Apple iPhone sales are down 25% in China and Pavel Durov, the Founder of Telegram, has noted that his app is the #1 most downloaded mobile app in China on Android (according to Google Play) - despite being blocked and the need to use a VPN to access it. He added: Unlike iPhones, most Android phones allow sideloading apps outside app stores — such as the direct version of Telegram (https://telegram.org/android) — so more users from China will migrate to Android. Once again, Apple shot itself in the foot with its centralized “walled garden” app policies. As a result of this change, the iPhone m ..read more

As of the end of April, more new monthly or Q1 factsheets, commentaries, webinars or research have become available with various stock mentions: ? Asia Frontier Capital has given their Asian Frontier Markets Update 25th April 2024 (59:56 Minutes) and various frontier market stocks were covered: 0:00 Thomas Hugger - Introduction; 02:04 Ruchir Desai – AFC… Read more ..read more

Even if you don’t want to invest in a Chinese tech or eCommerce stock, you need to keep an eye on them along with other non-US tech and eCommerce stocks. Last year, I wrote about some non-US-based eCommerce or delivery platform stocks: Making Sense of Delivery Platform Stock Metrics and Financials Delivery platform stocks Grab, GoTo, Sea Group, DeliveryHero, Uber, DoorDash, Pinduoduo & Meituan use different financial and reporting metrics - making it hard for investors to make sense of them. The one Chinese stock that needs to be watched in particular is PDD Holdings (NASDAQ: PDD) w ..read more

China has its share of perma-bulls and perma-bears (the coming collapse of China crowd…), but Steno Research has issued a report (mostly behind a paywall) noting: China is preparing for something major. That seems increasingly obvious judging from the stockpiling of important resources. Could it be that they are preparing a major one-off devaluation of the CNY? Of course, the conspiracy theorists and China bears have other ideas about what China might be preparing for... Then there is this meme posted in a reply to the Steno Research tweet about their piece that sums up the current state of ..read more

There are a number of new monthly or Q1 factsheets, commentaries, webinars or research available with stock picks plus these recent trip reports: Asia Frontier Capital has this trip report that discussed conglomerate Vingroup Jsc (HOSE: VIC), its EV subsidiary VinFast Auto Ltd. (NASDAQ: VFS) and Phu Nhuan Jewelry (HOSE: PNJ): Vietnam Growth Story Intact … Read more ..read more

moneycontrol is India's leading financial and business portal who does short (roughly 4 minute) Stock of the Day video pitches about Indian stock picks. Indian stocks featured in their March Stock of the Day videos (from newest to oldest) and covered in this post include: Bosch Ltd, Coal India, Ami Organics, Coforge, Shivalik Bimetal Controls Ltd, Aditya Birla Capital, Protean eGov Technologies Ltd, NTPC Ltd, Metro Brands, Vijaya Diagnostic Centre, Ramkrishna Forgings Ltd, Balaji Amines Ltd, Control Print, Sirca Paints, V Guard Industries Ltd, Cyient & Aavas Financiers General elections ar ..read more

There is more conflicting China data, information, or propaganda depending on how you look at it. On one hand, USA-based Fitch has revised their outlook on China to negative while the FT has reported that Chinese capital markets activity has fallen to multi-decade lows ?️. On the other hand, the 2024 Kearney FDI Confidence Index has China back in the third spot while industrial metal prices have jumped as investors bet on rising China demand ?️ (“Zinc, copper and nickel outperform stocks as signs of resurgent demand add to fears about supply constraints…”). Then there is this which will never ..read more

CMB International Capital Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of China Merchants Bank (HKG: 3968 / SHA: 600036 / OTCMKTS: CIHKY / OTCMKTS: CIHHF) - one of the largest banking groups and the largest privately-owned bank in China. They come out with (and post on their website) a steady stream of free research pieces - namely China and Hong Kong stock picks (see our front page for a full list of TAGS for our EM Stock Pick Tear Sheets) Stocks covered during the month of March and in this post include: SANY International, BYD Electronic International, ZhongAn Online P & C Insurance Co, New ..read more

For those interested in nearshoring or friendshoring, FT just had an interesting podcast (A surprising winner in the US-China chip wars - How Malaysia is making the most of the rivals’ battle for global tech supremacy) while the NY Times had a piece about Costa Rica (Is This the Silicon Valley of Latin America? ?️ - Now Costa Rica is positioning itself to become a major hub outside Asia for packaging and testing microchips…). I don’t know much about Costa Rica, but I do know that the FT (as a corporate mainstream media outlet…) completely left out or danced around a number of details concernin ..read more

Holy Week and Easter are over while Ramadan will continue until April 10th. In an interesting piece of recent news, Xi has apparently told American investors that “China is planning and implementing a series of major steps for comprehensively deepening reform” while FT has noted how some of the most troubled emerging markets (like Turkey, Argentina, Egypt, Nigeria and Kenya) are now carrying out radical reforms. Of course, action will speak louder than words and it remains to be seen what China will do… Finally, Thailand is said to be looking at legalizing casino gambling which is predicted to ..read more