers
To better meet the travel needs of elderly passengers, the railway department will soon introduce a discount service for elderly passengers when purchasing tickets during off - peak mid - week periods. The relevant discounted tickets will be available for sale starting from May 15.
A relevant person in charge of the Passenger Transport Center of China State Railway Group introduced that this discount service is applicable to elderly passengers aged 60 and above who purchase tickets using their Resident Identity Cards of the People's Republic of China, Residence Permits for Hong Kong and Macao Residents, Residence Permits for Taiwan Residents, Permits for Hong Kong and Macao Residents to Enter and Exit the Mainland, Permits for Taiwan Residents to Enter and Exit the Mainland, Foreigner Permanent Residence Identity Cards, Temporary Identity Certificates, and Household Registers.
When relevant passengers purchase tickets for some EMU trains during the mid - week period from May 29 to June 30 (from 12:00 on Mondays to 12:00 on Fridays, excluding the Dragon Boat Festival travel period from June 18 to 22) either online or offline, they can enjoy a 10% discount on the regular fare. The character "Respect" will be marked after the relevant discounted train services on 12306. The tickets eligible for the discount will be marked with the words "Senior Discount" on the order details and the personal ticket page.
Chinese citizens aged 60 and above who hold Disability Soldier Certificates, Disability People's Police Certificates, or Disability Certificates for National Comprehensive Fire and Rescue Team Members can enjoy an additional 10% discount on top of the existing preferential fares. Elderly member passengers who successfully purchase tickets and travel can also enjoy a triple - point bonus as ordinary frequent - traveler members. The points can be used to exchange for train tickets or upgrade seats. (People's Daily)
WeChat Forms an 800-Person Team to Adapt to HarmonyOS, Accounting for About Half of Developers
According to Cai Guangzhong, the vice president of Tencent, WeChat has specifically formed a team of over 800 people to adapt to HarmonyOS, which accounts for nearly half of the developers working on the WeChat client. WeChat is also accelerating its adaptation to HarmonyOS following the roadmap of major monthly releases and minor weekly releases. (IT Home)
Galeries Lafayette Beijing will officially cease operations on May 27
On May 14, Galeries Lafayette's Beijing store issued a notice regarding business adjustment, stating that the Beijing store will officially end its business on May 27. The notice said that the membership services of the Beijing store will be transferred. After the closure of the Beijing store, customers can still visit any of the brand's stores across the country (such as the store at Lujiazui Center in Shanghai, the store at Shenye Upper Town in Shenzhen, etc.) to continue enjoying full membership benefits. The points accumulated in the membership account will be retained according to the original validity period and can be used normally at any store across the country. In addition, if customers need to cancel their membership cards, they can also contact customer service to handle the process. (China News Service)
Tencent Debunks Rumor of "Departure of AI Head"
Tencent issued a solemn statement: At noon on May 14th, some self - media spread the rumor that "the AI head is about to leave" and insinuated about Tencent. This rumor is completely baseless. Tencent hereby solemnly refutes the rumor and reserves the right to pursue legal liability against relevant malicious rumor - mongers. (Cailian Press)
Burberry Announces Change of Chairman
On May 14th, Burberry announced that Gerry Murphy, the Group's Chairman, has decided to officially retire when the company releases its mid-term performance report in November 2026. Gerry Murphy's nine-year term is coming to an end, and the Board of Directors has appointed William Jackson as his successor. (Jiemian News)
CEO of Qianli Zhijia Refutes Rumors of Resignation
On the afternoon of May 14th, in response to the rumors of resignation, Chen Qi, the co-CEO of Qianli Zhijia, refuted the rumors and said, "I'm still in the company, working hard for Qianli Zhijia. Thank you all for your concern." Recently, many media reported that Chen Qi was about to resign and engage in entrepreneurial activities in embodied intelligence. (Yicai Global)
ByteDance, SAIC and Others Invest in Independent Variable Robotics
36Kr learned that Tianyancha App shows that recently, there have been industrial and commercial changes in Independent Variable Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., the affiliated company of Independent Variable Robotics. The enterprise name remains Independent Variable Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. New shareholders include Beijing Quantum Leap Technology Co., Ltd. under ByteDance and Shanghai SAIC Chuangyuan Venture Capital Partnership (Limited Partnership) under SAIC Group. At the same time, the registered capital has increased from approximately 978,000 RMB to approximately 1.15 million RMB.
