Market Overview - The US stock market indices showed mixed performance on Friday, with the Hang Seng Index ADR closing at 26,719.08 points, down by 30.43 points or 0.11% compared to the Hong Kong close [1]. Major Blue-Chip Stocks - HSBC Holdings closed at HKD 130.896, up by 0.69% from the Hong Kong close [2]. - Tencent Holdings closed at HKD 598.184, up by 0.54% from the Hong Kong close [2]. Stock Performance Summary - Tencent Holdings (HKD 595.000) saw a decrease of HKD 2.500, or -0.42%, with its ADR price at HKD 598.184, reflecting an increase of HKD 3.184 or 0.54% [3]. - Alibaba Group (HKD 168.500) increased by HKD 3.700, or 2.25%, with its ADR price at HKD 168.834, up by HKD 0.334 or 0.20% [3]. - HSBC Holdings (HKD 130.000) rose by HKD 0.300, or 0.23%, with its ADR price at HKD 130.896, up by HKD 0.896 or 0.69% [3]. - Xiaomi Group (HKD 36.240) increased by HKD 1.000, or 2.84%, with its ADR price at HKD 36.287, up by HKD 0.047 or 0.13% [3]. - AIA Group (HKD 83.050) rose by HKD 0.550, or 0.67%, with its ADR price at HKD 83.077, up by HKD 0.027 or 0.03% [3]. - Meituan (HKD 97.550) increased by HKD 0.550, or 0.57%, with its ADR price at HKD 97.735, up by HKD 0.185 or 0.19% [3]. - Kuaishou (HKD 81.250) rose by HKD 2.150, or 2.72%, with its ADR price at HKD 82.648, up by HKD 1.398 or 1.72% [3]. - Ctrip Group (HKD 485.400) increased by HKD 3.800, or 0.79%, with its ADR price at HKD 490.273, up by HKD 4.873 or 1.00% [3].

Market Overview - The Hang Seng Index (HSI) closed at 26,739.45, up by 109.49 points or 0.41% as of January 22, 16:00 Eastern Time [1] - The index reached a high of 26,865.49 and a low of 26,707.64 during the trading session, with a trading volume of 74.379 million shares [1] Stock Performance - HSBC Holdings closed at HKD 130.600, an increase of 0.69% compared to the previous close [2] - Tencent Holdings closed at HKD 594.990, a decrease of 0.42% compared to the previous close [2] - Alibaba Group (ADR) saw a price increase of 4.78%, closing at HKD 164.800, while its ADR price was USD 172.684 [3] - Other notable stock movements include: - China Ping An: down 2.34% to HKD 66.900 [3] - Baidu Group: up 4.10% to HKD 160.000 [3] - BYD Company: up 0.71% to HKD 99.750 [3] - New World Development: up 3.63% to HKD 114.200 [3]

Market Overview - The Hang Seng Index (HSI) closed at 26,547.45, down by 37.61 points or 0.14% [1] - The index reached a high of 26,639.66 and a low of 26,442.66 during the trading session [1] - The average price for the day was 26,541.16, with a trading volume of 49.443 million shares [1] Blue-Chip Stocks Performance - HSBC Holdings closed at 129.700 HKD, up by 1.17% compared to the previous close [2] - Tencent Holdings closed at 599.924 HKD, down by 0.43% compared to the previous close [2] - Alibaba Group (ADR) saw an increase of 2.19%, closing at 163.200 HKD [3] - Notable declines included NetEase, which fell by 3.70% to 208.000 HKD [3] Individual Stock Movements - Tencent Holdings (ADR) was priced at 599.924, reflecting a decrease of 0.43% compared to its Hong Kong price [3] - Alibaba's ADR was at 164.396, showing an increase of 0.73% compared to its Hong Kong price [3] - HSBC's ADR was at 129.700, indicating an increase of 1.17% compared to its Hong Kong price [3] - Other notable movements included Baidu Group, which increased by 3.29% to 153.700 HKD [3]

Market Overview - The Hang Seng Index closed at 26,246.02, down by 241.49 points or 0.91% [1] - The index reached a high of 26,469.55 and a low of 26,233.40 during the trading session [1] - The average price for the day was 26,351.48, with a trading volume of 46.7434 million [1] Major Blue-Chip Stocks Performance - HSBC Holdings closed at HKD 128.682, up by 0.22% compared to the Hong Kong close [2] - Tencent Holdings closed at HKD 593.183, down by 1.30% compared to the Hong Kong close [2] - Alibaba Group (W) closed at HKD 159.700, down by 0.44% [3] - Xiaomi Group (W) closed at HKD 35.480, down by 2.74% [3] - Meituan (W) closed at HKD 97.350, down by 1.17% [3] Stock Price Changes - Tencent Holdings saw a decrease of HKD 9.000, or 1.48% [3] - HSBC Holdings increased by HKD 1.400, or 1.10% [3] - China Ping An rose by HKD 0.600, or 0.88% [3] - BYD Company experienced a decline of HKD 3.700, or 3.67% [3] - Kuaishou Technology (W) fell by HKD 0.700, or 0.91% [3]

