옵션 체인은 다양한 행사가격과 만기일에 대한 Tencent Holdings의 주식 옵션 주요 데이터를 보여줍니다. 트레이더들은 이 정보를 사용하여 잠재적 거래를 분석하고 Tencent Holdings에 대한 시장 심리를 평가합니다..

Tencent Holdings (OTC:TCEHY) 주식, 옵션 체인

Tencent Holdings

TENCENT HOLDINGS ADR

Tencent holds a prominent position in China's internet sector, with a diverse portfolio of products and services used daily by a significant portion of the population. The company is the world's largest video game publisher and owns Honor of Kings, a top-grossing mobile game globally. Tencent also operates WeChat, China's largest social media super app, which has become deeply integrated into the daily lives of Chinese people for communication, entertainment, shopping, and more. Beyond its offerings, Tencent is a significant player in global venture capital and investment. The company holds substantial stakes in leading tech companies, including PDD, Kuaishou, and Epic Games.

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미국이 중국의 반도체 및 인공지능(AI) 부문에 대한 투자를 금지한다고 발표하면서, 테슬라(NASDAQ:TSLA)와 해당 지역에서의 운영에 잠재적으로 영향을 미칠 수 있다. 비디오 게임 역사 재단(VGHF)과 소프트웨어 보존 네트워크(SPN)는 절판된 비디오 게임을 보존하고 연구 접근을 허용하기 위한 캠페인에서 큰 좌절을 겪었다.

소비자 기술 뉴스 (10월 28일-11월 1일): 입문용 아이폰 모델 제조 시작, 美는 中 반도체 및 AI 투자 금지 등

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텐센트 홀딩스 ADR(OTC:TCEHY)는 회사 내에서의 해고 및 구조조정 소문을 공식적으로 부인하면서, 최근 리더십 구조의 변화를 인정했다. 이 반응은 내부 이메일이 유출되어 직원들에게 중요한 인사 조정에 대해 알린 후에 나온 것이다.

텐센트, 리더십 재편을 인정하며 대대적인 감원 소문은 부인

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루퍼트 머독의 다우 존스와 뉴욕 포스트가 제프 베이조스가 지원하는 인공지능(AI) 회사 퍼플렉시티(Perplexity)를 상대로 콘텐츠 무단 사용과 자사 플랫폼으로의 트래픽 전환을 이유로 법적 절차를 개시했다.

소비자 기술 뉴스 (10월 21일-10월 25일): 애플, 비전 프로 헤드셋 생산 축소 전망 및 넷플릭스 등

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Tencent Holdings Ltd

The United States has announced a ban on investments in China's semiconductor and AI sectors, potentially affecting Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/10/41599095/team-bidens-ban-on-china-tech-investments-could-impact-teslas-ai-plans-report" rel="noreferrer noopener">and its operations in the region</a>.
The&nbsp;Video Game History Foundation&nbsp;(VGHF) and the&nbsp;Software Preservation Network&nbsp;faced a major setback in their ongoing campaign to preserve and grant research access to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/gaming/24/10/41583968/us-copyright-office-blocks-game-preservation-bid-thousands-of-classic-titles-critically-endangered" rel="noreferrer noopener">out-of-print&nbsp;video games</a>.
With the U.S. 2024 presidential election just days away, Vice President&nbsp;Kamala Harris&nbsp;is making a unique play to connect with gamers—an audience often <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/gaming/24/10/41587554/kamala-harris-connects-with-gamers-via-fortnite-in-final-campaign-countdown" rel="noreferrer noopener">sidelined in&nbsp;political campaigns</a>.
Earnings
Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) reported third-quarter revenue of $88.27 billion, up 15% year-over-year, beating the Street consensus estimate of $86.31 billion. EPS of $2.12 exceeded the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/10/41611263/alphabet-q3-earnings-highlights-revenue-beat-eps-beat-google-cloud-up-35-momentum-across-the-compan" rel="noreferrer noopener">Street consensus estimate of $1.84</a>.
Snap Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SNAP#NYSE">SNAP</a>) reported third-quarter revenue of $1.373 billion, beating the&nbsp;consensus estimate&nbsp;of $1.358 billion. Adjusted EPS of 8 cents per share, beating analyst<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/10/41612544/snap-q3-earnings-revenue-beat-eps-beat-500m-buyback-ai-update-and-more" rel="noreferrer noopener"> estimates of 5 cents per share</a>.
Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41618021/snap-touts-new-ad-formats-and-simple-snapchat-10m-users-trial-growth-driving-feature" rel="noreferrer noopener">Snap Touts New Ad Formats And &#8216;Simple Snapchat&#8217; — 10M Users Trial Growth-Driving Feature</a>
Gaming
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6&nbsp;has set a new franchise record for the biggest release ever, with sales on PlayStation and Steam jumping 60 percent compared to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/gaming/24/10/41662426/black-ops-6-shatters-records-call-of-dutys-biggest-launch-drives-60-sales-spike" rel="noreferrer noopener">last year&#8217;s&nbsp;Modern Warfare III</a>.
Tencent Holdings ADR (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TCEHY#OTC">TCEHY</a>) officially denied rumors of layoffs and restructuring within the company, while acknowledging recent <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/gaming/24/10/41609208/tencent-shuts-down-layoff-rumors-while-announcing-major-leadership-shake-up" rel="noreferrer noopener">changes in its&nbsp;leadership structure</a>.
Ubisoft has launched its first blockchain game, Champions Tactics: Grimoria Chronicles, a tactical NFT<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/10/41632648/ubisoft-launches-blockchain-game-with-nfts-priced-as-high-as-64-000" rel="noreferrer noopener"> battler now available on PC</a>.
Sony Group Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SONY#NYSE">SONY</a>) announced the November PlayStation Plus lineup, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/gaming/24/10/41633013/sony-adds-new-death-note-game-to-november-ps-plus" rel="noreferrer noopener">featuring Death Note Killer Within</a>.
Technology
A Russian court has ordered&nbsp;Alphabet Inc.‘s Google&nbsp;to pay a massive fine of $20 decillion for restricting content from Russian media outlets. The fine, which is expected to increase, is&nbsp;a result <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/10/41621390/google-just-got-fined-in-russia-and-its-more-than-the-worlds-gdp-20-decillion-for-blocking-media" rel="noreferrer noopener">of a long-standing legal dispute</a>.
Jim Cramer&nbsp;said that&nbsp;Alphabet plans to increase investments in artificial intelligence infrastructure next year can significantly <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/10/41625103/jim-cramer-says-googles-ai-investment-next-year-should-be-fabulous-for-nvidia" rel="noreferrer noopener">benefit&nbsp;</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/10/41625103/jim-cramer-says-googles-ai-investment-next-year-should-be-fabulous-for-nvidia" rel="noreferrer noopener">NVIDIA Corp </a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/10/41625103/jim-cramer-says-googles-ai-investment-next-year-should-be-fabulous-for-nvidia" rel="noreferrer noopener">(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>)</a>.
Smartphones
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) is all set to&nbsp;integrate the powerful&nbsp;M4&nbsp;processor into its&nbsp;Mac&nbsp;lineup. The new chip will significantly increase core counts compared to its predecessor. This will ensure a marked improvement <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41565581/mac-mini-may-shrink-to-apple-tv-size-as-cupertino-prepares-to-unveil-new-macs-this-week-expect-ai-an" rel="noreferrer noopener">in daily usage from older models</a>.
Apple is working on developing a new smart home display inspired by <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41567694/apple-is-working-on-new-smart-home-display-inspired-by-imac-g4s-design-but-it-could-be-smaller-than" rel="noreferrer noopener">the&nbsp;</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41567694/apple-is-working-on-new-smart-home-display-inspired-by-imac-g4s-design-but-it-could-be-smaller-than" rel="noreferrer noopener">iMac G4's</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41567694/apple-is-working-on-new-smart-home-display-inspired-by-imac-g4s-design-but-it-could-be-smaller-than" rel="noreferrer noopener">&nbsp;design</a>.
The release of iOS 18.1 brought&nbsp;Apple&#8217;s&nbsp;new AI-powered features, known as&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41593651/how-to-unlock-apple-intelligence-on-your-iphone-with-ios-18-1" rel="noreferrer noopener">Apple Intelligence</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41593651/how-to-unlock-apple-intelligence-on-your-iphone-with-ios-18-1" rel="noreferrer noopener">, to iPhone users</a>.
Apple has reportedly initiated initial manufacturing efforts for next year&#8217;s entry-level iPhone model, expected to be named the&nbsp;iPhone 17. For the first time, this early-stage development is taking place in India, moving away from <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/24/10/41616953/apple-wants-to-see-if-it-can-build-iphone-17-from-scratch-in-india-report" rel="noreferrer noopener">Apple&#8217;s traditional reliance on China</a>.
Apple introduced a&nbsp;fresh&nbsp;Mac mini&nbsp;Tuesday featuring the new M4 and M4 Pro chips, compactly engineered to maximize performance within a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41607481/apples-refreshes-mac-mini-smaller-form-factor-m4-chip-power-and-carbon-neutral" rel="noreferrer noopener">smaller 5×5-inch form factor</a>.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Sierra, the AI&nbsp;startup co-founded by former&nbsp;Salesforce co-CEO and&nbsp;OpenAI&nbsp;chairman&nbsp;Bret Taylor,&nbsp;has achieved a valuation of $4.5 billion <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41591558/bret-taylors-ai-startup-sierra-hits-4-5b-valuation-just-a-year-after-launch-openai-chairs-latest-ven" rel="noreferrer noopener">following a successful funding round</a>.
OpenAI&nbsp;CFO&nbsp;Sarah Friar&nbsp;revealed that a monumental 75% of the AI startup&#8217;s revenue comes from consumer <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41593078/openai-reveals-75-of-its-revenue-comes-from-one-service" rel="noreferrer noopener">subscriptions to just one service –&nbsp;</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41593078/openai-reveals-75-of-its-revenue-comes-from-one-service" rel="noreferrer noopener">ChatGPT</a>.
OpenAI&nbsp;announced&nbsp;that its flagship product, ChatGPT, is now capable of crawling the web for up-to-date news, sports scores,<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41663190/openai-rolls-out-chatgpt-search-google-shares-slide" rel="noreferrer noopener"> stock quotes and more</a>.
Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41566623/steve-huffman-says-people-go-on-google-to-land-reddit-results-it-has-answers-advice-perspectives-alp" rel="noreferrer noopener">Steve Huffman Says People Go On Google To Land Reddit Results: It Has &#8216;Answers, Advice, Perspectives&#8217; — Alphabet&#8217;s Search Dominance Under Threat?</a>

Consumer Tech News (Oct 28-Nov 1): Apple Starts Manufacturing Entry-Level iPhone Model, US Bans Investments In China's Semiconductor & AI, & More

Tencent Holdings ADR (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TCEHY#OTC">TCEHY</a>) officially denied rumors of layoffs and restructuring within the company, while acknowledging recent changes in its<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/gaming"> leadership structure. </a>
This response came after an internal email leaked, informing staff about significant personnel adjustments.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Key Leadership Changes</h1>
On Oct. 25, the internal email revealed that Zeng Yu, vice president of Tencent Interactive Entertainment Group (IEG), would no longer lead the technical line of the IEG or the Technology &amp; Content Platform within the Platform and Content Group.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/gaming/24/10/41464208/tencents-delta-force-hawk-ops-open-beta-to-launch-in-december-taking-aim-at-call-of-duty">Tencent&#8217;s Delta Force: Hawk Ops Open Beta To Launch In December, Taking Aim At Call Of Duty</a>
In a <a href="https://www.yicaiglobal.com/news/tencent-denies-rumored-downsizing-at-digital-entertainment-unit-confirms-big-staff-changes">statemen</a>t to Yicai, a Tencent spokesperson clarified that "more than 10 individuals" have been affected by these changes, but the company is not implementing widespread job cuts.
The spokesperson reiterated that Tencent's subsidiary, TiMi Studio Group, which employs around 6,000 people across 13 studios, is actively recruiting new staff. This contradicts earlier reports suggesting the company might merge teams and lay off about 1,200 employees, representing 20% of its workforce.
In addition to addressing rumors about potential job losses, Tencent also denied speculation about a 30% staff cut at its LightSpeed Studios.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Industry Context and Future Prospects</h1>
These leadership changes come at a time when Tencent is reportedly in discussions with Guillemot Brothers Ltd. about strategies to stabilize Ubisoft Entertainment SA (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UBSFF#OTC">UBSFF</a>), which faces <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/gaming/24/09/41053665/ubisoft-faces-challenges-star-wars-outlaws-sales-struggles-assassins-creed-shadows-delay-employee-">several challenges</a>. These talks could lead to a potential buyout of Ubisoft, taking the publisher private.
Price Action: Tencent is currently trading at $53.82, down 0.49% in the past 24 hours, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">according</a> to Benzinga Pro.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/24/10/41356456/tencent-may-join-forces-for-ubisoft-bid">Tencent May Join Forces For Ubisoft Bid</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock.