South Korea Asks Samsung and Union to Resume Negotiations on May 16
The National Labor Relations Commission of South Korea asked the labor and management of Samsung Electronics to resume negotiations on the 16th on May 14. Earlier that day, the Ministry of Economy and Finance of South Korea said that the potential strike action of Samsung Electronics would pose significant risks to economic growth, exports and the financial market, and called for resolving the issue through dialogue. (Jiemian News)
Xiaomi has applied for the registration of the SU9 trademark this year
36Kr learned that according to the intellectual property information from Tianyancha, Xiaomi Technology Co., Ltd. has applied for the registration of multiple trademarks this year, including "XIAOMI SU9", "XIAOMI SU9 LUX", "XIAOMI SU8", "XIAOMI YU9", and "XIAOMI YU8". The international classification for all these trademarks is means of transport. Currently, the status of the above trademarks is pending substantive examination.
U.S. Jet Fuel Exports Reach Record High
A report released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) on May 13 local time showed that U.S. jet fuel exports jumped to a record high of 455,000 barrels per day last week, breaking the record set in early April. (Jiemian News)
Meta to Launch "Stealth Chat" Feature on WhatsApp
Meta Platforms said on Wednesday that the company is launching a new "Stealth Chat" feature in the AI assistant of its WhatsApp instant messaging service, aiming to address users' concerns about data privacy. Meta said that Stealth Chat will rely on private processing technology to ensure that conversations are invisible to anyone, including the company itself. Meta said in a blog post, "Your conversations won't be saved, and messages will automatically disappear by default - this provides you with a space to think and explore ideas without being monitored by anyone." (Sina Finance)
US Senate Approves Kevin Warsh as Chairman of the Federal Reserve
On May 13 local time, the US Senate officially approved Kevin Warsh to serve as the Chairman of the Federal Reserve with a vote of 54 in favor and 45 against. The Senate had approved Warsh to serve as a member of the Federal Reserve Board for a 14 - year term on the 12th. With the approval of his appointment as chairman on the 13th, Warsh will officially assume his duties after completing the relevant signing procedures at the White House, succeeding the current Chairman Jerome Powell, whose term will end this Friday (May 15). However, Powell is expected to remain on the Federal Reserve Board. (CCTV News)
Japanese motor giant Nidec admits to large-scale fraud
Japanese motor giant Nidec announced on May 13 that there were more than 1,000 suspected improper acts related to product quality, including unilaterally changing parts, processes, and designs without customer confirmation. Nidec will set up an investigation committee composed of external experts and roughly complete the work of clarifying the factual relationships and identifying the causes by the end of August. (Jiemian News)
During the listing process
Anxuyuan Technology Files for Listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange
36Kr has learned that according to documents from the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, Anxuyuan Technology has submitted a listing application to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The joint sponsors are China International Capital Corporation and SPDB International.
Hejie Electric Files for Listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange
36Kr learned that according to the documents of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, Guangdong Hejie Electric Co., Ltd. has submitted a listing application to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, with First Shanghai as the sole sponsor.
Robotek Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. Submits Listing Application to Hong Kong Stock Exchange
36Kr learned that according to documents from the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, Robotek Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. has submitted a listing application to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The joint sponsors are Huatai International, Citigroup, and Orient Securities International.
Dannuo Pharmaceutical Seeks to Raise HK$626.8 Million Through Hong Kong IPO
36Kr learned that according to documents from the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, Dannuo Pharmaceutical (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. plans to issue 8.28 million shares in its Hong Kong listing, with an issue price of HK$75.70 per share. It is estimated that the company is set to raise HK$626.8 million (US$80.1 million). It is expected to be listed for trading on May 22. CITIC Securities and ABC International are the joint sponsors.
