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Chinese EV battery giant CATL posts 33% surge in Q1 profit
Chinese EV battery giant CATL posts 33% surge in Q1 profit
by  AFP

The world's leading maker of electric vehicle batteries, Chinese firm CATL, posted a 32.9 percent jump in first quarter profit, even as demand for electric vehicles slows. Net profit in the first quarter was up 32.9 percent year-on-year to 13.96 billion yuan ($1.91 billion), according to a statement CATL released on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange Monday.

China's economy likely grew 5.1% in Q1 on export surge: AFP poll
China's economy likely grew 5.1% in Q1 on export surge: AFP poll
by  AFP

China is expected to post first-quarter growth of around five percent on Wednesday, buoyed by exporters rushing to stave off higher US tariffs but still weighed by sluggish domestic consumption, analysts say. They also expect that to have boosted economic growth in the first quarter.

S. Korea govt plans $4.9 bn more help for semiconductors as US tariff risk bites
S. Korea govt plans $4.9 bn more help for semiconductors as US tariff risk bites
by  AFP

South Korea on Tuesday announced plans to invest an additional $4.9 billion in the country's semiconductor industry, citing "growing uncertainty" over US tariffs. South Korea's finance ministry said "growing uncertainty" following rounds of US tariff threats had left the powerful industry clamouring for government support.

LVMH sales dip as Trump tariffs dent luxury tastes
LVMH sales dip as Trump tariffs dent luxury tastes
by  AFP

Luxury giant LVMH saw sales fall two percent to 20.3 billion euros ($23 billion) in the first quarter of 2025 as US President Donald Trump's tariffs shook the global economy, the company said on Monday. The group behind Loewe and Dior likewise saw its worldwide fashion and leather goods revenue fall by four percent in the first quarter to 10.1 billion euros.

Man charged over Tesla arson as anti-Musk wave sweeps US
Man charged over Tesla arson as anti-Musk wave sweeps US
by  AFP

A man who allegedly torched two vehicles at a Tesla dealership and painted "Die Elon" on the side of the building has been hit with federal charges, the US Department of Justice said Monday. If convicted of the two counts of malicious damage or destruction of property by fire or explosives, he could be jailed for up to 20 years on each count, the Department of Justice said.

Goldman Sachs profits rise on strong equity trading results
Goldman Sachs profits rise on strong equity trading results
by  AFP

Goldman Sachs reported Monday higher first-quarter profits on strength in equity trading, offsetting a hit from losses in investments on public stock markets. Revenues tied to equity trading soared 27 percent from the year-ago level, with Goldman benefiting from strong demand for its services to facilitate trading and providing financing to clients trading stocks.

Nvidia to build supercomputer chips entirely in US for first time
Nvidia to build supercomputer chips entirely in US for first time
by  AFP

Nvidia on Monday announced plans to build top-end artificial intelligence supercomputer chips entirely in the United States for the first time. "The engines of the world's AI infrastructure are being built in the United States for the first time," Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang said in the blog post.

Argentine peso depreciates after exchange controls lifted
Argentine peso depreciates after exchange controls lifted
by  AFP

Argentina's currency dropped 8.4 percent against the US dollar as markets opened in Buenos Aires Monday, after the partial lifting of exchange controls in place for six years. "Everyone is waiting to see what happens," a trader told AFP. There are fears that loosening exchange controls could fuel inflation, which has dropped under Milei from 211 percent in 2023 to 118 percent last year.

China warns UK against 'politicising' steel furnaces rescue
China warns UK against 'politicising' steel furnaces rescue
by  AFP

Beijing on Monday warned against "politicising" the rescue of Chinese-owned British Steel, as the UK government raced to secure raw materials to keep the country's remaining steelmaking blast furnaces running. He added the government is "confident in securing the supply of materials needed" to keep running the two blast furnaces at the plant -- the last in the UK which makes steel from scratch.