Tencent Shuts Down Layoff Rumors While Announcing Major Leadership Shake-Up

Rupert Murdoch's Dow Jones and the&nbsp;New York Post have initiated legal proceedings against&nbsp;Jeff Bezos-backed AI firm&nbsp;Perplexity, alleging unauthorized use of their content and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41442679/rupert-murdochs-dow-jones-new-york-post-sue-jeff-bezos-backed-perplexity-for-copyright-infringement" rel="noreferrer noopener">redirection of traffic to its platforms</a>.
Entertainment
Walt Disney Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIS#NYSE">DIS</a>) has ceased allowing customers to subscribe to Hulu and Disney+ via Apple Inc.&#8216;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) App Store, thereby avoiding the iPhone <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/24/10/41443702/disney-and-hulu-stream-away-from-apples-30-toll-bridge-what-it-means-for-the-iphone-maker" rel="noreferrer noopener">maker's in-app purchase fees</a>.
Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFLX#NASDAQ">NFLX</a>) has shut down its Southern California AAA game studio, Team Blue, marking a significant <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/gaming/24/10/41462659/netflix-ends-aaa-game-development-at-california-studio" rel="noreferrer noopener">shift in its&nbsp;gaming ambitions</a>.
Gaming
Ahead of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6's release,&nbsp;Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) Activision has announced a new anti-cheat initiative aimed at removing cheaters from the game within <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/gaming/24/10/41435803/activisions-new-ai-strategy-aims-to-ban-call-of-duty-cheaters-within-one-hour-of-their-first-match" rel="noreferrer noopener">one hour&nbsp;of their first match</a>.
Insomniac Games has announced that&nbsp;Marvel&#8217;s Spider-Man 2&nbsp;will not receive any additional story content, effectively ending fan hopes <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/gaming/24/10/41438398/insomniac-games-confirms-no-additional-story-add-ons-for-marvels-spider-man-2" rel="noreferrer noopener">for&nbsp;downloadable content (DLC)</a>.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/esg/24/10/41426513/plug-power-evgo-enovix-analyst-clean-tech-picks-for-navigating-election-exposure-hedging-uncertainty" rel="noreferrer noopener">Plug Power, EVgo, Enovix: Analyst Clean Tech Picks For Navigating Election Exposure, Hedging Uncertainty</a>
Tencent Holding Ltd. (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TCEHY#OTC">TCEHY</a>) is set to launch the global open beta for Delta Force: Hawk <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/gaming/24/10/41464208/tencents-delta-force-hawk-ops-open-beta-to-launch-in-december-taking-aim-at-call-of-duty" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ops on PC&nbsp;starting December 5</a>.
Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41420451/openais-chinese-cousins-alibaba-and-bytedance-are-slashing-ai-costs-and-defying-us-chip-sanctions-be" rel="noreferrer noopener">OpenAI&#8217;s Chinese Cousins Alibaba, And ByteDance Are Slashing AI Costs And Defying US Chip Sanctions: Beijing&#8217;s Strength Is To &#8216;Build Fast, Build Reliably And Build Cheap&#8217;</a>
Naughty Dog has rolled out significant updates for The Last of Us Part 1 and The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered on <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/gaming/24/10/41466239/naughty-dogs-the-last-of-us-games-prepped-for-ps5-pro-with-4k-support" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sony Group Corporation</a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/gaming/24/10/41466239/naughty-dogs-the-last-of-us-games-prepped-for-ps5-pro-with-4k-support" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">'s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SONY#NYSE">SONY</a>) PlayStation 5</a>.
Technology &amp; Smartphones
QUALCOMM Incorporated (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QCOM#NASDAQ">QCOM</a>) unveiled its latest high-end smartphone SoC, the&nbsp;Snapdragon 8 Elite, which boasts a new Oryon CPU <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41445327/qualcomms-new-chipset-brings-multi-modal-generative-ai-to-android-phones-boosting-competition-with-i" rel="noreferrer noopener">and enhanced AI capabilities</a>.
QUALCOMM has been threatened by Arm Holdings plc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARM#NASDAQ">ARM</a>) with the cancelation of its chip design license, leaving the San Diego-based<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/10/41481425/softbank-backed-arm-threatens-to-cancel-qualcomms-chip-design-license-ahead-of-trial-in-december" rel="noreferrer noopener"> semiconductor giant with 60 days&#8217; notice</a>.
NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) quietly introduced a new AI model, Llama-3.1-Nemotron-70B-Instruct, that has reportedly outperformed <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41422278/nvidias-new-free-open-source-ai-model-reportedly-outperforms-openais-gpt-4o-anthropics-claude-3-5-so" rel="noreferrer noopener">its competitors in benchmark tests</a>.
Indian billionaire&nbsp;Mukesh Ambani joined&nbsp;NVIDIA&#8216;s CEO&nbsp;Jensen Huang for a fireside chat in Mumbai on Thursday as the latter addressed the Nvidia AI Summit India <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/24/10/41509500/nvidia-ceo-jensen-huang-meets-indian-billionaire-mukesh-ambani-duo-forge-partnership-to-build-ai-inf" rel="noreferrer noopener">at the city&#8217;s Jio World Convention Centre</a>.
The duo discussed India&#8217;s information technology industry, which Huang said was world-renowned for its large-scale presence and deep expertise. In the past few years, 200,000 IT professionals have been <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/24/10/41509500/nvidia-ceo-jensen-huang-meets-indian-billionaire-mukesh-ambani-duo-forge-partnership-to-build-ai-inf" rel="noreferrer noopener">upscaled to work with AI</a>.
Chinese tech giant&nbsp;ByteDance Ltd.&nbsp;has dismissed an intern for allegedly disrupting the training of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41422474/tiktok-parent-fires-intern-for-maliciously-interfering-with-ai-training-denies-10m-damage-claims-ami" rel="noreferrer noopener">one of its artificial intelligence models</a>.
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) is reportedly scaling back production of its $3,500 Vision Pro headset, shifting focus <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/gaming/24/10/41499682/apple-to-cut-vision-pro-production-cheaper-model-expected-in-2025-report" rel="noreferrer noopener">toward a more affordable model for 2025</a>.
Artificial Intelligence
OpenAI&nbsp;rival&nbsp;Anthropic&nbsp;has unveiled an upgrade to its its AI model Claude 3.5 Sonnet along with introducing a new model, Claude 3.5 Haiku. The Claude 3.5 Sonnet model introduces a groundbreaking feature that allows it to interact with<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41481214/now-ai-can-operate-computers-like-humans-openai-rival-backed-by-google-unveils-claude-upgrades-amid" rel="noreferrer noopener"> computers in a human-like manner</a>.
Marc Benioff, CEO of Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRM#NYSE">CRM</a>), took to social media to criticize Microsoft for <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41444585/copilots-a-flop-because-microsoft-lacks-the-data-salesforce-ceo-slams-rebranding-of-ai-tool-to-agent" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">rebranding its Copilot as "agents."</a>
In a recent development,&nbsp;Character.AI&nbsp;has issued a public apology following the tragic death by suicide of a 14-year-old boy who had been interacting with their chatbot. The company has acknowledged the incident and announced updates to<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41491088/ai-chatbot-maker-publicly-apologizes-after-teens-death-in-florida" rel="noreferrer noopener"> enhance the safety measures on their platform</a>.
Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41420671/mark-zuckerberg-or-elon-musk-openai-ceo-sam-altman-says-hed-back-this-tech-titan-in-a-cage-fight" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mark Zuckerberg Or Elon Musk? OpenAI CEO Sam Altman Says He&#8217;d Back This Tech Titan In A Cage Fight</a>

Consumer Tech News (Oct 21-Oct 25): Apple May Scale Back Production Of Vision Pro Headset, Netflix Restructures Gaming Division

Tencent Holdings ADR (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TCEHY#OTC">TCEHY</a>) is set to launch the global open beta for Delta Force: Hawk Ops on PC <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/gaming">starting Dec. 5. </a>
This free-to-play tactical first-person shooter, developed by Tencent's Timi Studio Group, aims to rival major titles like Call of Duty and Battlefield. Originally developed by NovaLogic, the Delta Force series first debuted in 1998 and saw several successful releases before NovaLogic closed in 2016.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/10/41356456/tencent-may-join-forces-for-ubisoft-bid">Tencent May Join Forces For Ubisoft Bid</a>
Tencent announced Delta Force: Hawk Ops last year for PC, consoles, and mobile, reviving the franchise. The game has gone through several alpha playtests, but the upcoming open beta will mark the first version in which player progress will not be reset.
The company revealed in a blog post that this beta is considered the "initial release version" of the game. Full live-service content updates will roll out alongside its first season, Genesis.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Gameplay And Features</h3>
The open beta will feature two primary game modes: Havoc Warfare, a 32-player multiplayer mode, and Hazard Operations, a squad-based PvPvE experience. New maps, operators, weapons, and vehicles will be introduced as part of Genesis, with ongoing updates planned.
Tencent has confirmed that paid content, including Battle Passes and cosmetic options for weapons and vehicles, will be available at the beta&#8217;s launch. However, the company insists there will be no &#8220;pay-to-win&#8221; elements.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Single-Player Campaign And Future Updates</h3>
A Black Hawk Down-inspired single-player campaign is in development but won't be part of the open beta. Tencent plans to introduce this mode at a later date. Future updates will also include new maps, modes, and improvements based on player feedback, with ongoing efforts to enhance performance, anti-cheat measures, and controller support.
Delta Force: Hawk Ops will be available on PC through Tencent&#8217;s official browser, Steam, and the Epic Games Store. PlayStation, Xbox, and mobile versions are expected to release in early 2025.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/24/05/39069011/tencents-new-hit-game-dnf-mobile-earns-140m-in-first-week">Tencent&#8217;s New Hit Game DnF Mobile Earns $140M In First Week</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

General

Tencent's Delta Force: Hawk Ops Open Beta To Launch In December, Taking Aim At Call Of Duty

