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China’s growth cools but beats forecasts as PBoC holds rates; Asia stocks advance

China’s economy expanded 4.8% year over year in Q3, the slowest pace since 2024 but ahead of quarterly expectations, while September industrial output rose 6.5% and the jobless rate eased to 5.2%. Consumer spending slowed to a one-year low and the PBoC kept key lending rates steady for a fifth straight month, underscoring a measured policy stance. Regional equities climbed on the data and renewed trade-talk optimism, with the Nikkei hitting fresh records.

Source: Seeking Alpha


Amazon Web Services outage ripples across finance and social apps

An AWS disruption knocked out or slowed services for several hours, affecting platforms including Snapchat and retail brokerages like Robinhood. The outage highlighted concentrated cloud risk across finance, trading, and consumer apps that rely on Amazon’s infrastructure for data, authentication, and transaction processing.

Source: Seeking Alpha


Kering strikes €4B deal to sell beauty division to L’Oréal

Kering agreed to divest its beauty business to L’Oréal for €4 billion, marking one of the sector’s largest recent portfolio moves. The transaction, pending regulatory approval, would expand L’Oréal’s luxury lineup while allowing Kering to refocus capital amid ongoing brand-repositioning efforts.

Source: Seeking Alpha


U.S. and U.K. warn after Chinese-linked hackers infiltrate F5 Networks

Chinese-linked actors allegedly maintained months-long access to F5 Networks, prompting joint cybersecurity advisories from U.S. and U.K. authorities. The incident underscores continuing supply‑chain and infrastructure risks across enterprise networks and could spur renewed investment in security patching and vendor due diligence.

Source: Seeking Alpha


Boeing and machinists to resume talks as strike reaches day 75

Boeing will return to the table with its machinists union as a prolonged strike hits 75 days, keeping pressure on aircraft output and delivery timelines. Investors are watching for signs of progress that could stabilize production schedules across commercial programs and related supply chains.

Source: Seeking Alpha


Beijing pressure stalls Hong Kong stablecoin push by Ant Group and JD.com

Chinese tech giants Ant Group and JD.com paused their Hong Kong stablecoin initiatives after mainland regulators raised concerns about private control over currency-like tokens. The move complicates Hong Kong’s ambitions to become a regional hub for regulated stablecoins and highlights diverging global policy paths.

Source: Finance Magnates


Apple’s iPhone 17 fuels strongest sales growth since the pandemic: FT

Apple’s latest iPhone cycle is driving the company’s most robust sales momentum since COVID-era peaks, according to the Financial Times. The outperformance could ease concerns about handset demand and support Apple’s broader ecosystem revenues heading into holiday quarters.

Source: Seeking Alpha


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Business — October 20, 2025 | Briefing24