Driven by the global campaign "LET THE RUN BEGIN", the opening ceremony brings together state government representatives and elite runners from Malaysia and Singapore. The space unites elite racing technology, athlete sharing and grassroots programmes to nurture Malaysia's running landscape across Southeast Asia.

JOHOR BAHRU, Malaysia, Nov. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- XTEP International has officially unveiled its new premium running flagship store at Mid Valley Southkey, Johor Bahru, marking a substantial upgrade of the brand's regional service capacity and localized sports ecosystem in Southeast Asia. Strategically positioned at the key cross-border gateway linking Malaysia and Singapore, the new flagship serves southern Malaysia's over 100,000 local runners with comprehensive race-grade running equipment and professional sports support.

Under the global brand campaign "LET THE RUN BEGIN", the 2-day opening series presented 3 high-impact localized activities, including the elite champion one-day store manager campaign, professional running clinic sharing session, and offline community runner engagement. The grand opening ceremony was graced by YB Teo Nie Ching, Deputy Minister of Communications, YB Puan Nadhirah Afiqah binti Datuk Abdull Rahim, Deputy Chairperson, Johor State Executive Committee for Youth and Sports, Entrepreneur Development & Cooperatives, XTEP senior leadership, core business partners and elite professional runner Feng Peiyou. During the in-store event, Feng Peiyou presented a commemorative handprint keepsake and his signed championship racing shoes, further endorsing XTEP's long-term commitment to developing running culture across Malaysia. The event fully demonstrated XTEP's professional running technology strength and consistent commitment to nurturing local running culture.

Beyond enhancing the retail experience, XTEP further demonstrated its commitment to the local sporting community by donating RM20,000 worth of sports gear to Majlis Sukan Negeri Johor. The contribution aims to support local athlete development and race preparation by providing innovative sportswear and running shoes developed through extensive research to help athletes optimise their performance. This reflects XTEP's broader commitment to establishing strong local roots, empowering Asian runners and contributing to the sustainable development of Southeast Asia's running ecosystem.

The 600m² flagship store houses XTEP's complete premium running product lineup, including the newly launched 160X 8.0 carbon-plate racing series. Validated at the World Marathon Majors in 2026, XTEP's flagship racing footwear has proven dominant global competitive strength. Feng Peiyou, XTEP brand ambassador, set a new Chinese men's marathon national record with a time of 2:05:58 at the Tokyo Marathon wearing XTEP 160X professional racing gear. XTEP sponsored athlete Tebello Ramakongona claimed 3rd place and broke the official track record at the Sydney Marathon in the 160X 8.0 Pro, while fellow XTEP-sponsored athlete Kamohelo Mofolo also took 3rd place at the 2026 New York City Marathon in the same 160X 8.0 Pro — together verifying the series' elite-level performance on international premium race tracks.

Beyond empowering elite athletes, XTEP extends professional running technology to grassroots communities. As running evolves into a mainstream social lifestyle across Malaysia, XTEP adheres to the concept of national fitness, bridging high-end racing innovation with mass running scenarios. In May 2026, XTEP Malaysia established official partnerships with 2 local leading running communities, WIND RUNNER and PACEMAKER MALAYSIA. Leveraging the full product matrix including 260X and 360X series, the brand supports regular community training and offline gatherings, catering to both speed racing and daily jogging demands, and strengthening emotional connection within the local running community.

"Malaysia remains one of XTEP's most important strategic markets in Southeast Asia. Our continuous investment focuses not only on spatial expansion, but more on long-term localized sports empowerment," said Mao Yukang, General Manager of XTEP Malaysia. "The official opening of the 600m² Johor Bahru flagship and the youth sports donation initiative represent our persistent determination to integrate into local culture, activate regional running vitality, and deliver lasting value for Southeast Asia's sports development."