Alibaba Group Holding (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NYSE">BABA</a>) and its Chinese hyperscalar rivals have responded to the domestic regulatory crackdown and economic weakness by opening their walled gardens to one another.
Alibaba will now allow merchants on its e-commerce platforms to access logistics services from rival JD.com Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JD#NASDAQ">JD</a>) to accomplish their growth targets in a lackluster economy.
JD Logistics, which operates over 1,600 automated warehouses and employs about 370,000 delivery workers, directly competes with Alibaba&#8217;s Cainiao Smart Logistics Network.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41359993/alibaba-and-baidu-bet-big-on-autonomous-driving-back-700m-horizon-robotics-ipo" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alibaba And Baidu Bet Big On Autonomous Driving, Back $700M Horizon Robotics IPO</a>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="750" height="650" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/17061719/newplot-14.png" alt="" class="wp-image-600216" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/17061719/newplot-14.png 750w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/17061719/newplot-14-300x260.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" /></figure>
According to JD Logistics, a wide range of logistics services—from warehousing to shipping—will now be available to sellers on Alibaba&#8217;s significant platforms, Taobao and Tmall, SCMP <a target="_blank" href="https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3282626/alibaba-opens-walled-garden-rival-jdcoms-logistics-services" rel="noreferrer noopener">reports</a>.
Merchants can choose JD.com as their preferred courier service, enabling consumers to track their deliveries directly through Alibaba&#8217;s interfaces.
Both companies have been at odds for years, blocking each other&#8217;s services in their ecosystems. However, regulatory pressure and the slowing domestic economy have forced China&#8217;s tech giants to reconsider their approaches.
The shift toward more open ecosystems is becoming increasingly evident. For instance, Tencent Holdings (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TCEHY#OTC">TCEHY</a>) recently enabled users to shop directly on Alibaba&#8217;s Taobao through the WeChat app. Additionally, Taobao and Tmall will soon begin accepting WeChat Pay.
Meanwhile, China is weighing&nbsp;a fiscal stimulus of 6 trillion yuan, or $850 billion, in ultra-long special treasury bonds over the next three years after slashing the key rates to boost the economy.
Due to the announcements of stimulus measures, Alibaba and JD.com stocks saw gains of 21%- 51% in the last thirty days.
Investors can gain exposure to China&#8217;s tech barometer, Alibaba, through SPDR NYSE Technology ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XNTK#NYSE">XNTK</a>) and Invesco Nasdaq Internet ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PNQI#NASDAQ">PNQI</a>).
Price Actions: At the last check on Thursday, BABA stock was down 0.86% to $101.29, and JD was down 1.95%.
Also Read:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41336235/chinese-e-commerce-firms-alibaba-jd-pdd-gear-up-for-singles-day-shopping-festival" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chinese E-Commerce Firms Alibaba, JD, PDD Gear Up For Singles&#8217; Day Shopping Festival</a></li>
</ul>
Image by Tada Images via Shutterstock

Government

Regulations

Emerging Markets

Media

BABA

PNQI

XNTK

Alibaba And JD.com Ease Rivalry, Share Logistics In Response To Economic Challenges

<h4>Key Takeaways:</h4>
<ul>
<li>Ubisoft&rsquo;s share price fell to a 10-year low in September due to poor sales and the delayed release of &ldquo;Assassin&rsquo;s Creed Shadows&rdquo;</li>
<li>Guillemot&nbsp;and Tencent, holding&nbsp;20.5% and 9.2% of Ubisoft voting rights respectively, would be acting in concert for a potential buyout&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
By Ken Lo
The game developer behind the action adventure &ldquo;Assassin&rsquo;s Creed&rdquo; has lately found itself on the losing side of a battle for market confidence.
Ubisoft, a French company listed on the Paris bourse, scored a hit with its combative gameplay when the franchise launched but has more recently struggled with its business performance, suffering a 58% drop in its share price this year that slashed the firm&rsquo;s market value to 1.3 billion euros ($141.6 million).
However, the beaten-down price could make the company an attractive takeover target, given Ubisoft&rsquo;s credentials in the gaming industry. And two main shareholders are reported to be considering riding to the rescue with a joint buyout that could take the company private.
According to&nbsp;<a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/tencent-guillemot-family-said-consider-134712826.html">Bloomberg</a>, the company&rsquo;s founders, the Guillemot family, have been in talks with strategic partner and fellow Ubisoft shareholder&nbsp;Tencent Holdings Ltd.&nbsp;(OTC: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/tcehy#OTC">TCEHY</a>) about options including an acquisition. The report, quoting people with knowledge of the matter, said discussions were still at a preliminary stage. As of the end of April, Tencent held 9.2% of Ubisoft&rsquo;s net voting rights while Guillemot held approximately 20.5%. Therefore, market regulators would regard the two parties as acting in concert for any buyout bid.
Ubisoft did not directly comment on the report and the resulting market excitement, but issued a statement saying it &ldquo;regularly reviews all its strategic options in the interest of its stakeholders&rdquo; and would inform the market of any developments if and when appropriate. Tencent has so far stayed silent on the speculation.
<h3>Seeking A&nbsp;Savior</h3>
In the face of a plummeting Ubisoft share price, minority shareholders including AJ Investments and Blackstone Inc. had been putting pressure on Guillemot to explore a privatization or a sale to a strategic investor. Analysts say Tencent and Guillemot are probably keen to shield Ubisoft from any outside bid, wanting to retain the current management structure.
The Covid pandemic disrupted Ubisoft&rsquo;s game production, with knock-on effects on the business.&nbsp;&nbsp;New titles were delayed or cancelled, and underwhelming sales of its &ldquo;Star Wars Outlaws&rdquo; game triggered a downturn in the share price.
Last month Ubisoft delivered another blow to investor confidence, confirming that the launch of its highly anticipated &ldquo;Assassin&rsquo;s Creed Shadows&rdquo; would be delayed until February 2025. The share price sank rapidly to a decade low of 9.89 euros as brokerages lowered their outlooks for the stock. But when the potential Tencent-Guillemot alliance came to light, Ubisoft&rsquo;s share price rallied to a stable level at 13.06 euros.
A purchase of Ubisoft &ndash; valued at just over 10 billion yuan &ndash; would hardly be a stretch for China&rsquo;s biggest gaming company. Tencent&rsquo;s half-year&nbsp;<a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2024/0814/2024081400282.pdf">earnings</a>&nbsp;revealed that the tech giant had net cash of 71.76 billion yuan and total cash of 415.2 billion yuan in hand as of the end of June. The company generated free cash flow of 92.3 billion yuan in the first half of 2024, as its video and game businesses rebounded from a slump last year.
Over the past decade, the industry has shifted its focus from desktop games to mobile networks and cloud gaming.&nbsp;&nbsp;With its deep pockets,&nbsp;Tencent has&nbsp;been able to evolve with the market,&nbsp;building a user base of nearly 1.4 billion for WeChat and Weixin and launching some of the world&rsquo;s most profitable games, such as &ldquo;Honor of Kings&rdquo; and &ldquo;PUBG Mobile&rdquo;. The mobile and multiplayer products, with innovative and high-quality gameplay, have generated strong returns for&nbsp;Tencent.
<h4>Tencent&rsquo;s Gaming Strategy</h4>
Despite its commercial success, Tencent has not shown much interest in developing blockbuster games that involve the highest production values and costs, known in the industry as&nbsp;AAA games.&nbsp;Developers of&nbsp;China&rsquo;s first ultra-AAA game, the super hit &ldquo;Black Myth: Wukong&rdquo;,&nbsp;originally&nbsp;worked on&nbsp;Tencent&rsquo;s&nbsp;&ldquo;Dou Zhan Shen&rdquo;&nbsp;but core team members Feng Ji and Yang Qi broke away to start a new business in 2014 after disagreements with management. Their&nbsp;former boss, Tencent, still&nbsp;invested 5% in the business.
Tencent rarely acquires game developers that pursue this enhanced quality and has shown no sign of introducing a mobile version of &ldquo;Black&nbsp;Myth:&nbsp;Wukong&rdquo;.&nbsp;Aside from the technical challenge of applying a PC game to a multiplayer mobile platform, a potential clash of corporate cultures would also be a&nbsp;consideration for Tencent.
Since&nbsp;Tencent invested in Ubisoft in 2022 and forged strategic ties with&nbsp;Guillemot, the two parties have not explored any deeper&nbsp;cooperation on games. Therefore, even if Tencent joins&nbsp;Guillemot&nbsp;in defending Ubisoft, it would most likely remain a relatively passive investor, with limited impact on its share price.
This article is from an unpaid external contributor. It does not represent Benzinga&#39;s reporting and has not been edited for content or accuracy.

Markets

Tencent May Join Forces For Ubisoft Bid

The Chinese market, which reopened on Tuesday after a weeklong public holiday, was pressured on Wednesday as domestic traders did not get the additional stimulus they had factored in. Come Thursday, things took a turn for the better as the People&#8217;s Bank of China announced measures to boost the stability of the domestic equity market.
What Happened: In a statement released on its website, the PBoC said it has decided to establish the &#8220;Securities, Funds and Insurance Companies Swap Facility,&#8221; or SFISF, to support qualified securities, funds and insurance companies to exchange bonds, stock exchange-traded funds and CSI 300 constituent stocks and other assets for high-grade liquid assets such as Treasury bonds and central bank bills from the central bank. 
The scale of operation during the first phase is 500 billion yuan ($70.7 billion) and this could be expanded further depending on the situation, the central bank said. Applications from qualified securities, funds and insurance companies will be accepted with immediate effect, it said.
The central bank clarified that the new measure is in order to implement the requirements of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee regarding &#8220;establishing a long-term mechanism to enhance the inherent stability of the capital market&#8221; and promote the healthy and stable development of the capital market.&#8221;
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-chinese-stocks">Best Chinese Stocks</a>
Thursday&#8217;s announcement comes on top of the liquidity-boosting measures the central bank announced in late September regarding cutting the reserve requirement ratio, which is the amount of cash banks must hold as reserves, by 50 basis points freeing up about 1 trillion yuan for new lending.
The central bank hinted at the possibility of reducing it by a further 0.25-0.50% points. It also said it would lower the seven-day repo rate by 0.2 points, the interest rate on a medium-term lending facility by about 30 basis points and loan prime rates by 20-25 basis points.
Market Reacts: The Shanghai Composite Index &#8211; the key market gauge of mainland China, rallied strongly following the fresh stimulus. After opening at 3,277.69, modestly higher than the previous close of 3,258.86, the index gave back its gains in early trading and moved below the unchanged line.
Following PBoC&#8217;s announcement, the index recovered. At last check, it traded 2.92% higher at 3,353.91.
Hong Kong&#8217;s Hang Seng Index also rallied over 4%.
US-listed Stocks Rip Higher: U.S.-listed Chinese stocks listed in Hong Kong reflected the buoyancy and were sharply higher by mid-day on Thursday. Among the gainers are:
<ul>
<li>Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NYSE">BABA</a>) gained 4.28%.</li>
<li>XPeng, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XPEV#NYSE">XPEV</a>) jumped 9.50%.</li>
<li>Li Auto, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LI#NASDAQ">LI</a>) rose 5.96%.</li>
<li>Nio, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NIO#NYSE">NIO</a>) added 6%.</li>
<li>JD.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JD#NASDAQ">JD</a>) climbed 5.63%.</li>
<li>Tencent Holdings Ltd. (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TCEHY#OTC">TCEHY</a>) moved up 1.98%.</li>
<li>Baidu, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BIDU#NASDAQ">BIDU</a>) moved up 2.47%.</li>
</ul>
The iShares MSCI China ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCHI#NASDAQ">MCHI</a>) ended Wednesday&#8217;s session down 2.36% at $51.97, according to <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro data.</a>
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/10/41182930/china-was-tipping-into-a-japan-style-lost-decade-of-deflation-and-stagnation-before-late-septemb">China Was Tipping Into A Japan-Style &#8216;Lost Decade&#8217; Of Deflation And Stagnation Before Late-September Stimulus Announcements, Says Legal Expert</a></li>
</ul>
Image via Shutterstock

Asia

Equities

BIDU

MCHI

XPEV

Alibaba, JD.com, XPeng Soar In Hong Kong As PBOC's Fresh Stimulus To Boost Stock Market Sends Chinese Main Stock Market Gauge Up By 3%

