Markets

Meituan reported strong Q1 2025 earnings, with total revenue reaching RMB 86.6 billion ($12.2 billion), driven by its ultra-fast delivery service Instashopping hitting 500 million users. Millennials (18-34) constitute 55% of users, fueling a 135% YoY surge in daily FMCG orders and 88% growth in electronics sales. The company invested RMB 5.8 billion in AI logistics optimization and plans a $14.1 billion three-year initiative for supply chain innovation and drone networks, aligning with China’s goal to achieve RMB 4 trillion instant retail GMV by 2027. CEO Wang Xing highlighted real-time delivery as reshaping consumer expectations.

COSCIENS Biopharma faces activist pressure as investors Goodwood Fund and Puccetti Funds Management nominate six board directors, signaling a push for strategic changes. The firm, known for plant-based innovations in skincare (e.g., Aveeno’s oat compounds) and diagnostics like macimorelin, is evaluating the proposal amid scrutiny over its clinical trial pace, particularly for its cholesterol drug candidate. Balancing cosmeceutical growth with pharmaceutical ambitions, COSCIENS confronts investor demands for accelerated commercialization and governance reforms. Challenges include trial uncertainties for its growth hormone diagnostic and market pressures, with leadership decisions likely to shape its trajectory in competitive biopharma markets.

A viral video showing Huawei’s Richard Yu briefly lowering his head while driving an AITO M8 SUV (Level 2 autonomy) reignited debates on driver-assistance system safety. Shenzhen authorities stressed drivers must remain attentive, with full liability for accidents during assisted operation. Huawei’s car unit and AITO reiterated Level 2 systems require continuous manual control. Analysts highlighted consumer confusion over ADAS limitations despite automakers’ marketing, as regulators globally warn these technologies demand constant supervision. The incident underscores risks of misaligned tech ambitions and lagging user education, with the autonomous vehicle market projected to hit $2.3T by 2030 amid regulatory challenges.

At Computex 2025, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang repositioned the company as an AI infrastructure architect, unveiling advancements in consumer GPUs, data center solutions, industrial metaverse tools, and robotics. Key highlights included the Blackwell architecture for AI training/inference and Isaac GR00T N1.5, a foundation model for humanoid robots. Huang emphasized physical AI as the next industrial revolution, citing partnerships with firms like Boston Dynamics and Morgan Stanley’s projection of a $60T humanoid market by 2050. NVIDIA aims to dominate through its full-stack ecosystem, bridging AI models, autonomous systems, and simulation tools to power smart factories and cities. (100 words)

Axcap Ventures (CSE: AXCP) acquired Carlyle Commodities’ Newton Gold Project in British Columbia for up to $8 million, gaining full ownership of the 23,003-hectare property with an inferred resource of 843,000 oz gold and 4.5 million oz silver. The deal includes $500,000 cash, 3.75 million shares, and warrants for Carlyle, plus performance-based incentives tied to resource expansion and feasibility milestones. A 2% net smelter royalty includes an option for Axcap to buy back half for $2 million. The acquisition positions Axcap to explore the underexplored Cariboo region amid high gold prices, though challenges include low 0.64 g/t grades and potential shareholder dilution. Initial drilling results are expected in late 2025.

WeChat Pay has introduced major fee reductions for international users to enhance China’s cashless economy. New policies waive the 3% transaction fee for first-time overseas cardholders on purchases under 1,000 RMB ($138) daily for 60 days, and eliminate fees entirely for transactions below 200 RMB. The initiative supports seven global payment networks, covering 92% of foreign cardholders, and aligns with Beijing’s push to improve payment accessibility for tourists. Analysts link the move to China’s $1.2 trillion tourism recovery and efforts to capture projected $156 billion in foreign visitor spending in 2024. WeChat’s streamlined verification enables cross-border authentication in under 90 seconds, with trials showing a 215% surge in foreign transactions.

Lenovo SSG emerged as China’s top IT services provider in H2 2024, surpassing revenue and growth targets two years early through AI-driven strategies. Its transformative “Sunrise East” plan and proprietary Daybreak Engine technology fueled hybrid AI solutions, enabling intelligent enterprise upgrades. IDC data shows accelerated market performance, driven by Lenovo’s managed services dominance and AaaS innovations. Strategic frameworks like “One Engine, Three Arrows” and rapid deployment models reduced smart city development costs by 70% for clients. With 4,400 service stations nationwide, Lenovo aims to onboard 1 million SMEs to its AI ecosystem by 2025, positioning itself as a leader in China’s AI-as-a-Service transition.

A viral video of Huawei’s Richard Yu in an AITO M8, appearing momentarily distracted while driving, has sparked debates on autonomous vehicle safety and driver responsibility. Captured in Beijing on May 26, the footage shows a bystander questioning Yu’s alertness, prompting mixed social media reactions—some defending his workload, others speculating about technology testing. Analysts link the incident to Huawei’s push in China’s competitive EV market, where its cars claimed 12% of Q1 2024 new energy sales. Amid warnings from safety experts about required driver supervision for ADAS systems, the publicity may benefit Huawei’s automotive division, projected to see 40% revenue growth to $2.8 billion this year.

TotalEnergies launched oil production from its Mero-4 phase in Brazil’s pre-salt Santos Basin, bolstering its low-carbon strategy. The offshore project, linked to the 180,000 b/d Alexandre de Gusmão FPSO, employs emissions-reduction technologies like gas reinjection. Combined with existing units, Mero’s total output reaches 770,000 b/d. TotalEnergies’ stake is expected to deliver 100,000 boe/d. Operated by the Libra Consortium (Petrobras, TotalEnergies, Shell, CNPC, CNOOC, and Pré-Sal Petróleo), the project aligns with the company’s 3% annual production growth target by 2030. TotalEnergies also emphasized Brazil’s role in its renewables expansion, including a 12 GW solar/wind joint venture, balancing hydrocarbon growth with sustainability goals.

Geely Chairman Li Shufu asserts China’s EV startups heavily rely on talent poached from Geely, calling the company “the cradle of China’s automotive talent.” During a CNBC interview, Li highlighted Geely’s global tech acquisitions and partnerships as key to building its talent ecosystem. Industry analysts note ex-Geely executives now hold leadership roles at Xpeng, WM Motors, Xiaomi Auto, and Baoneng, underscoring intensifying competition for automotive intellectual capital. While Geely expands globally through brands like Lotus and Polestar, questions arise about whether its talent-cultivation strategy ensures lasting innovation or risks draining expertise amid EV sector volatility. Q2 employment data may provide critical insights.