Group 1 - The core point of the article is that the UK fintech company Revolut has not yet received approval from UK financial regulators to offer consumer credit services to its 11 million customers in the UK [1]

Economic Overview - The first quarter economic data from China indicates a positive signal, with a notable recovery in the consumer market, laying a solid foundation for the annual economic performance [1] - The total retail sales of consumer goods reached 12.4671 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 4.6%, accelerating by 1.1 percentage points compared to the previous year [1] - In March, retail sales grew by 5.9% year-on-year, an acceleration of 1.9 percentage points compared to January-February, with a month-on-month growth of 0.58% [1] Financial Technology Companies Performance - Four Chinese financial technology companies focusing on consumer credit—Xiaoying Technology, Xinyi Technology, Lexin, and Qifu Technology—reported strong growth in their first-quarter financial results, reflecting the role of consumer finance in boosting consumption [1][2] - Xiaoying Technology reported a revenue of 1.938 billion yuan and a total loan facilitation of 35.149 billion yuan in the first quarter of fiscal year 2025, with a loan balance of 58.403 billion yuan [2][3] - Xinyi Technology achieved a revenue of 3.481 billion yuan and a net profit of 738 million yuan, with a total transaction amount of 52.1 billion yuan, marking a year-on-year growth of 7.9% [3][4] - Lexin's first-quarter revenue reached 3.1 billion yuan, with a non-GAAP EBIT of 580 million yuan, showing a significant year-on-year increase of 104.7% [4] - Qifu Technology reported a net income of 4.691 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 12.94%, with a total loan facilitation of 88.883 billion yuan, reflecting a growth of 15.8% [5] Market Trends and Future Outlook - The performance of financial technology companies is attributed to the recovery of the consumer market and the significant role of consumer credit in stimulating consumption [6] - Despite the positive first-quarter data, uncertainties remain regarding the sustainability and strength of the consumption recovery, with underlying issues such as income growth and consumer confidence needing further attention [6][7] - Recent government policies aimed at stabilizing the real estate market and expanding domestic demand have shown initial effectiveness, contributing to the overall economic stabilization [2][6] - The focus on service consumption as a key area for future economic stimulus reflects the government's commitment to enhancing consumer spending [6][7]