Renowned investor Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates, has raised concerns about the complexities of investing in China amid the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/24/10/41207547/dont-bet-on-chinas-economic-stimulus-yet-as-yuan-faces-volatility-amid-us-election-jobs-data-analyst">country&#8217;s shifting economic policies</a>.
What Happened: Speaking at the Greenwich Economic Forum, Dalio highlighted the challenges posed by Beijing&#8217;s changing stance on capitalism, which has led to significant structural changes in the Chinese economy, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/10/08/ray-dalio-china-investing-is-tricky-as-beijing-turns-less-favorable-to-capitalism.html">reported</a> CNBC.
"There's something big going on that they had a debt crisis and they also had a capitalism crisis. Are they … favorable to capitalism as we knew it before? I do not believe they are in the same way," Dalio said. 
Dalio pointed out that the Chinese government aims to maintain strict control over the economy, which has impacted investor sentiment. 
The recent enthusiasm for Chinese investments was <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/10/41227136/chinese-stocks-plunge-as-stimulus-hopes-fade-hong-kong-posts-worst-daily-decline-si">tempered when officials did not announce specific stimulus</a> measures.
Despite expectations for economic revival through policy actions like interest rate cuts, the Chinese markets have seen reduced momentum. The CSI 300 index, which had previously surged over 10%, saw its gains <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/24/10/41243227/chinese-stocks-plunge-as-hang-seng-drops-1-39-extending-volatile-streak-tech-giants-jd-com-alibaba-b">shrink to 5% on Tuesday</a>.
Dalio advised investors to avoid focusing on daily market fluctuations. Meanwhile, hedge funds have been increasing their investments in Chinese stocks, anticipating further stimulus. David Tepper of Appaloosa Management expressed optimism, stating he is heavily investing in China due to recent government support. 
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/10/41220350/tesla-traders-wild-bet-on-elon-musks-company-ends-in-a-306m-lawsuit-spiral?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tesla Trader&#8217;s Wild Bet On Elon Musk&#8217;s Company Ends In A $306M Lawsuit Spiral</a>
Why It Matters: China&#8217;s economic landscape has been marked by volatility and rapid changes in recent months. A <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/24/10/41213691/fast-and-furious-rally-pushes-chinese-stocks-to-double-s-p-500-performance-year-to-date">dramatic rally</a> in Chinese equities occurred in early October, driven by aggressive monetary easing policies and government commitments to stabilize the property sector. 
This surge saw the MSCI China Index tracked by the iShares MSCI China ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCHI#NASDAQ">MCHI</a>) outperform other major global markets, doubling the year-to-date gains of the S&amp;P 500,&nbsp;as tracked by the&nbsp;SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>).
However, this optimism was short-lived, as Chinese stocks experienced a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/24/10/41243227/chinese-stocks-plunge-as-hang-seng-drops-1-39-extending-volatile-streak-tech-giants-jd-com-alibaba-b">sharp selloff</a> on Wednesday, with the Hang Seng Index continuing a volatile trend across Asia-Pacific markets. The Hang Seng Index in Hong Kong dropped 1.39% to 20,635.11, following Tuesday's devastating 9.41% plunge — its worst single-day loss since the 2008 financial crisis.
Tech giants faced significant losses <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/24/10/41243227/chinese-stocks-plunge-as-hang-seng-drops-1-39-extending-volatile-streak-tech-giants-jd-com-alibaba-b">during the downturn on Wednesday</a>, with JD.com (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JD#NASDAQ">JD</a>) plummeting 7.52% on the Hong Kong stock exchange. Alibaba Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NYSE">BABA</a>) followed with a decline of 2.75%, while Baidu (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BIDU#NASDAQ">BIDU</a>) lost 1.65% on HKEX. Tencent (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TCEHY#OTC">TCEHY</a>) also experienced a downturn, declining by 1.32%.
Dalio&#8217;s insights come at a time when investors like Michael Burry have made <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/24/08/40386342/big-short-fame-michael-burry-bets-big-on-china-reveals-alibaba-as-top-holding-jd-com-and-baidu-also">significant bets on Chinese stocks</a>, as seen in his hedge fund&#8217;s latest portfolio shift. The evolving economic strategies in China, including potential &#8220;beautiful deleveraging,&#8221; as Dalio previously noted, continue to shape <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/24/10/41157439/ray-dalio-sees-potential-for-beautiful-deleveraging-in-xi-jinpings-economic-strategy-for-china">the investment landscape</a>.
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/10/41201263/meta-stock-returns-pale-next-to-peter-thiels-secretive-data-company-even-as-mark-zuckerberg-comp?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Meta Stock Returns Pale Next To Peter Thiel&#8217;s Secretive Data Company Even As Mark Zuckerberg Company&#8217;s AI Advancements Generate Excitement</a></li>
</ul>
Image via Wikimedia Commons
This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/Kaustubh-Bagalkote" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kaustubh Bagalkote</a>

ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LTD by Alibaba Group Holding Limited

BABAF

Ray Dalio Issues Stark Warning As Investors Get Optimistic About China Again: 'There's Something Big Going On...'

Chinese stocks experienced a sharp selloff on Wednesday, continuing a volatile trend across Asia-Pacific markets. The Hang Seng Index (HSI) in Hong Kong dropped 1.39% to 20,635.11, following Tuesday&#8217;s devastating 9.41% plunge—its worst single-day <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/10/41227136/chinese-stocks-plunge-as-stimulus-hopes-fade-hong-kong-posts-worst-daily-decline-si">loss since the 2008 financial crisis</a>.
What Happened: The mainland CSI 300 index also suffered, dropping 5.39%. This sharp reversal comes after weeks of robust performance that had positioned Chinese stocks among the top global performers year-to-date.
Tech giants bore the brunt of the downturn:
<ul>
<li>JD.com (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JD#NASDAQ">JD</a>) plummeted 7.52% on the Hong Kong stock exchange. </li>
<li>Alibaba (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABAF#OTC">BABAF</a>) fell 2.78%</li>
<li>Baidu (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BIDU#NASDAQ">BIDU</a>) lost 1.65% on HKEX</li>
<li>Tencent (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TCEHY#OTC">TCEHY</a>) declined 1.32%</li>
</ul>
Analysts attribute the selloff to investors locking in profits and growing disappointment over the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/24/10/41223117/alibaba-tencent-jd-com-and-baidu-slide-over-8-as-chinas-28b-stimulus-boost-misses-the-mark">lack of aggressive fiscal stimulus</a> from Beijing. 
The contrast was stark in Japan, where the Nikkei 225 climbed 0.6%, highlighting the divergent market sentiments across the region.
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/10/41242937/cathie-woods-ark-invest-trades-bets-14m-on-amazon-shares-dumps-robinhood-stock-worth-36m-embrace">Cathie Wood&#8217;s Ark Invest Trades: Bets $14M On Amazon Shares — Dumps Robinhood Stock Worth $36M, Embraces Coinbase And Meta</a></li>
</ul>
Image Via Shutterstock 
This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/Kaustubh-Bagalkote" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kaustubh Bagalkote</a>

Chinese Stocks Plunge As Hang Seng Drops 1.39%, Extending Volatile Streak — Tech Giants JD.com, Alibaba, Baidu Tread Red Waters

The Chinese government's announcement of a 200 billion yuan ($28 billion) stimulus aimed at local investment projects fell short of market expectations, triggering a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/24/10/41207862/stimulus-fueled-china-stock-rally-set-to-fizzle">sharp sell-off in major tech stocks</a>.
What Happened: The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), China&#8217;s top planning agency, disclosed the allocation at a press conference on Tuesday, <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2024/10/08/business/china-economy-ndrc-hnk-intl/index.html">reported</a> CNN. 
&#8220;We are confident in achieving the annual economic and social development goals and tasks, and in maintaining sustained, stable and healthy economic and social development,&#8221; said Zheng Shanjie, the commission&#8217;s chairman, according to the report.
China had set a 5% growth target in March. However, recent economic data has been concerning, raising fears that the target might not be met. The country&#8217;s economy is currently grappling with challenges such as a property crisis, weak consumer spending, and high youth unemployment.
To assist local governments dealing with significant debt burdens, Beijing will provide 100 billion yuan ($14 billion) from the central government&#8217;s budget, in addition to an extra 100 billion yuan for investment projects, Zheng stated.
Mainland China's CSI 300 surged over 10% at the open on Tuesday following its return from the Golden Week holiday, but the index pared back gains to close 5.93% higher at 4,256.1.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index initially plunged more than 10%, before moderating to a 9% loss by its final hour of trading.
Key Chinese tech stocks were hit hard:
<ul>
<li>Alibaba Group Holding Ltd &#8211; ADR (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NYSE">BABA</a>) fell 8.93% in pre-market trading.</li>
<li>Tencent Holdings Ltd (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TCEHY#OTC">TCEHY</a>) dropped 8.32% to HK$ 438.60.</li>
<li>JD.com Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JD#NASDAQ">JD</a>) saw a sharp decline of 11.32% in pre-market trading</li>
<li>Baidu Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BIDU#NASDAQ">BIDU</a>) slipped 9.10% in pre-market trading.</li>
</ul>
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41208014/absolutely-impossible-for-china-to-become-taiwans-motherland-says-president-lai-ching-te-amid-rising?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">&#8216;Absolutely Impossible&#8217; For China To Become Taiwan&#8217;s &#8216;Motherland,&#8217; Says President Lai Ching Te Amid Rising Pressure From Team Xi Jinping</a>
Why It Matters: The Chinese economy has been facing significant challenges, with the government implementing various measures to stimulate growth. In a recent move, the People&#8217;s Bank of China <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-09-24/china-cuts-bank-reserve-ratio-to-boost-economy-amid-property-woes">cut one of its main interest rates</a> and reduced the amount of cash banks are required to hold in reserve. 
The government also announced cash handouts to disadvantaged citizens and subsidies for recent graduates struggling to find employment.
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</ul>
Image Via Shutterstock 
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors

Alibaba, Tencent, JD.com And Baidu Slide Over 8% As China's $28B Stimulus Boost Misses The Mark