XTEP's localized expansion in Malaysia continues to accelerate. Following the opening of the Johor Bahru flagship, XTEP is set to launch 2 new retail stores at Kuala Lumpur Pavilion and IOI City Mall in the near future, expanding its total operational outlets in Malaysia to 13. By implementing the "retail + community experience" model, XTEP transforms offline stores from pure product retail spaces into localized gathering hubs for equipment selection, technique exchange and community interaction.

Rooted in the cross-border strategic gateway of Johor Bahru, guided by the global vision of "LET THE RUN BEGIN", XTEP unites world-class verified racing technology, localized community operation and long-term public welfare investment. Moving forward, the brand will continue deepening its Southeast Asian layout, empowering every tier of local runners with professional products and systematic community services, and steadily solidifying its leading position in Southeast Asia's professional running ecosystem.

About XTEP International

XTEP International is a global professional running brand focused on technological innovation, community sports development and long-term localized empowerment. Adhering to the brand philosophy "Make it Different", XTEP keeps empowering global runners with professional racing-grade products and sustainable public welfare investment.

State Street Corporation (STT.US) Chairman and CEO Ron O’Hanley said it is hard to see AI as a bubble, as market demand is supporting substantial investment in AI technology.

He said the construction of new data centers is not being carried out speculatively, but is backed by real orders. Whether a bubble emerges will depend on whether AI becomes more efficient, making all the capacity currently under construction redundant.

Following the earnings release by Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL.US), some market selling may have already been inevitable. O’Hanley said some selling in the market may have been overdue, but at present the market does not appear to be experiencing disorderly conditions.
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SINGAPORE, Nov. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- H World Hotel Management Pte. Ltd. ("H World APAC") and Agoda have entered into a five-year strategic cooperation agreement aimed at supporting H World APAC's hotel network expansion and business volume increment across the Asia-Pacific region. The collaboration brings together the companies' complementary strengths in market intelligence, business analytics, hotel distribution and performance marketing.

Driving Hotel Network Expansion Across Asia-Pacific

As part of the regional growth strategy, H World APAC is targeting the opening of approximately 70 hotels over the next five years. Under the collaboration, Agoda will support H World APAC's expansion efforts by providing market intelligence, facilitating introduction to prospective hotel investors and partners, and supporting location assessment and business development initiatives in selected markets.

Leveraging Market Intelligence and Data Analytics

The partnership establishes a framework for collaboration in market intelligence and business data analytics, enabling both parties to identify growth opportunities and increase market share across the regions.

Through the sharing of relevant market insights and destination demand trends, H World APAC and Agoda will explore potential hotel development opportunities and strengthen network planning efforts.

Enhancing Hotel distribution and Driving Revenue Growth

A key component of the agreement focuses on creating additional value for hotels. Participating H World APAC properties will benefit from Agoda's extensive distribution network, marketing initiatives, and revenue growth programs. These initiatives are designed to help participating hotels improve visibility, drive demand, and optimize commercial performance.

"Asia-Pacific is central to the next chapter of H World Group's global growth journey. Our strengths in hotel operations, brand building, supply chain management and operational efficiency have enabled us to become the world's fourth-largest hotel group by room count. Agoda complements these capabilities with deep demand intelligence and extensive market reach across Asia-Pacific. Together, we can accelerate our expansion in a more asset-light manner while creating a more compelling value proposition for hotel owners seeking a trusted growth partner." said Murphy Zhu, President, H World Group Asia Pacific.

Andrew Smith, Senior Vice President, Agoda added, "We're excited to support H World APAC's ambitions across Asia-Pacific. Supporting growth starts with understanding where travellers want to go and what they're looking for. With Agoda's travel demand insights, global distribution reach, and local market expertise, we're well positioned to help H World APAC identify opportunities and connect its hotels with more travellers."

Through this five-year partnership, participating H World APAC hotels will gain access to a broader ecosystem of support encompassing market intelligence, business development, distribution, marketing, and performance enhancement initiatives. By combining Agoda's global reach and distribution capabilities with H World APAC's expertise in hotel management and operation, the collaboration aims to unlock new growth opportunities for hotels across the Asia-Pacific region.