Core Viewpoint - The antitrust investigation serves as a critical opportunity for the overall transformation of the platform economy, emphasizing the need for technological innovation to reduce costs and improve efficiency while ensuring fair profit distribution among all stakeholders in the platform ecosystem [1][4]. Group 1: Antitrust Investigation Context - The first antitrust case of 2026 targets Ctrip, with prior indications of issues such as "choose one from two" and technical price intervention being flagged by market regulators [2]. - The investigation suggests that Ctrip's business practices may have already been deemed problematic, raising concerns about potential penalties and their impact on future profitability and business models [2]. Group 2: Policy Implications - Ctrip's situation highlights a conflict between high platform profits and the "real economy first" directive, as platforms often profit from merchants rather than users, leading to a concerning trend of cost transfer from users to merchants [3]. - Ctrip's net profit for the first three quarters of 2025 reached 29 billion yuan, while the total net profit of the entire A-share tourism chain was approximately 19 billion yuan, illustrating the stark contrast between platform profits and the struggles of traditional businesses [3]. Group 3: Market Dynamics and Future Directions - The use of pricing tools by platforms like Ctrip creates a vicious cycle for merchants, forcing them into price wars that undermine profitability, which is contrary to the goal of fostering a healthy competitive environment [4]. - The investigation is not only about antitrust but also addresses the issue of "involution" in competition, aiming to create a new ecosystem where all parties can share development benefits through genuine value creation and fair profit distribution [4].

Core Viewpoint - Trip.com Group Limited is under investigation for potential securities fraud and unlawful business practices, following a notice from the State Administration for Market Regulations of China regarding an anti-monopoly investigation [1][3]. Group 1: Investigation Details - Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Trip.com, advising them to contact the firm for further information [1]. - The investigation is focused on whether Trip.com and its officers or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices [1]. Group 2: Market Reaction - On January 14, 2026, Trip.com announced it received a notice of investigation from the SAMR, leading to a significant drop in its American Depositary Receipt (ADR) price, which fell by $12.90, or 17.05%, closing at $62.78 per ADR [3].

Group 1 - The core issue of the investigation against Ctrip is related to its high profits conflicting with the "real economy first" directive, highlighting the tension between platform monopolies and fair market practices [1] - Ctrip's practices, such as the "price adjustment assistant" that pressures hotels to follow suit in pricing, exemplify the "involution" that the policies aim to address, leading to a detrimental cycle for the entire industry [1] - The investigation serves as a critical opportunity for the overall transformation of the platform economy, emphasizing that antitrust actions are intended to promote innovation and ensure fair competition among all market participants [2] Group 2 - The investigation into Ctrip reflects a broader trend of increasing regulatory scrutiny on platform enterprises, necessitating a shift towards creating genuine incremental value through technological innovation and fair profit distribution [1] - The evolving regulatory landscape and the awakening of various stakeholders' rights are reshaping the competitive environment for platform companies, urging them to adapt and innovate [1]

Group 1 - The core issue revolves around Ctrip facing antitrust complaints from the Yunnan Homestay Association, which accuses the platform of high commissions and unfair pricing practices [1] - The homestay business is struggling, with a significant decline in occupancy rates due to changing consumer preferences, leading to a competitive and price-sensitive market [1] - Prior to 2019, China's tourism industry experienced annual revenue growth of around 15%, but it has stagnated around 0% in recent years, increasing competition among platforms [1] Group 2 - Without platforms like Ctrip, most homestays would struggle to survive due to a lack of customer acquisition channels [2] - Ctrip's commission rate for hotel bookings is approximately 9%, which is lower than the 14.3% commission rate of its U.S. counterpart, Booking.com, indicating that Ctrip's rates are not excessively high by international standards [3] - The intense competition in the domestic market makes it difficult for homestays to absorb even a 9% commission, leading to concerns about sustainability [4] Group 3 - Ctrip's customer service plays a crucial role in advocating for consumer rights, which can sometimes conflict with the interests of hotels [5] - The platform's ability to negotiate on behalf of customers enhances the travel experience, particularly for affluent users who value certainty in their travel arrangements [5] - The balance between protecting consumer interests and the impact on hotel profitability raises questions about the overall fairness of the platform's practices [6]