Chinese equities have staged a dramatic comeback in the past few weeks on the back of policy stimulus, with the MSCI China Index, tracked by the iShares MSCI China ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCHI#NYSE">MCHI</a>), surging over 35% <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/china">between Sept. 24 and Oct. 7. </a>
This &#8220;fast and furious&#8221; rally, as described by Bank of America analysts Winnie Wu and Willie Chan, outpaced the performance of other major markets globally and more than doubled the year-to-date gains of the S&amp;P 500, as tracked by the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>).
The rally has been driven by a series of aggressive monetary easing policies unveiled by Chinese authorities, alongside renewed government commitments to stabilize the country&#8217;s troubled property sector.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Year-To-Date Performance: MSCI China Doubles S&amp;P 500</h1>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="455" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/07123344/image-41-1024x455.png" alt="" class="wp-image-583894" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/07123344/image-41-1024x455.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/07123344/image-41-300x133.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/07123344/image-41-768x342.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/07123344/image-41-1536x683.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/07123344/image-41.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Chart:<a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent100724&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"> Benzinga Pro</a></figcaption></figure>
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">A $2 Trillion Market Surge</h1>
From Sept. 23 to 30, the MSCI China Index added nearly $2 trillion in market capitalization. Some of the largest beneficiaries were blue-chip companies like Kweichow Moutai, which jumped 39% (adding $88 billion in market cap), Tencent Holdings ADR (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TCEHY#OTC">TCEHY</a>), which climbed 15% (adding $70 billion) and Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. &#8211; ADR (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NYSE">BABA</a>), which surged 27%, increasing its market value by $58 billion.
This rapid market appreciation reflects growing optimism among investors that China's policymakers are taking serious steps to address the country's economic challenges, including deflationary pressures, a property market downturn and mounting local government debt.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Key Stimulus Measures Fuel The Rally</h1>
The rally was sparked by a series of unexpected policy announcements starting on Sept. 23. That day, the People's Bank of China (PBoC) surprised markets by cutting its 14-day reverse repurchase rate by 10 basis points to 1.85%, injecting approximately $10.6 billion (74.5 billion yuan) into the banking system.
The following day, the PBoC Governor Pan Gongsheng announced a more substantial measure: the central bank would cut the reserve requirement ratio by 50 basis points, injecting about $142.5 billion (one trillion yuan) into the financial system. In addition, the seven-day repo rate was reduced by 20 basis points, and the central bank pledged to lower benchmark loan prime rates and existing mortgage rates by around 50 basis points, potentially reducing household interest payments by about $21 billion (150 billion yuan).
Further easing came on Sept. 25, when the PBoC lowered its one-year medium-term lending facility (MLF) rate by 30 basis points, followed by fiscal pledges to inject capital into state-owned banks. 
Last but not least, the PBoC ordered commercial banks to reduce interest rates on existing mortgages, with rates no less than 30 basis points below the Loan Prime Rate before Oct. 31.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Chinese Equity ETFs Post Massive Gains</h1>
These moves have propelled Chinese equity ETFs to outperform the S&amp;P 500 and other global benchmarks by a significant margin. From Sept. 24 to Oct. 7, several China-focused ETFs posted eye-whopping gains:
<ul>
<li>Invesco China Technology ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CQQQ#NYSE">CQQQ</a>): +52%</li>
<li>iShares MSCI China A ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CNYA#NYSE">CNYA</a>): +48%</li>
<li>XTrackers Harvest CSI 300 China A-Shares ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ASHR#NYSE">ASHR</a>): +47%</li>
<li>WisdomTree China ex-State-Owned Enterprises Fund (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CXSE#NASDAQ">CXSE</a>): +43%</li>
<li>KraneShares CSI China Internet ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KWEB#NYSE">KWEB</a>): +40%</li>
<li>SPDR S&amp;P China ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GXC#NYSE">GXC</a>): +38%</li>
<li>Invesco Golden Dragon China ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PGJ#NASDAQ">PGJ</a>): +36%</li>
<li>iShares China Large-Cap ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FXI#NYSE">FXI</a>): +32%</li>
</ul>
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Caution Ahead: Potential for Pullbacks</h1>
While the rally has been robust, analysts at Bank of America advise caution.
&#8220;More fiscal stimulus&nbsp;to stabilize the property market&nbsp;and&nbsp;restructure local government debts,&nbsp;and structural reforms&nbsp;to address&nbsp;the&nbsp;over-capacity/deflation&nbsp;issues&nbsp;are&nbsp;needed to turn&nbsp;around the economy,&#8221; they wrote.
In their report, analysts warn the current &#8220;buy everything&#8221; stage may soon end, particularly if no further positive catalysts materialize.
High-beta consumer, property and broker stocks, which have rallied sharply, could be the first to experience profit-taking. However, the analysts suggest long-term investors could view any potential pullbacks as buying opportunities, particularly in sectors like large-cap internet stocks and high-yield state-owned enterprises (SOEs), which they consider less volatile.
For the fourth quarter of 2024, Bank of America remains constructive on several sectors, including internet (media, online retail), insurance, and health care, particularly in life sciences and biotech, which delivered strong performance in the third quarter.
They are cautious about brokerage stocks after the strong rally and have downgraded utilities (gas, water) due to earnings downgrades and unattractive valuations. Additionally, they remain bearish on the property, auto, construction materials and chemicals sectors, as they believe a fundamental recovery in these areas will take more time.
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Photo: Shutterstock

Large Cap

Emerging Market ETFs

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ASHR

CNYA

CQQQ

CXSE

KWEB

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'Fast And Furious Rally' Pushes Chinese Stocks To Double S&P 500 Performance Year To Date

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Tencent, Guillemot Family Are Said To Weigh Buyout Of Ubisoft

Amid China&#8217;s recent economic stimulus efforts, Citi has identified three U.S.-listed Chinese stocks as potential winners. The measures, introduced last month, aim to rejuvenate the economy and enhance market and consumer confidence.
What Happened: Citi has pinpointed three Chinese stocks listed in the U.S. as potential beneficiaries of China&#8217;s recent economic stimulus measures, CNBC <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/10/03/citi-names-3-us-traded-stocks-set-to-benefit-chinas-stimulus-program.html">reported</a> on Thursday. Last month, China rolled out several policies aimed at revitalizing its economy and boosting market and consumer confidence.
These efforts have already led to significant gains in Chinese internet stocks, with the KraneShares China Internet ETF rising by 45%. Despite these gains, Citi analysts, led by Alicia Yap, believe the market has not fully accounted for the potential improvements in macroeconomic conditions and earnings growth.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/10/41134194/odds-of-tim-walz-winning-the-vp-debate-drop-on-polymarket-as-bettors-favor-jd-vance-harris?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Odds Of Tim Walz Winning The VP Debate Drop On Polymarket As Bettors Favor JD Vance — Harris Maintains Lead Over Trump</a>
The Wall Street bank highlighted Tencent (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TCEHY#OTC">TCEHY</a>), Trip.com Group (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TCOM#NASDAQ">TCOM</a>) and Meituan (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MPNGY#OTC">MPNGY</a>) as top picks to benefit from the stimulus. Tencent, with its diverse business portfolio, stands to gain from increased consumer spending and online activity. Trip.com Group is expected to benefit from a resurgence in China&#8217;s travel industry, while Meituan could see growth in consumer spending on food delivery and local services.
Why It Matters: The recent stimulus measures in China have sparked optimism in the markets. Chinese stocks experienced a rebound following the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/41097864/china-stocks-jump-as-stimulus-optimism-mounts-whats-going-on">announcement of policies</a> allowing homeowners to refinance mortgages. This move is part of a broader strategy to support the struggling economy.
Despite the positive short-term impact, there are concerns about the long-term effectiveness of these measures. Experts hold skepticism about the ability of these stimulus programs to address <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/opinion/24/10/41148148/why-chasing-the-china-rally-could-cost-you-everything">China&#8217;s structural economic issues</a>, particularly in the real estate sector. Nevertheless, the immediate liquidity injections have provided a boost to the markets, with the CSI 300 index rallying by nearly 16% last week.
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Image via Shutterstock
This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/Pooja-Rajkumari" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pooja Rajkumari</a>

Analyst Color

MPNGY

TCOM

These US-Listed Chinese Stocks Set To Surge Amid Beijing's New Stimulus Plan: Citi

Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney declared the company "financially sound" during a presentation at <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/gaming">Unreal Fest 2024. </a>
This statement comes after a tumultuous period marked by significant layoffs and strategic divestitures.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">The Layoffs And Strategic Shifts</h3>
In September 2023, Tencent ADR (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TCEHY#OTC">TCEHY</a>) backed Epic Games made headlines when it announced a massive reduction in its workforce, laying off approximately 830 employees—about 16% of its total staff.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/gaming/24/10/41126126/fortnite-just-made-parenting-easier-how-to-control-your-kids-playtime-with-latest-update">Fortnite Just Made Parenting Easier: How To Control Your Kid&#8217;s Playtime With Latest Update</a>
Alongside the layoffs, Epic divested its music service platform Bandcamp and spun off the majority of SuperAwesome, a child-safe technology company. These moves resulted in the exit of around 250 additional staff members.
At the time of the layoffs, Sweeney said that Epic had been "spending way more money than we earn," pointing out the need for a "major structural change to our economics." 
Furthermore, he noted that the explosive growth of Fortnite — which initially funded the company's expansion — had transitioned to a model with lower profit margins due to revenue-sharing with creators.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">A Year Of Rebuilding And Record Success</h3>
Fast-forward to Unreal Fest 2024, and Sweeney presented a much more optimistic view of Epic's state.
&#8220;I&#8217;m happy to tell you now that the company is financially sound, and that Fortnite and the Epic Games Store have hit new records in concurrency and success,&#8221; he said, <a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/epic-games-ceo-says-company-is-now-financially-sound">according</a> to GamesIndustry.biz-
And added: "We spent the last year rebuilding and really executing solidly on all fronts." 
Fortnite reached 110 million monthly active users (MAUs) during the recent holiday season. This milestone shows the game&#8217;s lasting appeal even seven years post-launch, marking a significant increase from the 78.3 million MAUs reported in August 2018. 
While Epic Games remains in a competitive struggle with Steam for dominance in the PC gaming market, the Epic Games Store reported 70 million MAUs in the last month. However, the store continues to operate at a loss, facing challenges in converting its growing user base into profitability.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Legal Challenges And Financial Implications</h3>
Meanwhile, Epic Games is still navigating a complex legal landscape. Sweeney has openly stated that the company&#8217;s ongoing litigation against <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/gaming/24/08/40423388/epic-games-mobile-store-goes-live-in-europe-ceo-says-apple-had-to-be-challenged">tech giants like Apple </a>and Google has cost Epic around $1 billion. 
The legal battles primarily stem from Epic&#8217;s attempt to create a competing app store for mobile devices, which has led to a series of costly disputes.
In a fresh move, Epic has initiated another lawsuit against Samsung and Google regarding a feature known as Auto Blocker, which complicates the installation of Epic Games on mobile devices. 
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/gaming/24/09/41098067/epic-games-files-new-antitrust-lawsuit-against-google-samsung-over-app-store-restrictions">Epic Games Files New Antitrust Lawsuit Against Google, Samsung Over App Store Restrictions</a></li>
</ul>
Image credits: Shutterstock.

Epic Games Is Now 'Financially Sound,' Says CEO Tim Sweeney After Major Layoffs

Shaquille O'Neal could be the latest legend to join Fortnite, putting the NBA star on the same level of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/top-stories/24/08/40322467/disney-characters-join-fortnite-in-latest-collaboration-with-epic-games">movie characters and superheroes.</a>
What Happened: Internet leaks predict that O'Neal (aka Shaq) could get the Fortnite Icon series treatment in the<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/fortnite"> popular online video game </a>with the potential of skins and accessories coming Saturday, Oct. 4.
Leakers, like <a href="https://x.com/ShiinaBR/status/1841124523166290311">ShiinaBR</a>, have pointed to Fortnite data files showing upcoming skins and themes based on O'Neal and the movie characters Billy from the Saw franchise and Leatherface from the Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise.
O&#8217;Neal, one of the best-known National Basketball Association players of all time, earned a long list of nicknames over the years. In addition to &#8220;Shaq,&#8221; there could be multiple variations of O'Neal that appear in the game, including Diesel, Shaq Fu, Superman and DJ Diesel, his musician persona.
Performing as DJ Diesel, O'Neal may have teased the collaboration with Fortnite, sharing a video at a concert that showed a potential virtual version of himself in the game. 
O'Neal also captioned a TikTok video of his performance with "Toronto…last night was EPIC," putting EPIC in all caps as a potential play on Epic Games, along with a winking face emoji.
O'Neal's collaboration with Fortnite could include skins, accessories, sound clips and a potential musical performance as DJ Diesel, as <a href="https://gamerant.com/fortnite-leak-nba-legend-shaquille-shaq-oneal/">reported </a>by Game Rant. 
Epic Games and O'Neal have not confirmed anything yet, leaving gamers to decipher the leaks and hints from the former NBA's stars social media posts.
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Why It's Important: Fortnite is known for its partnerships and collaborations that often include skins and accessories that can be bought by gamers.
This freemium model of a free game with in-game purchases has helped Fortnite be one of the most successful games for parent Epic Games, which counts Tencent Holdings (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TCEHY#OTC">TCEHY</a>) as a 40% owner.
Through <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/02/36993564/disney-invests-1-5b-in-fortnite-owner-epic-games-in-biggest-ever-gaming-entry-posts-q1-earnings-bea">an investment by</a> The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIS#NYSE">DIS</a>) in Epic Games, more Star Wars, Marvel and Pixar characters have made their way into Fortnite in recent months.
Several musicians have appeared to perform music in Fortnite or as purchasable skins including Marshmello, Travis Scott, Ariana Grande and Metallica.
O'Neal is not a stranger to video games with multiple "Shaq Fu" games previously released and his appearance in various NBA games.
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/sports/24/09/40866143/shaquille-oneal-reflects-on-divorce-fatherhood-and-personal-accountability-i-was-lost-76-000-squar">Shaquille O&#8217;Neal Reflects On Divorce, Fatherhood And Personal Accountability: &#8216;I Was Lost. 76,000 Square Foot House By Yourself&#8217;</a></li>
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Image: Shutterstock

