In the Media

As cryptocurrencies, stablecoins are pegged to another asset, typically the US dollar, another fiat currency, or a financial asset such as gold or the US Treasury bonds. The issuance mechanism of stablecoins is characterized as either centralized or decentralized. The supply of stablecoins relies on reserves held in assets or cryptocurrencies to maintain their value.

In a recent interview with Phoenix TV, Prof. Weiming Zhu, Associate Professor in Innovation and Information Management at the HKU Business School, shared his insights on the transformative power of online retail.

The Census and Statistics Department of Hong Kong released Hong Kong’s second-quarter GDP estimates (3.1%), surpassing both market expectations and the revised first-quarter figures. Prof. Heiwai Tang, Associate Vice-President of HKU and Director of the Asia Global Institute, noted that, supported by improvement in the financial market, the local economy is expected to remain buoyed by improvements in the financial sector.

Typically issued by private institutions, stablecoins are digital currencies that are pegged one-to-one to a fiat currency or collateralized by a reference asset. Currently, 99% of the world’s stablecoins are backed by the US dollar and US dollar-denominated assets, with USDT and USDC dominating the global market and accounting for a combined circulating supply worth more than US$220 billion. Circle has completed its listing in the US.

In a recent and thought-provoking interview and as part of the IfW Kiel's Global China Conversations series, Prof. Heiwai Tang, Associate Vice-President of HKU and Director of the Asia Global Institute, shed light on the deeper dynamics behind China’s industrial strategies.

In an interview with Deutsche Welle (DW), Prof. Heiwai Tang, Associate Vice-President of HKU and Director of the Asia Global Institute, explained that mainland Chinese enterprises face a "go global or go bust" situation due to intense domestic competition and tariff pressure on their export businesses. He noted that while these enterprises possess strong competitive advantages and productivity, they must still adapt to local cultures, such as management and political cultures, when expanding overseas.

In 2023, the Belgian newspaper Dernière Heure revealed that the ride-hailing platform Uber charges different prices to users based on their phone’s battery level.[1] Specifically, for the same trip, if your phone has 84% battery remaining, Uber charges 16.6 euros; but if you only have 12% battery left, the price rises to 17.56 euros. The logic behind this pricing is obvious: if your phone is about to run out of battery, you’re probably in no position to wait, and have no choice but to accept Uber’s higher price

In a recent interview with Ming Pao, Prof. Heiwai Tang, Associate Vice-President of HKU, explained that Hong Kong’s economic growth coupled with weak consumer sentiment stems from price rigidity—where wages and shop rents remain high, causing slow price adjustments. He noted that this leads the public to perceive restaurants as understaffed and expensive, yet offering poor quality, while high costs undermine business competitiveness and dampen consumer spending.

With its signature jagged-teeth smile and “ugly cute” look, Labubu has quickly turned into a cultural symbol, offering solace to city dwellers. In 2024, the IP of the Monsters series, including Labubu, registered sales of RMB3.041 billion, skyrocketing by 726.6% year on year to become Pop Mart’s most commercially valuable IP.