Group 1 - Major stock indices futures are experiencing declines, with Dow futures down 1.64%, S&P 500 futures down 1.82%, and Nasdaq futures down 2.25% [1] - European countries are considering retaliatory measures, including the potential sale of trillions of dollars in assets, in response to the U.S. imposing a 10% tariff on eight European nations starting February 1 [1] - Chinese concept stocks are also declining, with Alibaba down 2.53%, Pinduoduo down 3.79%, and Trip.com down 1.14% [1] Group 2 - Bank of America has raised its target price for IBM from $315 to $335, maintaining a "buy" rating, citing strong free cash flow prospects and an increase in high-margin software business [2] - AppLovin's stock dropped over 10% following a short report from CapitalWatch, which alleged connections to money laundering activities involving cross-border crime groups [2] Group 3 - Gold prices have surged past $4,700, with spot gold at $4,732.85 per ounce and futures at $4,741.54 per ounce, marking significant increases for gold mining companies [3] - BHP has raised its copper production forecast for the 2026 fiscal year despite a 4% year-on-year decline in quarterly copper output, now expecting total copper production of 1.9 to 2 million tons [3] Group 4 - The social media platform X, owned by Elon Musk, has officially open-sourced its new algorithm, which is now accessible on GitHub and is powered by the same Transformer architecture as the xAI Grok model [4]

Trip.com Group (TCOM) Conference Call Summary Company Overview - **Company**: Trip.com Group (TCOM) - **Market Cap**: $39.3 billion - **Enterprise Value**: $32.9 billion - **Current Share Price**: $61.77 - **12-Month Price Target**: $87.00 (Upside: 40.8%) [1] Key Industry Insights - **Investigation Impact**: TCOM's share price dropped approximately 20% following the announcement of an investigation by the State Administration for Market Regulations (SAMR) of the PRC under the Anti-Monopoly Law. Historical cases (e.g., Alibaba, Meituan) were referenced to assess potential impacts on stock performance [1][2]. - **Competitive Landscape**: The investigation may lead TCOM to adopt a more restrained competitive stance, particularly in the hospitality segment, which is more fragmented compared to the airline and railway sectors dominated by state-owned companies [2][28]. - **Booking Volume vs. Take Rate**: The anticipated impact of increased competition is expected to affect booking volumes more than take rates. TCOM and Tongcheng have maintained stable hotel take rates despite competitive pressures [2][32]. Financial Performance and Projections - **Revenue Forecasts**: - FY2025E: Rmb 62,056.3 million - FY2026E: Rmb 69,843.2 million - FY2027E: Rmb 77,269.2 million [6][19] - **Earnings Adjustments**: Core earnings estimates for FY26-27 were revised down by 5% to 8%, with a slower hotel GMV CAGR projected at 6% (previously 13%) [19]. - **EBIT Margin**: Expected to narrow to 28.9% in FY26E from 30.4% in FY24E [19]. Key Financial Metrics - **EBITDA**: - FY2025E: Rmb 18,927.3 million - FY2026E: Rmb 21,113.1 million - FY2027E: Rmb 23,062.7 million [6][19] - **EPS**: - FY2025E: Rmb 46.30 - FY2026E: Rmb 30.04 - FY2027E: Rmb 32.16 [6][19] Risks and Considerations - **AI Adoption**: TCOM faces potential risks from AI adoption compared to peers, as competitors like Alibaba have integrated AI solutions to enhance customer experiences [21]. - **Market Structure**: The hospitality segment's fragmented nature may lead to increased competition and potential loss of exclusivity agreements, impacting TCOM's hotel business [28][29]. - **Take Rate Sensitivity**: A 10% reduction in hotel GMV could lower FY26E earnings by 5%, while a 1% change in hotel take rate could impact earnings by 8% [19]. Revenue Breakdown - **Domestic Revenue**: Approximately Rmb 40 billion or 63% of total revenue in FY2025E, with significant contributions from domestic hotels (29%) and transportation (15%) [26]. - **EBIT Contribution**: Majority of EBIT derived from domestic and outbound travel businesses, with 41% from domestic hotels [26]. Conclusion - Despite the recent volatility due to regulatory scrutiny, TCOM is positioned to benefit from the long-term growth of Chinese travel demand. The current share price correction may present a buying opportunity for long-term investors [20].