The Cutting - Edge of AI
Google is racing to deploy AI on mobile devices: Gemini to be integrated into Android
On May 13th, Google plans to unveil a series of Android system upgrades at the I/O Developer Conference. Google is reportedly making every effort to upgrade its Gemini model from a chatbot to a system - level operating layer deployed on mobile phones, browsers, in - vehicle systems, and laptops. By doing so, Google is trying to seize the dominant position in mobile AI before Apple releases its new Apple Intelligence. (Caixin)
Apple Reportedly Explores Integrating AI Agents into App Store
On May 14th, it was reported that Apple is exploring how to better integrate AI agents into its App Store. Apple is expected to vigorously promote its AI strategy at its annual developers' conference next month. (Jiemian News)
Alibaba's enterprise-level Agent platform "Wukong" begins to scale up gradually
36Kr learned that on May 13th, Alibaba Group released its financial reports for Q4 and the full year of fiscal year 2026. The financial reports indicate that Alibaba's full-stack AI technology investment has officially crossed the initial cultivation stage and entered a positive cycle of large-scale commercial returns. In the fourth quarter of the fiscal year, Alibaba's AI achieved accelerated breakthroughs at various levels, including models, cloud infrastructure, and applications. In the AI to B direction, Alibaba's enterprise-level Agent platform "Wukong" has gradually scaled up in recent days.
KeLing AI Tops the Overall Charts of App Store in 42 Countries
36Kr learned that recently, the "baseball live special effects" videos generated by KeLing AI 3.0 have been continuously trending on social platforms both at home and abroad, attracting a large number of users to participate in creation. Driven by this, KeLing AI topped the overall charts of App Store in 42 countries and regions on May 12th.
Financial Reports of Large Companies
Alibaba Health: Annual revenue in 2025 was 34.26 billion yuan, with a forecast of 35.12 billion yuan
36Kr learned that Alibaba Health released its annual performance announcement for the year ended March 31, 2026. The financial report shows that the annual revenue in 2025 was 34.26 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 12%. During the reporting period, the net profit was 1.936 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 35.2%. The adjusted net profit was 2.326 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 19.3%. The adjusted net profit margin increased from 6.4% to 6.8%.
Huahong Company: Achieved Operating Revenue of 4.625 Billion Yuan in the First Quarter, a Year-on-Year Increase of 18.22%
36Kr learned that Huahong Company released its financial report for the first quarter of 2026. In the first quarter, it achieved operating revenue of 4.625 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 18.22%; the net profit attributable to shareholders of the listed company was 140 million yuan, a year-on-year increase of 513.10%. The change in performance was mainly due to the increase in gross profit caused by the rise in the average selling price and the number of wafers shipped, and the fact that this period had exchange gains while the same period last year had exchange losses.
Hon Hai's net profit in the first quarter was NT$49.92 billion, higher than market expectations
Hon Hai's net profit in the first quarter was NT$49.92 billion, compared with an estimate of NT$48.43 billion; its revenue in the first quarter was NT$2.12 trillion, compared with an estimate of NT$2.15 trillion; and its earnings per share were NT$3.56. (Caixin)
Honda's net sales in the fourth fiscal quarter reached 5.82 trillion yen
Honda released its fourth - fiscal - quarter results on May 14, showing net sales of 5.82 trillion yen, an operating loss of 1.01 trillion yen, and a net loss of 889.38 billion yen. (Jiemian News)
Cisco's Net Profit Reached $3.4 Billion in the Third Fiscal Quarter, a 35% Year-on-Year Increase
On May 13th local time, Cisco released its financial results for the third quarter of fiscal year 2026, ending on April 25th, 2026: Revenue reached $15.8 billion, a 12% year-on-year increase; Net profit was $3.4 billion, a 35% year-on-year increase; Diluted earnings per share were $0.85, a 37% year-on-year increase. Cisco also provided performance guidance: For the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2026, revenue is expected to be between $16.7 billion and $16.9 billion, with earnings per share between $0.80 and $0.85; For the full fiscal year 2026, revenue is expected to be between $62.8 billion and $63 billion, with earnings per share between $3.16 and $3.21. (Jiemian News)
Investment and Financing
"Huitte Information" Completes Tens of Millions of RMB in Pre-A Round Financing
36Kr learned that recently, the intelligent hardware service provider "Huitte Information" announced the completion of tens of millions of RMB in Pre-A round financing. The investor in this round of financing is Tengxin Investment. The financing funds will be mainly used for the R & D of product solutions related to wearable physical sign monitoring, the commercial promotion of the B2B supply chain optimization system, as well as the compliance research of overseas markets, channel expansion and team building.
Cool Products
2028 iPhone Models Leaked: Say Goodbye to Black Borders Completely
It is reported that Apple is in talks with South Korean panel manufacturers to jointly develop a screen technology that will completely change the appearance of the iPhone. The plan is to introduce a true four - sided fully curved OLED display for the 2028 iPhone models and adopt a brand - new transparent electrode technology. (Star Finance)
Compiled by | Jiatong Xu