New share listings by Chinese technology firms in Hong Kong have delivered above-average returns on their debuts so far in 2026, as investors faced with a challenging macro environment bet on Beijing’s push for technology self-reliance. Graphics processing unit (GPU) maker Shanghai Biren Technology, semiconductor maker OmniVision Integrated Circuit Group and three others rose by an average of 30 p...
New share listings by Chinese technology firms in Hong Kong have delivered above-average returns on their debuts so far in 2026, as investors faced with a challenging macro environment bet on Beijing’s push for technology self-reliance. Graphics processing unit (GPU) maker Shanghai Biren Technology, semiconductor maker OmniVision Integrated Circuit Group and three others rose by an average of 30 per cent on their debuts, beating the 24 per cent return of the 11 total initial public offerings (IPOs) on the city’s stock market this year. The outperformance underlines that the tech self-reliance trade is extending its momentum into 2026 – the first year of China’s latest five-year development plan, which emphasises artificial intelligence and other cutting-edge technologies. Advertisement Chasing tech IPOs would help institutional investors gain more exposure to sectors like AI and advanced manufacturing, thanks to an abundance of companies seeking listings this year, according to market participants including global index compiler FTSE Russell and Futu Securities. “Accessing investor capital will help drive the expected growth in these markets,” said Indrani De, head of global investment research at FTSE. “Chinese companies may have more listings in Hong Kong, in addition to the onshore market and dual listing with other exchanges. These could provide interesting opportunities for investors to gain exposure to new companies without having a significant impact on exposure to established companies.” Advertisement Buying into Chinese tech stocks or IPOs may be a safe bet for investors thanks to policy support and growth prospects at a time when the macro dynamics are growing less favourable to risk assets. China’s growth is showing signs of slowing down, pummelled by sluggish consumer spending and perennial declines in home prices. A record-setting increase in gold prices indicates that geopolitical tensions remain an overhang even though the US dropped a tariff threat a...
The Singapore dollar climbed to its strongest level since October 2014 versus the greenback amid safe-haven flows, and with the nation’s central bank expected to leave its policy settings unchanged this week. The Asian currency gained 0.3% to 1.2684 as the US dollar came under renewed pressure on speculation about potential US involvement in Japanese foreign-exchange intervention. The Monetary Aut...
The Singapore dollar climbed to its strongest level since October 2014 versus the greenback amid safe-haven flows, and with the nation’s central bank expected to leave its policy settings unchanged this week. The Asian currency gained 0.3% to 1.2684 as the US dollar came under renewed pressure on speculation about potential US involvement in Japanese foreign-exchange intervention. The Monetary Authority of Singapore is expected to leave its exchange-rate settings unchanged at its meeting on Thursday as core inflation remains steady . Rather than using interest rates as its main policy tool, the MAS focuses on the currency’s nominal effective exchange rate — referred to as S$NEER — which it allows to move within a policy band. Investors have been attracted to Singapore in recent years for its dividend-heavy stock market, AAA-rated bonds and relatively predictable government policy. The benchmark Straits Times Index is trading at a record high and the local dollar is up about 6% over the last 12 months.
Planet Labs just signed a nine-figure deal with the Swedish Armed Forces. Geopolitical relationships, defense and military needs, and climate monitoring are just a few of the important use cases for real-time Earth data. This is a problem Planet Labs PBC (PL +3.82%) is solving with its large fleet of satellite constellations. Expand NYSE : PL Planet Labs PBC Today's Change ( 3.82 %) $ 0.99 Current...
Planet Labs just signed a nine-figure deal with the Swedish Armed Forces. Geopolitical relationships, defense and military needs, and climate monitoring are just a few of the important use cases for real-time Earth data. This is a problem Planet Labs PBC (PL +3.82%) is solving with its large fleet of satellite constellations. Expand NYSE : PL Planet Labs PBC Today's Change ( 3.82 %) $ 0.99 Current Price $ 27.05 Key Data Points Market Cap $8.5B Day's Range $ 25.18 - $ 27.73 52wk Range $ 2.79 - $ 30.90 Volume 450K Avg Vol 12M Gross Margin 57.95 % Planet's stock launched into space Planet Labs' stock skyrocketed recently on a solid quarterly earnings report and the news of a deal it struck with Sweden's military. The contract is reportedly a multiyear, nine-figure deal. Planet Labs' stock is up 28% year to date as of Jan. 21, and 468% in the past year. Planet Labs operates on a subscription basis, offering clients access to its satellite data. The company is gaining traction, as the Sweden deal is its third major satellite services contract in the past 12 months. In Planet Labs's third-quarter fiscal 2026 earnings, the company also showed impressive growth. Revenue hit a record $81 million for the quarter, and the backlog has increased to $734 million. The backlog grew 216% year of year. More than 80% of the company's contracts are multiyear, which suggests revenue growth should continue steadily for several years. While geopolitical instability can drive demand for Planet Labs' satellite data, it might also hinder it. For example, while tensions were running high among European allies and the U.S. over Greenland, Planet Labs' shares responded negatively. Regulatory and political pressures could potentially adversely affect Planet. The company's greatest strengths are multiyear government and agency contracts and its ability to provide real-time, daily Earth imagery. The company also sells AI-driven insights, and its data is machine-learning-ready. Planet's competitive...
Google ’s Gemini is rapidly gaining traction in South Korea , which has become the second largest paid subscription market for the generative artificial intelligence service. South Korea generated 11.4 per cent of Gemini’s global cumulative revenue on Apple ’s app store – about US$21 million – ranking second only to the United States at 23.7 per cent, according to digital analytics firm Sensor Tow...
Google ’s Gemini is rapidly gaining traction in South Korea , which has become the second largest paid subscription market for the generative artificial intelligence service. South Korea generated 11.4 per cent of Gemini’s global cumulative revenue on Apple ’s app store – about US$21 million – ranking second only to the United States at 23.7 per cent, according to digital analytics firm Sensor Tower on Sunday. While South Korea ranked only 17th in downloads, its revenue per download was the highest among major markets, underscoring strong profitability. Advertisement This growth trend has accelerated with the launch of Gemini 3 in November last year. The latest version enhanced reasoning ability, multimodal understanding and overall usability, allowing the tool to be used for research, writing and problem solving without needing complex prompts. Gemini’s user base has expanded sharply since the launch. Compared with levels before the version’s launch in November, daily active users in South Korea have surged by 103.7 per cent, the highest growth rate among major markets. Job seekers look at their smartphones while during an employment fair in Seoul. Photo: AFP