Finance news

Frugal, childless Chinese couple who split US$2.5 meals leave US$735,000 to sick children

A late childless couple in China donated five million yuan (US$735,000) to help 455 children with congenital heart disease, despite living an extremely frugal life themselves. The couple’s story was revealed at a charity exhibition late last month in Shanghai, according to the news website The Paper. Du Yingrong passed away in 2018 at the age of 81, while his wife, Lu Suying, died last year at the age of 92. Before their deaths, Du was a retired teacher, and Lu was a retired doctor from the same

isn't it Unfair that Apple with so much less infrastructure is worth ≈4 trillion $ ,while Samsung with a massive infrastructure is just worth ≈ 1 trillion $

​ yes, many of you would argue that it's about the company's vision etc etc. But Samsung also has a wide and futuristic vision, and covers fields such as Consumer electronics, smartphones, tablets, laptops, desktop computers, televisions, monitors, home appliances, semiconductors, memory chips, processors (SoCs), foundry services, display panels (OLED/QLED/LCD), batteries, energy storage systems, telecommunications equipment, 5G/6G infrastructure, artificial intelligence, robotics, software deve

South Korea Charges Refiners With Gas Price Gouging

South Korean prosecutors have charged all four refiners in the country with collusion on fuel prices that resulted in $17 billion in harm, Reuters has reported, citing the Korean authorities. According to a media briefing by the lead prosecutor in the case, two refiners had coordinated on the size and timing of fuel price increases after the war between the United States and Israel, and Iran broke out at the end of February. In addition to the companies, the prosecutors also charged four employe

Why Iran may find it difficult to clear its oil inventories even after sanctions relief

Iran may face challenges in clearing oil inventories even after restrictions have been lifted, amid oil supplies elsewhere while China becomes less enthusiastic

Morning Briefing Podcast: Economic situation: Germany in the growth trap / Porsche: The broom sweeps from above and below

The German economy is becoming less and less innovative. The country is in danger of losing touch in the medium term. The Black-Red reform package is unlikely to change much - although there are suggestions.

Nikkei, Yen, Hang Seng: Chip values ​​boost Asia's stock markets - Nikkei is weakening

Hopes for strong US quarterly figures, falling oil prices and the ongoing AI boom created a buying mood - technology stocks in South Korea in particular rose sharply.

Credit card fraud: Public prosecutor indicts ex-Unzer boss and Wirecard manager

“Operation Chargeback” is one of the largest criminal proceedings in Germany: a network is said to have defrauded millions of credit card holders. Lawyers for several of the accused reject the allegations.

Energy: Reiche breaks agreement with Schneider - and helps water down the methane regulation to the majority

The economics minister has promised Germany's vote for the suspension of the EU regulation - although she was probably not allowed to do so. The question is whether oil and gas will otherwise run out.

Education chief argues students must master technology, not be disconnected from it

As Hong Kong marks the 29th anniversary of its return to Chinese rule on July 1, the South China Morning Post talks to the city’s senior officials about the administration’s achievements so far and what may lie ahead. Hong Kong students should not be barred from using technology and electronic devices simply because they do not know how to use them responsibly, the city’s education minister has said, arguing that the next generation must learn to navigate the digital era. Secretary for Education

Trend district 2026: “It wasn’t worth waiting” – that’s how critical the situation on the Cologne real estate market is

There is a shortage of more apartments in the cathedral city than in almost any other metropolis. In some parts of the city there are opportunities for buyers despite high prices.

Can you afford it?: Do you have to support yourself? Why career choices are now less free

Anyone who is obliged to support minor children cannot simply cut back on their career. Why this is the case and what other special features those affected should know.

Questions from labor law: Boss wants a change to the contract: Do I have to sign?

The employer demands more tasks or less salary? Why you should never simply accept a contract change - and when there is a risk of termination.

Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis university town tender to launch in 2 months

As Hong Kong marks the 29th anniversary of its return to Chinese rule on July 1, the South China Morning Post talks to the city’s senior officials about the administration’s achievements so far and what may lie ahead. The first tender for the university town in Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis will be launched in two months, with successful bidders to be announced after the site formation of the plot is completed by the end of this year, the education minister has revealed. Secretary for...

Big Tech’s $3 Trillion Struggle to Secure Enough Electricity

For most of modern history, oil was the world’s most valuable resource. It powered industrial growth, decided wars, reshaped geopolitics, and created the largest corporations in history. Then oil lost its crown. Data replaced it as the world’s dominant asset. The companies that learned to collect, process, and monetize information - Apple, Google, Amazon, Microsoft - became the most valuable enterprises the world had ever seen. But that era is now over. Data has become abundant, and the world’s

Five Energy Stocks Riding Texas's Data Center Power Boom

Fly into Abilene, Amarillo or Midland this year and you'll see the buildout before you land: cranes over half-finished turbine halls, miles of freshly trenched pipeline right-of-way, and fenced-off scrubland that a year ago grew nothing but mesquite and cotton. Texas has become the epicenter of America's AI data center boom, and unlike a lot of things AI, the money behind it is already spent, not just promised. ERCOT, the grid operator that runs most of the state's power market, now projects ele

OPEC+ raises output levels again despite tumbling crude prices

Major oil producers on Sunday agreed once again to modestly increase their crude production, although, as in previous months, the hike is largely symbolic until a peace deal between the U.S. and Iran sticks and the Strait of Hormuz is fully reopened to shipping traffic.

