China

Autohome Inc. (ATHM; 2518.HK) will release its Q3 2025 financial results on November 6, 2025, before U.S. markets open. A conference call will be held at 7:00 AM ET. Analysts are focusing on the company’s performance in a changing Chinese automotive market, including the effectiveness of its AI content strategy and the success of Autohome Mall. A live and archived webcast will be available at https://ir.autohome.com.cn. Autohome is adapting to increased EV adoption and competition, striving to diversify its revenue beyond advertising.

This report highlights China’s focus on domestic consumption and technological self-reliance. It also examines emerging government influence in the U.S. economy, including a stake in Intel and Trump’s pardon of Binance founder Changpeng Zhao. These actions raise questions about a potential shift towards a more interventionist economic model in the U.S. under President Trump. Other key points include Intel’s strong earnings, S&P 500 gains, and dividend stocks as an investment focus. Finally, it notes Moscow’s muted reaction to Trump’s changed stance on Russia.

China urges resource-rich nations to stabilize critical mineral supply chains amid the U.S.-Australia accord aimed at countering China’s rare earth dominance. The agreement, valued at $8.5 billion, follows China’s stricter export controls on rare earths, vital for modern technologies. Experts predict surging demand driven by clean energy transition. China holds a dominant 60% share of global rare earth production, raising U.S. concerns. Australian rare earth stocks showed mixed trading, reflecting market’s cautious optimism amid complexities in a politicized sector.

Apple’s iPhone 17 series, including the standard, Pro (“Cosmic Orange” hue), and Air models, has seen strong initial sales, particularly in China, boosting Apple’s stock. Counterpoint Research indicates the series is outpacing its predecessor. Elsewhere, Amazon Web Services experienced an outage, but Amazon’s stock remained positive. The U.S. market closed in the green, with investors monitoring upcoming trade developments and earnings reports. In other news, Trump urged Ukraine to cede territory to Russia after a tense meeting with Zelenskyy.

Apple’s stock surged nearly 4% to a record high, driven by strong early iPhone 17 sales in the US and China, surpassing its predecessor by 14%. Analysts attribute this success to upgraded features, strategic pricing, and advancements in AI integration powered by the A20 chip. Loop Capital upgraded Apple’s stock, raising the price target to $315, citing underestimated long-term growth potential. The successful iPhone Air launch in China further boosts investor confidence. Analysts anticipate strong September quarter results, fueled by iPhone momentum. Despite earlier volatility, Apple’s stock has rebounded strongly, signaling renewed investor confidence.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Bessent stated that the U.S. is considering industrial policy, including price floors, in response to China’s dominance and unfair pricing in the rare earth minerals market. This aims to protect domestic industries. Meanwhile, Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan Chase and Goldman Sachs reported strong earnings, fueling investor optimism despite U.S.-China trade tensions. The market’s future hinges on upcoming earnings from tech giants like Tesla and Intel.

U.S. stocks rose Thursday, boosted by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing’s (TSMC) optimistic revenue forecast, offsetting concerns about escalating U.S.-China trade tensions. TSMC’s strong earnings, driven by demand for AI-related high-performance computing, benefited Nvidia and Broadcom. Starbucks also gained on positive China valuation revisions, while Salesforce surged following a bullish analyst presentation highlighting AI integration and CRM market share growth.

Honor is aggressively pursuing AI integration in its smartphones, aiming to become a top-three brand in China. Its new AI features, debuting on the Magic8, allow users to compare prices and find deals across e-commerce platforms, saving money. Honor is investing heavily in AI, envisioning a future where AI becomes the primary user interface, offering personalized services. Collaborations with Alibaba and others support this strategy, enabling features like smart photo suggestions and voice-activated taxi hailing. Honor’s long-term goal is to connect businesses with consumers via AI.

Singapore is investigating AI computing firm Megaspeed, an Nvidia customer, for potentially helping Chinese companies evade U.S. export restrictions on advanced semiconductors. The U.S. Commerce Department is also reportedly investigating Megaspeed. These probes focus on Nvidia’s oversight of its AI chip sales to China. Concerns exist about loopholes in export controls, use of Southeast Asian data centers, and a black market for smuggled chips. Malaysia now requires permits for Nvidia chip exports. The case highlights the balance between economic interests, national security, and global competition.

Qualcomm’s shares dipped following China’s announcement of an investigation into its Autotalks acquisition for potential anti-monopoly violations. This probe, initiated by China’s SAMR, occurs amid heightened US-China tensions and ahead of crucial diplomatic talks. It follows similar scrutiny of Nvidia and tightened export restrictions on rare earth elements. The investigation raises concerns about Qualcomm’s business in China, potentially disrupting its supply chain and competitive advantage. Analysts view China’s actions as strategic moves to gain leverage in trade negotiations and assert regulatory authority in the tech sector.