Entertainment

NBA Legend Shaq Coming To Fortnite? Leaks Show Skins, Accessories, And A Potential DJ Diesel Performance

Parents of Fortnite-obsessed kids can now breathe a little easier with the introduction of Time Limit Controls, a new feature that lets them manage how long their children <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/gaming/24/02/37371214/your-kid-could-be-bullied-for-not-buying-skins-in-fortnite-no-distinction-between-online-offline-w">play the game. </a>
This latest update, rolled out today by Epic Games, which has the financial backing of China&#8217;s&nbsp;Tencent Holdings ADR&nbsp;(OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TCEHY#OTC">TCEHY</a>), enhances parental oversight within one of the most popular video games worldwide.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/22/12/30047324/no-eating-no-sleeping-is-a-hit-video-game-too-addictive-for-children-class-action-lawsuit-m">No Eating, No Sleeping: Is A Hit Video Game Too Addictive For Children? Class Action Lawsuit Moves Forward</a>
Fortnite previously faced criticism for its in-game purchases and lack of robust parental controls. With this new feature, the game takes a step forward in addressing these concerns.
Parents can now set playtime limits directly in-game via the Parental Controls section or online through the Epic Account Portal. These controls not only let parents restrict how long kids can play but also allow them to set specific windows for gameplay.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Customizable Options For Parents</h1>
One of the standout elements of the new feature is its flexibility. Parents can decide whether or not their children can request more time as their allotted minutes wind down. This function allows for real-time decision-making based on behavior or other factors, giving parents a customizable tool that adapts to their needs.
Epic Games also included a Time Reports system that provides parents with detailed breakdowns of how much time their children spend playing Fortnite. Reports can be accessed online, where daily playtime summaries, weekly totals and a record of any extra time granted is provided.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">What Kids Will See</h1>
For the kids, the system is built with transparency. As playtime runs out, they'll see notifications popping up to remind them how much time they have left for that day, starting when they hit the 30-minute mark. They'll also find a button that allows them to request more time, a feature that alerts their parent via email.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Expanding Parental Controls</h1>
This latest addition to Fortnite's parental controls follows several other features introduced in recent years. Epic Games has steadily built a suite of tools that includes limits on voice and text chat, restrictions on mature language, controls over adding friends, payment limitations and restrictions on accessing higher age-rated content.
The move comes at a crucial time, as Epic Games has faced a series of legal challenges surrounding purchasing mechanics and inadequate parental control measures. With the new Time Limit Controls, the company aims to further align with the demands of parents and regulators who want more stringent oversight within the game.
In recent news, the company recently filed a lawsuit against Alphabet Inc&#8216;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>)(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) Google and Samsung. Find out everything about it<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/gaming/24/09/41098067/epic-games-files-new-antitrust-lawsuit-against-google-samsung-over-app-store-restrictions"> here.</a>
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Photo: Shutterstock.

GOOGL

Fortnite Just Made Parenting Easier: How To Control Your Kid's Playtime With Latest Update

Epic Games, the developer behind the globally popular game Fortnite, has launched a new legal battle, this time accusing Samsung and Alphabet Inc.&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>)(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) Google of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/antitrust">antitrust violations. </a>
In a lawsuit filed in a U.S. federal court in California, Epic claimed the two tech giants conspired to protect the Google Play Store from competition, significantly limiting consumer choice, Reuters<a href="https://www.reuters.com/legal/epic-games-accuses-samsung-google-scheme-block-app-rivals-2024-09-30/"> reported.</a>
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/gaming/24/08/40423388/epic-games-mobile-store-goes-live-in-europe-ceo-says-apple-had-to-be-challenged">Epic Games Mobile Store Goes Live In Europe, CEO Says Apple &#8216;Had To Be Challenged&#8217;</a>
The heart of the lawsuit revolves around Samsung&#8217;s Auto Blocker feature, which Epic alleges was designed to discourage users from downloading apps from authorized sources other than Google's Play Store or Samsung&#8217;s Galaxy Store.
Auto Blocker, a security feature first introduced as optional in 2023, became the default setting on Samsung smartphones by July 2024. 
According to Epic, the feature is intentionally difficult to disable, limiting users&#8217; ability to install apps from alternative app markets.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Claims Of Unfair Competition</h1>
During a press briefing, Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic Games, said: &#8220;Google is pretending to keep the user safe by saying you&#8217;re not allowed to install apps from unknown sources. Well, Google knows what Fortnite is as they have distributed it in the past.&#8221;
&#8220;It&#8217;s about misleading users into thinking competitors&#8217; products are inferior to the company&#8217;s products themselves,&#8221; he added.
Epic, which has the financial backing of China's Tencent Holdings ADR (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TCEHY#OTC">TCEHY</a>), argued Google's and Samsung's actions violate U.S. antitrust laws by restricting consumer choice and preventing the emergence of a more competitive app ecosystem — one that would ultimately reduce the cost of apps.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Samsung's Response</h1>
In response to the lawsuit, Samsung issued a statement dismissing Epic's claims as &#8220;baseless,&#8221; asserting that the Auto Blocker feature aligns with the company&#8217;s commitment to user security.
 "The features integrated into our devices are designed in accordance with Samsung's core principles of security, privacy, and user control," the company stated. "Users have the choice to disable Auto Blocker at any time, and we remain fully committed to safeguarding users&#8217; personal data."
Samsung also affirmed its intent to &#8220;vigorously contest&#8221; the allegations made by Epic Games.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">A Broader Battle for App Store Freedom</h1>
Epic's lawsuit marks the latest chapter in the company's ongoing crusade against app store monopolies. 
In December 2023, Epic scored a significant victory when a U.S. court ruled against Google, forcing the tech giant to allow easier access to third-party apps.
Epic alleged Samsung's Auto Blocker was specifically designed to blunt the impact of that ruling.
This new lawsuit also added to the company&#8217;s previous battles with Google and Apple Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) over their app store payment structures. Epic argued against the 30% commission fees imposed on developers.
That particular conflict led to Fortnite being removed from Google Play and Apple's App Store for nearly four years. However, following regulatory scrutiny in the European Union, Fortnite was reinstated on iPhones in the EU and made available again on Google's Android devices globally last month.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">The EU's Role</h1>
In addition to its U.S. lawsuit, Epic plans to bring its concerns to regulators in the EU. The EU has long been critical of Google's business practices, frequently investigating the tech giant over issues related to competition and consumer choice.
Epic is expected to argue Google's control over app distribution is harmful not just in the U.S., but around the world .
In related news, the Epic Games Store has surpassed 10 million mobile installs in its first 1.5 months. Despite slower growth, Sweeney remains confident, calling the 100 million year-end goal "totally achievable," The Verge <a href="https://www.theverge.com/mobile/2024/9/30/24258120/the-epic-games-store-has-crossed-10-million-installs-on-mobile-in-its-first-1-5-months">reported.</a>
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/gaming/24/09/40843191/epic-ea-ubisoft-face-accusations-of-deceit-over-in-game-purchases-eu-complaint-filed">Epic, EA, Ubisoft Face Accusations Of Deceit Over In-Game Purchases – EU Complaint Filed</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock.

Legal

Epic Games Files New Antitrust Lawsuit Against Google, Samsung Over App Store Restrictions

Chinese stocks surged to their highest levels in four months on Monday, following the People&#8217;s Bank of China&#8217;s (PBoC) slashing <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/interest-rates">a key interest rate</a>.
The surprise move reignites hopes for additional stimulus in the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/china">world&#8217;s second-largest economy.</a> 
The iShares China Large-Cap ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FXI#NYSE">FXI</a>) — which tracks major Chinese firms like Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NYSE">BABA</a>), Tencent Holding Ltd. (OTCPK: TCEHY), JD.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JD#NASDAQ">JD</a>), and Baidu Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BIDU#NYSE">BIDU</a>) — is up more than 2% as of 11:20 a.m. ET in New York. It&#8217;s a level not seen since late May.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">PBoC Cuts Rates, Inject Liquidity</h3>
On Sept. 23, the People&#8217;s Bank of China unexpectedly reduced the 14-day reverse repurchase rate by 10 basis points to 1.85%, down from 1.95%.
Additionally, the central bank injected CNY 74.5 billion ($10.2 billion) of liquidity into the banking system through this operation, according to an official statement. The PBoC also pumped CNY 160.1 billion via seven-day reverse repos, maintaining the rate at 1.7%.
These measures come on the heels of the central bank's decision last week to keep key lending rates at record lows, following surprise cuts in July. 
Monday&#8217;s policy moves in China are likely seen as part of broader efforts to stimulate consumption ahead of the National Day Holiday, a week-long break that starts on Oct. 1. 
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Market Reactions</h3>
Chinese ADRs (American Depository Receipts) rallied sharply in response, outpacing broader market gains. 
Other Chinese-linked ETFs made moves Monday:
<ul>
<li>Kraneshares CSI China Internet ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KWEB#NYSE">KWEB</a>) was up 2%</li>
<li>iShares MSCI China (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCHI#NASDAQ">MCHI</a>), up 1.7%</li>
<li>Invesco China Technology ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CQQQ#NYSE">CQQQ</a>) up1.6%.</li>
</ul>
On the same day, the U.S. Commerce Department proposed a ban on the import and sale of Chinese-made vehicles equipped with automated driving systems and critical communications software and hardware due <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/24/09/40981254/chinese-vehicle-tech-faces-biden-administration-ban-over-national-security-concerns-china-ev-stocks">to national security concerns</a>.
This ban is scheduled to take effect in 2027. 
Electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers like Shanghai-based NIO Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NIO#NYSE">NIO</a>) and Guangzhou, China-based Xpeng Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XPEV#NASDAQ">XPEV</a>) also joined the broader country stock rally despite the potential negative challenges from the new regulation.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Monday&#8217;s Movers Among Largest Chinese Stocks</h3>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Name</td>
<td>Market Cap</td>
<td>1-Day %</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Alibaba Group Holding Limited</td>
<td>$210.26B</td>
<td>2.44%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NetEase, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NTES#NASDAQ">NTES</a>)</td>
<td>$ 52.23B</td>
<td>2.59%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>JD.com, Inc.</td>
<td>$ 43.60B</td>
<td>4.19%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Baidu, Inc.</td>
<td>$ 31.10B</td>
<td>3.00%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Li Auto Inc.</td>
<td>$ 22.26B</td>
<td>3.55%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DiDi Global Inc.</td>
<td>$ 19.42B</td>
<td>0.75%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>KE Holdings Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BEKE#NYSE">BEKE</a>)</td>
<td>$ 18.20B</td>
<td>5.60%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc.</td>
<td>$ 17.43B</td>
<td>-0.9%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Tencent Music Entertainment Group (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TME#NASDAQ">TME</a>)</td>
<td>$ 16.34B</td>
<td>4.44%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Yum China Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/YUMC#NYSE">YUMC</a>) </td>
<td>$ 13.85B</td>
<td>2.38%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NIO Inc.</td>
<td>$ 11.53B</td>
<td>3.13%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Read Now:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/09/40983043/us-services-growth-tops-estimate-contraction-in-manufacturing-worsens-reacceleratio">US Services Growth Tops Estimate, Contraction In Manufacturing Worsens: &#8216;Reacceleration Of Inflation&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Macro Economic Events