The Era of Cheap U.S. Natural Gas May Be Coming to an End

U.S. natural gas prices are set to rise through 2035, following a decade of low Henry Hub prices, as the AI data center boom and the expansion of U.S. LNG export infrastructure will underpin strong demand, analysts at Wood Mackenzie say. During the decade to 2025, the benchmark U.S. Henry Hub prices remained in a narrow range of between $2 per million British thermal units (MMBtu) $4 per MMBtu, thanks to the surge in U.S. gas production as operators invested in standalone gas plays and boosted a

The Trump 702 deregulation plan dropped Friday. I ranked which tickers will likely benefit from it

So the White House published its regulatory agenda Friday. 702 rules on the chopping block, biggest semiannual list ever, claiming $1.5 trillion in savings. I went down a Federal Register rabbit hole this weekend and the picture is more interesting than that. The catch nobody will mention: most of that $1.5T is already done. About $1.3T of it comes from killing the endangerment finding, which happened back in February. The NEPA environmental review regs got gutted between January and April. Frid

BP weighs quitting offshore wind farm project in northern Japan

Starmer Out, Burnham In: What Changes for UK Energy Policy?

With Kier Starmer stepping down as the United Kingdom’s Prime Minister (PM), it looks increasingly likely that Andy Burnham, who is known as the “King of the North”, will take his place as the leader of the Labour Party and PM in July. The Member of Parliament for the northern English constituency of Makerfield has significant political experience, having served as Mayor of Greater Manchester, but what are his plans for British energy? Burnham has a long history in politics, serving as Shadow Ho

Europe's Hottest June on Record Traced to Climate Change

Many countries across Europe have experienced the hottest June on record, as heatwaves sweep the region. Countries in Northern Europe that are not used to weeks of 30°C-plus heat are suffering due to a lack of air conditioning and buildings ill-prepared for such heat. Over 1,300 people died during the June heatwaves, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), demonstrating the severity of the issue. Now, a recent study shows that climate change, as suspected, is to blame for the high temp

AfD party conference: Thousands of people protest against the AfD - top duo confirmed

Tens of thousands of people protested against the AfD. The delegates in the room see little of this. They confirm their leadership duo.

Market Insight: Why the ECB researchers are so often wrong with their inflation forecasts

The ECB experts incorporate price data from the crude oil futures markets into their inflation forecast. However, a recent analysis shows how error-prone this method is.

Hong Kong police seize HK$120m of cocaine hidden in 3-tonne metal containers

Police have seized about HK$120 million (US$15.4 million) worth of suspected cocaine hidden inside three heavy-metal containers at a warehouse in northern Hong Kong, arresting three men. Officers raided a 3,000 sq ft tin‑sheet warehouse on Kung Um Road in Yuen Long on Friday night and found three men using tools to cut open two of the containers, Senior Inspector Lam Pak‑kiu of the narcotics bureau said on Sunday. Each container measured about 1.6 metres long, one metre wide and 0.35 metres...

F.A.Z. exclusive: Less new burdens for those with health insurance than originally planned

Shortly before it is passed, the coalition changes the austerity law: the burdens for family insurance and additional payments will be lower. The federal government and especially the pharmaceutical industry will be more heavily prosecuted than previously planned.

Energy: Opec+ wants to pump more oil into the market

The oil cartel is expanding its production step by step. But it doesn’t have to stay that way, emphasizes OPEC+. The market situation should determine how to proceed.

Berkshire Hathaway’s multibillion-dollar buy of Taylor Morrison to boost US housing market

Berkshire Hathaway’s all-cash acquisition of home builder Taylor Morrison for US$6.8 billion is likely to trigger more investment in the US housing market, as institutional confidence in the segment encourages more home purchases in the world’s largest economy by local and overseas buyers, according to analysts. The US-based conglomerate made the investment in May, deepening its bet on the US residential property market. It marked the first multibillion-dollar acquisition under CEO and president

Raw materials: OPEC plus will expand oil production again from August

Oil prices have reached their pre-war levels. Nevertheless, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries will expand its production targets again from August.

‘Cheers should have limits’: Chinese province calls foul on fans of Japan World Cup team

A provincial propaganda department has accused some Chinese football fans of using the Japanese team’s success at the World Cup to denigrate China’s squad, suggesting their behaviour had come close to crossing a line. In an online post on Friday, “Zhejiang Propaganda”, a social media account affiliated with the Zhejiang provincial publicity department, said that while Chinese fans could appreciate the skills of other teams, their support should have “boundaries”. “The current controversy shows..

Santos Secures 10-Year Deal to Supply Gas to South Australia

'This agreement will support the government's visionary South Australian Strategic Gas Reserve that will help ensure South Australia's industrial future and energy security, including the planned sale and transformation of the Whyalla Steelworks'.