Katrina Hamlin

US, UK ​and Chinese self-driving rivals ⁠will compete ​for the first time ​as the Big Smoke lets Waymo, Wayve and ​Baidu loose ​on its streets. They’ll pit ‌tech ⁠and strategy against each other for a key slice ​of ​a ⁠potential $168 bln global market. It ​will be a ​tough ⁠battleground.

China’s Geely effectively controls ‌both automakers. Yet smart-car rules allow $6 bln Volvo to keep selling vehicles in the US, but ​not the $2.5 bln EV maker. It’s not ​clear why. But satisfying regulators would be ⁠expensive. Polestar may be better off being ​excluded.

BYD and rivals sold ​1 mln vehicles abroad ​in June as a 9-month ⁠sales slump at ​home added to oversupply, while ​pricier oil piqued demand for EVs. It'll revive protectionist arguments, ​speed up overseas production, ​squeeze global rivals' margins and even ‌spur ⁠consolidation.

Brussels hit Alibaba's AliExpress with a record $629 mln fine for selling illegal and unsafe ​products. As a trade imbalance ​with China widens, pushback against low-value ⁠e-commerce imports is mounting. More ​curbs in the key market will follow, ​as will reasons to discount Shein.

The fast-fashion retailer’s earnings ‌fell 42% in the first quarter, even after excluding a one-off charge. EU import duties could squeeze ​the bottom line as much as similar ​measures in the US have. That suggests ⁠CEO Sky Xu would be lucky to ​pin on a $10 bln price tag.

The $276 bln cell maker reckons energy storage solutions ‌can make up half of sales by 2030. Pricier oil helped nearly double revenue from those devices in the first half. ​But as more Chinese rivals like BYD target ​overseas markets, it will be harder to maintain ⁠the pace.

The $1.2 trln EV giant ‌may sell its China arm to prep for a possible SpaceX merger. Tesla and global carmakers risk ​hitting geopolitical potholes if they stay, for ​more meagre rewards than before. But with ⁠no Elon Musk, robots or robotaxis, a ​buyer would demand a big discount.

The $35 bln insurer's new business from Chinese visitors in the ​city shrank, stoking fear ​that curbs on cross-border capital flows ⁠are biting. Yet its products ​may draw less regulatory scrutiny. ​Emigration to the financial hub and booming onshore sales are also useful buffers.

Regulators set new guidelines warning automakers to refrain from disruptive ​competition abroad. Yet they ​look toothless for giants like $113 bln ⁠BYD and Geely, which both ​more than doubled August exports. ​A sales slump at home pushes Chinese firms to charge ahead at full ​speed.

Events hosted by ‌the nine-year-old fitness racing series attract 1.4 mln participants and regularly sell out. A consortium ​led by L Catterton is betting ​the franchise, valued at some $700 mln, is ⁠more than a fad. But rivals ​are emerging. Hyrox has limited time to bulk ​up.