Economics

BEKE

NTES

YUMC

Chinese Stocks Defy Biden's Auto Import Ban Concerns, Rally To 4-Month Highs As Central Bank Unexpectedly Slashes Interest Rates

Tencent Holdings Ltd (OTCPK:TCEHY) (OTCPK:TCTZF) is harnessing the power of AI to shake up the digital advertising space in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/TCEHY/news">a big way</a>. 
In an exclusive interview with Benzinga, Derek Yan, senior investment strategist at KraneShares, said that the Chinese tech giant is positioning itself to maintain a competitive edge and sustain growth in the rapidly evolving digital landscape.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Tencent&#8217;s AI Initiatives To Supercharge Marketing Efforts</h2>
"Tencent is leveraging its proprietary AI models to enhance ad targeting precision and attribution tracking," says Yan. This has been a critical driver of Tencent's impressive advertising revenue growth, enabling advertisers to reach consumers more effectively and boost click-through rates.
In a space where precision is everything, Tencent's AI models are proving invaluable. But the company isn't stopping there. Yan highlights how Tencent is "equipping advertisers with generative AI tools that can dynamically create ad visuals tailored for various ad placements." 
This capability allows advertisers to produce more engaging, customized ads on the fly, which has the potential to supercharge their marketing efforts and drive even more revenue.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">How Tencent&#8217;s TikTok Rival &#8211; WeChat Is Capitalizing On New Opportunities</h2>
Tencent's flagship platforms, particularly WeChat and its video account feature (a rival to ByteDance's Douyin and TikTok), still have "substantial untapped potential for further monetization," according to Yan. 
Integrating AI technologies could unlock new opportunities to capitalize on this potential. In fact, Tencent's Executive Director and President, Martin Lau, mentioned in a recent earnings call that AI is expected to provide a near-term boost in ad revenue.
According to Yan, even a modest 10% increase in ad load within the WeChat and video account ecosystem could generate an additional RMB 10 billion (approx. $1.4 billion), most of which would go straight to profit.
<a href="AI To 'Turbocharge' Alibaba's Cloud In Bid To Rival Microsoft, Amazon, Says Strategist" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Read Also: EXCLUSIVE: AI To &#8216;Turbocharge&#8217; Alibaba&#8217;s Cloud In Bid To Rival Microsoft, Amazon, Says Strategist</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Tencent&#8217;s Advertising Getting Stronger</h2>
With AI integration driving both operational efficiency and revenue growth, Tencent's advertising game is only getting stronger. The real question is whether Tencent can continue to outpace competitors and fully capitalize on AI's potential, or will rivals like Alibaba Group Holding Ltd (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NYSE">BABA</a>) (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABAF#NYSE">BABAF</a>) close the gap?
One thing's for sure—Tencent is betting big on AI to keep its digital dominance intact.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/09/40821034/exclusive-ai-in-china-the-sleeping-giant-awakens-kraneshares-strategist-says-we-sho" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EXCLUSIVE: AI In China — The Sleeping Giant Awakens? KraneShares Strategist Says We Should Be Paying Attention</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: katjen/Shutterstock.com

Long Ideas

Exclusives

Analyst Ratings

Trading Ideas

Interview

TCTZF

EXCLUSIVE: Tencent Leverages AI To 'Enhance Ad Targeting Precision,' Says Expert

According to investors and recent financial reports, the technology sector is experiencing broad weakness despite the buzz around artificial intelligence (AI). Many companies are still struggling with <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/09/40767784/nvidia-microsofts-ai-rally-hides-tech-sectors-underlying-weakness-warn-experts-ther" rel="noreferrer noopener">the recession that started in 2022</a>.
Gaming, Streaming Platform &amp; TV
Seven of the gaming industry&#8217;s biggest names—Epic Games, Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EA#NASDAQ">EA</a>), Roblox Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RBLX#NYSE">RBLX</a>), Microsoft Corp.&#8216;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) Activision Blizzard, Mojang Studios,&nbsp;Tencent Holding Ltd. (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TCEHY#OTC">TCEHY</a>) Supercell, and UbiSoft Entertainment Inc. (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UBSFF#OTC">UBSFF</a>) —are facing new accusations from the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) of deceiving players into <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/gaming/24/09/40843191/epic-ea-ubisoft-face-accusations-of-deceit-over-in-game-purchases-eu-complaint-filed" rel="noreferrer noopener">overspending on&nbsp;in-game purchases</a>.
UbiSoft faces pressure from a minority shareholder to go private following the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/gaming/24/09/40801168/ubisoft-is-mismanaged-shareholders-are-hostages-investor-demands-video-game-company-go-private-aft" rel="noreferrer noopener">release of&nbsp;Star Wars Outlaws</a>.
Martyn Ware, co-founder of the synth-pop band Heaven 17, has publicly rejected an offer from&nbsp;Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TTWO#NASDAQ">TTWO</a>) Rockstar Games to license the group&#8217;s hit song &#8220;Temptation&#8221; in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/24/09/40779329/grand-theft-auto-6-licensing-dispute-martyn-ware-slams-rockstars-extremely-low-7-500-offer" rel="noreferrer noopener">the upcoming&nbsp;Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6)</a>.
Netflix Inc&#8217;s&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFLX#NASDAQ">NFLX</a>)&nbsp;mobile gaming catalog has surpassed 210 million downloads, marking a notable milestone in the streaming company&#8217;s <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/gaming/24/09/40802898/netflix-games-hit-210m-downloads-which-game-took-the-no-1-spot" rel="noreferrer noopener">expansion into the&nbsp;gaming industry</a>.
Microsoft recent overhaul of Xbox Game Pass has brought significant changes to the subscription service, impacting how gamers access <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/09/40840369/microsofts-new-xbox-game-pass-tiers-which-games-will-you-lose" rel="noreferrer noopener">some of the industry&#8217;s&nbsp;anticipated titles</a>.
Pay-TV provider DirecTV lodged a complaint against Walt Disney Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIS#NYSE">DIS</a>)&nbsp;with the&nbsp;Federal Communications Commission, accusing <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/24/09/40765624/disney-accused-of-bad-faith-negotiations-by-directv-in-fcc-complaint-ahead-of-trump-harris-" rel="noreferrer noopener">the mouse house of &#8220;bad faith&#8221; negotiations</a>.
Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40808078/directv-and-disneys-couldnt-even-agree-on-bringing-abc-temporarily-back-for-the-trump-harris-debate" rel="noreferrer noopener">DirecTV And Disney&#8217;s Couldn&#8217;t Even Agree On Bringing ABC Temporarily Back For The Trump-Harris Debate</a>
Smartphones
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) introduced the&nbsp;iPhone 16&nbsp;series, which is &#8220;designed for Apple <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40780100/apple-intelligence-ready-iphone-16-with-faster-processor-dedicated-camera-button-announced-check-pri" rel="noreferrer noopener">Intelligence from the ground up,&#8221;</a>
The&nbsp;iPhone 16&nbsp;series will be powered by&nbsp;ARM&nbsp;Holdings&#8217; (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARM#NASDAQ">ARM</a>) latest chip technology, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40766753/iphone-16-to-feature-arms-next-gen-ai-chip-technology-what-you-should-know-about-apples-move" rel="noreferrer noopener">designed to improve AI capabilities</a>.
Related: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40767418/iphone-16-series-production-data-unveiled-by-top-apple-analyst-9m-to-16m-units-shipments-for-august" rel="noreferrer noopener">iPhone 16 Series Production Data Unveiled By Top Apple Analyst: 9M To 16M Units Shipments For August And September Expected</a>
Apple&nbsp;has commenced the production of its newly launched iPhone 16 series in India, reflecting <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40826717/apples-iphone-production-move-to-india-signals-broader-tech-exodus-from-china-with-microsoft-and-ama" rel="noreferrer noopener">a broader trend among tech giants</a>.
Apple unveiled the Apple Watch Series 10, featuring <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40779019/apple-watch-series-10-announced-with-larger-display-thinner-design" rel="noreferrer noopener">a larger display and thinner design</a>. The company also announced the AirPods 4, with the price starting at $129, while the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40779374/apple-announces-airpods-4-with-wireless-charging-along-with-a-new-anc-variant-prices-start-at-129" rel="noreferrer noopener">AirPods 4 ANC is priced at $179</a>.
Apple is reportedly in discussions with&nbsp;Micron, Tata Group and other Indian chip manufacturers to procure <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40785446/apple-in-talks-with-micron-tata-group-to-secure-india-made-chips-for-locally-made-iphones" rel="noreferrer noopener">semiconductors for its locally-produced&nbsp;</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40785446/apple-in-talks-with-micron-tata-group-to-secure-india-made-chips-for-locally-made-iphones" rel="noreferrer noopener">iPhones</a>.
Chinese tech heavyweight&nbsp;Huawei Technologies&#8217;&nbsp;newest tri-fold smartphone, the&nbsp;Mate XT, attracted 1.3 million orders <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40765746/apples-iphone-16-launch-parade-on-monday-gets-rained-on-by-huawei-chinese-companys-tri-fold-phone-ge" rel="noreferrer noopener">within seven hours of opening reservations</a>.
Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40765900/apple-watch-ultra-3-announcement-unlikely-at-mondays-glowtime-event-says-top-analyst-i-also-wouldnt" rel="noreferrer noopener">Apple Watch Ultra 3 Announcement Unlikely At Monday&#8217;s &#8216;Glowtime&#8217; Event, Says Top Analyst: &#8216;I Also Wouldn&#8217;t Rule Out…&#8217;</a>
Apple seems to have silently phased out its controversial FineWoven iPhone cases, as they are no longer <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40809459/apple-quietly-phases-out-categorically-terrible-finewoven-iphone-cases-report" rel="noreferrer noopener">available on the company's website</a>.
Technology
Meta Platforms, Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>),&nbsp;Snap&nbsp;Inc.&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SNAP#NYSE">SNAP</a>), and&nbsp;ByteDance-owned&nbsp;TikTok have announced a joint initiative to combat&nbsp;the spread of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40846628/meta-snap-and-tiktok-come-together-to-combat-suicide-and-self-harm-content-online-will-share-signals" rel="noreferrer noopener">suicide and&nbsp;self-harm content online</a>.
In a strategic move to enhance its product offerings,&nbsp;Qualcomm Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QCOM#NASDAQ">QCOM</a>) is reportedly contemplating the acquisition of certain <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40745239/apple-supplier-qualcomm-eyes-intel-units-to-bolster-product-line-report" rel="noreferrer noopener">segments of&nbsp;</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40745239/apple-supplier-qualcomm-eyes-intel-units-to-bolster-product-line-report" rel="noreferrer noopener">Intel Corp. </a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40745239/apple-supplier-qualcomm-eyes-intel-units-to-bolster-product-line-report" rel="noreferrer noopener">(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INTC#NASDAQ">INTC</a>)</a>.
Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) rival&nbsp;Groq&nbsp;announced on Tuesday that it will deploy AI in Saudi Arabia in 2024, in partnership with&nbsp;Aramco Digital, at the ongoing Global <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40796193/groq-to-deploy-ai-in-saudi-arabia-with-aramco-aims-to-match-2023-microsoft-openai-capacity-by-2025" rel="noreferrer noopener">AI Summit (GAIN) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia</a>.
Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) subsidiary&nbsp;Google&nbsp;underscored the importance of empowering users with fact-check tools amid the rising use of AI, at the third edition of the Global AI Summit <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40788721/google-underscores-importance-of-empowering-users-with-fact-check-tools-amid-rising-use-of-ai" rel="noreferrer noopener">(GAIN) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia</a>.
In response to a global IT outage triggered by a faulty software update,&nbsp;Microsoft has announced <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/40791329" rel="noreferrer noopener">plans to host a cybersecurity summit</a>.
Microsoft has reportedly laid off 650 employees in its gaming division, months after the company laid off 1,900 employees following its&nbsp;$68.7 <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/09/40829756/microsoft-cuts-650-xbox-jobs-amid-restructuring-following-activision-blizzard-deal-report" rel="noreferrer noopener">billion acquisition&nbsp;of&nbsp;</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/09/40829756/microsoft-cuts-650-xbox-jobs-amid-restructuring-following-activision-blizzard-deal-report" rel="noreferrer noopener">Activision Blizzard</a>.
Samsung Electronics&nbsp;(OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SSNLF#OTC">SSNLF</a>) instructed its global subsidiaries to decrease sales and marketing staff by around 15% <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40812318/samsung-to-reportedly-slash-global-workforce-by-up-to-30-in-certain-divisions-amid-intense-competiti" rel="noreferrer noopener">and administrative staff by up to 30%</a>.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40826639/mark-zuckerberg-live-event-sold-out-stadium-meta-ceo-attracted-thousands-eager-to-hear-him-speak-on" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mark Zuckerberg Live Event Sold Out Stadium: Meta CEO Attracted Thousands Eager To Hear Him Speak On &#8216;The Next Decade Of Social, Technology, And AI&#8217;</a>
Elon Musk
Tesla&nbsp;and&nbsp;SpaceX&nbsp;CEO&nbsp;Elon Musk&nbsp;has expressed his astonishment at&nbsp;YouTube&#8217;s&nbsp;decision to restrict teenagers&#8217;&nbsp;access <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40766389/elon-musk-expresses-disbelief-over-youtubes-restriction-on-fitness-videos-for-teens-globally-serious" rel="noreferrer noopener">to certain health and&nbsp;fitness videos</a>.
Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40784773/elon-musk-liked-the-camera-on-iphone-15-but-iphone-16-doesnt-get-much-love-from-the-techno-king-here" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elon Musk Liked The Camera On iPhone 15, But iPhone 16 Doesn&#8217;t Get Much Love From The Techno King: Here&#8217;s What He Said</a>
Musk revealed that Tesla's Dojo 2 supercomputer should be&nbsp;in volume production by the&nbsp;end of 2025. The tech mogul expressed confidence in Dojo's potential but noted that its true capabilities would only be known after the third <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40787336/elon-musk-reveals-timeline-for-teslas-dojo-supercomputer-upgrade-comparable-to-a-nvidia-b200-type-sy" rel="noreferrer noopener">major iteration, expected in late 2026</a>.
Artificial Intelligence
OpenAI,&nbsp;the AI research lab,&nbsp;has launched a new model, ‘o1', which is the first in a series of "reasoning" models. This model can answer complex questions faster than a human. The company has also introduced a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/top-stories/24/09/40842891/openai-unveils-o1-model-a-step-closer-to-human-like-ai-but-not-without-flaws" rel="noreferrer noopener">smaller, more affordable version, ‘o1-mini'</a>.
ChatGPT-parent&nbsp;OpenAI&nbsp;is reportedly in discussion to raise $6.5 billion in equity financing, which <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40825072/openais-valuation-could-skyrocket-to-150b-in-new-fundraising-positioning-it-among-the-worlds-most-va" rel="noreferrer noopener">could&nbsp;bring its valuation&nbsp;to $150 billion</a>.
OpenAI CEO&nbsp;Sam Altman faced backlash from&nbsp;ChatGPT&nbsp;subscribers after he responded to a user's<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40846309/sam-altman-wants-chatgpt-users-to-have-gratitude-for-magic-intelligence-in-the-sky-after-they-ask-ab" rel="noreferrer noopener"> question about&nbsp;new voice features</a>.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40825968/bipartisan-coalition-of-42-state-ags-urges-congress-to-mandate-surgeon-general-warnings-on-social-me" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bipartisan Coalition Of 42 State AGs Urges Congress To Mandate Surgeon General Warnings On Social Media Apps Like TikTok, X, And Meta&#8217;s Instagram To Address Growing Mental Health Concerns</a>
Google's artificial intelligence model,&nbsp;PaLM2, has come under the radar of Europe's privacy watchdog over concerns <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40824870/google-ai-model-palm2-under-probe-for-data-regulations-breach-by-european-privacy-watchdog" rel="noreferrer noopener">related to the handling of personal data</a>.
Mark Cuban, the&nbsp;billionaire entrepreneur&nbsp;and&nbsp;part-owner of the&nbsp;Dallas Mavericks, has publicly praised&nbsp;Elon Musk&#8217;s AI chatbot,&nbsp;Grok, to Vice President&nbsp;Kamala Harris&#8217; immigration <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40767860/mark-cuban-praises-elon-musks-ai-chatbot-grok-for-answering-kamala-harris-pov-on-immigration-i-think" rel="noreferrer noopener">viewpoint, terming it as &#8220;accurate&#8221;</a>.

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As the metaverse gains momentum, investments in computing power and AI chips enhance gaming experiences, driving demand and making the video games market a compelling investment opportunity with significant growth potential. To that end, let's analyze the fundamentals of two must-watch video game stocks: Tencent Holdings (TCEHY) and Electronic Arts (EA). Keep reading... Investments in computing power and AI chips are enhancing the metaverse experience and driving demand for interactive games, making the video game sector a compelling investment opportunity. Therefore, investors should consider keeping an eye on strong video game stocks like Tencent Holdings Limited (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/TCEHY/">TCEHY</a>) and Electronic Arts Inc. (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/EA/">EA</a>), as the metaverse gains momentum.
This year, Metaverse Gaming is booming due to consumer demand for immersive experiences, advancements in VR/AR technologies, blockchain integration, a strong gaming culture, increasing incomes, and accelerated adoption of digital entertainment post-COVID-19. The market is projected to achieve a remarkable <a href="https://www.statista.com/outlook/amo/metaverse/metaverse-gaming/worldwide">CAGR of 41.64% from 2024 to 2030</a>, reaching an estimated volume of $168.4 billion by 2030.
Likewise, AI enhances user engagement and content creation in virtual worlds, transforming the gaming industry. It empowers smaller studios to develop expansive game worlds with high-quality graphics and dynamic content in the metaverse. As a result, the video game market is projected to generate $282.30 billion, with a CAGR of <a href="https://www.statista.com/outlook/dmo/digital-media/video-games/worldwide">8.76% through 2027</a>, reaching an estimated market volume of $363.20 billion.
Furthermore, the growth of mobile gaming and the rise of e-sports have boosted market optimism. Considering these favorable trends, let's examine the fundamentals of two video game stock picks.
Tencent Holdings Limited (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/TCEHY/">TCEHY</a>)
Headquartered in Shenzhen, People's Republic of China, TCEHY is an investment holding company that offers value-added services (VAS), online advertising, fintech, and business services internationally. It operates through VAS, Online Advertising, FinTech, Business Services, and Others segments.
In terms of the trailing-12-month Return on Common Equity, TCEHY's 18.64% is 467.5% higher than the 3.28% industry average. Likewise, its 30.44% trailing-12-month <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/e/ebit.asp">EBIT</a> margin is 230.3% higher than the 9.21% industry average. Furthermore, its 24.23% trailing-12-month net income margin is 683.4% higher than the 3.09% industry average.
In the second quarter that ended June 30, 2024, TCEHY's total revenues increased 8% year-over-year to RMB161.12 billion ($22.78 billion). Its gross profit grew 21.3% from the prior year's quarter to RMB85.90 billion ($12.14 billion).
For the same quarter, the company's non-IFRS profit attributable to equity holders of the company rose 52.6% year-over-year to RMB57.30 billion ($8.10 billion). Also, its EPS for profit attributable to equity holders of the company stood at RMB6.01, up 85.3% over the prior-year quarter.
For the quarter ended September 30, 2024, TCEHY's EPS and revenue are expected to increase 37.6% and 12.5% year-over-year to $0.88 and $24 billion, respectively. It surpassed the Street EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters. Over the past nine months, TCEHY's stock has gained 66.9% to close the last trading session at $62.35.
TCEHY's bright prospects are reflected in its <a href="https://stocknews.com/powr-ratings/">POWR Ratings</a>. It has an overall rating of B, equating to a Buy in our proprietary rating system. The POWR Ratings assess stocks by 118 different factors, each with its own weighting.
It has an A grade for Stability and a B grade for Sentiment. It is ranked #6 out of 38 stocks in the B-rated <a href="https://stocknews.com/category/china/">China</a> industry. To access the additional grades of TCEHY for Growth, Value, Momentum, and Quality, <a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/TCEHY/">click here</a>.
Electronic Arts Inc. (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/EA/">EA</a>)
EA develops, markets, publishes, and distributes games, content, and services for game consoles, PCs, mobile phones, and tablets worldwide. It develops and publishes games and services across various genres, such as sports, racing, first-person shooter, action, role-playing, and simulation, and licenses games from others.
On October 4, 2024, EA announced the global release of EA SPORTS NHL 25. The game features a new ICE-Q gameplay system, an improved Franchise Mode, and enhanced presentation, providing an immersive hockey experience on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X&#x7C;S.
On September 27, 2024, EA launched EA SPORTS FC 25, introducing new gameplay features like Rush and FC IQ. For the first time, women's football was added to Career Mode. The event was celebrated worldwide by cover stars, enhancing the game's social experience.
In terms of the trailing-12-month net income margin, EA's 15.77% is 410% higher than the 3.09% industry average. Likewise, its 9.06% trailing-12-month Return on Total Assets is 640.5% higher than the industry average of 1.22%. Furthermore, the stock's 19.22% trailing-12-month levered FCF margin is 140.6% higher than the industry average of 7.99%.
For the first quarter that ended June 30, 2024, EA's total net revenue and gross profit stood at $1.66 billion and $1.40 billion, respectively. Similarly, the company's income came in at $364 million. Moreover, its net income was $280 million, or $1.04 per share.
Analysts expect EA's EPS for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, to increase 10% year-over-year to $2.01. Likewise, its revenue for the same quarter is expected to increase 11.5% year-over-year to $2.03 billion. Over the past year, the stock has gained 16.2% to close the last trading session at $142.90.
It's no surprise that EA has an overall rating of B, which translates to a Buy in our proprietary POWR Ratings system.
It has a B grade for Quality. It is ranked #4 out of 18 stocks in the B-rated <a href="Entertainment%20-%20Toys%20&amp;%20Video%20Games">Entertainment - Toys &amp; Video Games</a> industry. Beyond what we stated above, we also have given EA grades for Growth, Value, Momentum, Stability, and Sentiment. Get all EA ratings <a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/EA/">here</a>.
What To Do Next?
43 year investment veteran, Steve Reitmeister, has just released his 2024 market outlook along with trading plan and top 11 picks for the year ahead.
<a href="https://report.stocknews.com/sign-up/stock-market-outlook-2024/?formplacement=artbotad_smo24_rep">2024 Stock Market Outlook &gt;</a>

<hr />
TCEHY shares were trading at $56.76 per share on Tuesday afternoon, down $5.59 (-8.97%). Year-to-date, TCEHY has gained 51.32%, versus a 21.63% rise in the benchmark S&amp;P 500 index during the same period.
<hr><div style="clear:both;"></div> <h2>About the Author: Abhishek Bhuyan</h2> <img src='https:/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/ABhuyan.jpg' style="float:left; padding:5px;width:125px;">Abhishek embarked on his professional journey as a financial journalist due to his keen interest in discerning the fundamental factors that influence the future performance of financial instruments.<a href="https://stocknews.com/authors/?author=abhishek-bhuyan">More...</a>The post <a href=https://stocknews.com/news/tcehy-ea-2-video-game-stocks-to-watch-as-the-metaverse-gains/>2 Video Game Stocks to Watch as the Metaverse Gains Momentum</a> appeared first on <a href=https://stocknews.com/>StockNews.com</a>

2 Video Game Stocks to Watch as the Metaverse Gains Momentum

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