Contact:
Ms. Yanni LO
Senior Marketing Manager, APAC
Email: [email protected] 
Phone: (+852) 3585 3095

PIMCO CEO Emmanuel Roman said at the Fifth Global Financial Leaders' Investment Summit this morning (3rd) that AI-related financing could elevate to around USD10 trillion over the next five years and eventually reach overheated levels, compared with the approximately USD12 trillion size of the US bond market.

He said downside risks could emerge from rising US interest rates, war in the Middle East and a eurozone crisis, and the problem of excessive financing may then surface.

Blackstone Inc. (BX.US) President Jon Gray said at the same occasion that the current skepticism may be healthy, but stressed that the broader momentum of AI development indicates related investment will continue to increase, while demand for capital will also grow substantially.

He believed it would be a mistake to underestimate the upcoming productivity gains, as well as changes in consumer and corporate behavior.
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• XPENG today announced the appointment of Lee Man-sik, a 30-year automotive industry veteran with a proven track record in sales and commercial operations, as Managing Director of XPENG Motors Korea, effective December 1, 2026.
• The appointment marks XPENG's planned entry into the South Korean market. Details on launch timing and local business operations will be announced at a later date.

SEOUL, South Korea, Nov. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- XPeng Inc. ("XPENG" or "the Company," NYSE: XPEV; HKEX: 9868), a leading global Physical AI company, today announced the appointment of Lee Man-sik as Managing Director of XPENG Motors Korea, as the company prepares to bring its smart vehicles to one of Asia's most sophisticated automotive markets.

Mr. Lee brings more than three decades of automotive industry experience. Having begun his career in engineering, he has built expertise across sales, marketing, product strategy, brand communications, dealer network development and customer service. He joined Volvo Cars Korea in 2003 and played a pivotal role in establishing Volvo as a leading premium import brand in South Korea.

At Volvo Cars Korea, he led the development and execution of the brand's mid- to long-term growth strategy, with responsibilities spanning brand positioning, product planning, sales and marketing, nationwide dealer expansion and customer experience.

"Over the past thirty years, I have learned that sustainable growth for a premium brand rests not only on outstanding products but on trust built with customers," said Mr. Lee. "XPENG is a brand presenting new possibilities for the industry through innovative AI technology and a vision for future mobility. I am delighted to join this journey of change."

On the Korean market, he added: "Korean customers hold exceptionally high expectations for automobiles and are remarkably open to new technology and innovation. We believe XPENG's advanced technology and product competitiveness can offer them new choices and differentiated value. Above all, our goal is to build a brand customers can choose with confidence — one that delivers a trustworthy experience at every step of ownership."

In his new role, Mr. Lee will lead XPENG's efforts to establish its business foundation in South Korea, drawing on his deep understanding of the local automotive market and extensive experience in premium brand operations. His remit will include developing sales and service networks, building strategic partnerships and strengthening XPENG's brand presence in the market.

XPENG's planned entry into South Korea comes as the company continues to deepen its international footprint this year. In October 2026, the company delivered 50,237 vehicles worldwide — up 22% from September and 20% from a year earlier, a new monthly record. Overseas deliveries climbed to 13,326 units, surging 166% year on year to set a record of their own. The company now operates across 83 countries and regions, supported by eight R&D centers, six manufacturing bases and more than 1,200 stores worldwide. At the 2026 Paris Motor Show in October, XPENG launched its next-gen AI flagship SUV, the G9L, for the European market and showcased its latest intelligent driving technologies, while expanding opportunities for global technology partnerships. XPENG aims to bring that same differentiated technology and customer experience to South Korea, and details on launch timing and local operations will be shared in due course.

About XPENG

XPENG is a leading global Physical AI company, dedicated to bringing artificial intelligence into the physical world to reshape future mobility and smart living. Through in-house R&D, XPENG has developed a full-stack Physical AI architecture spanning Turing AI chips, world foundation models, and highly integrated software and hardware applications. This unified technology foundation of XPENG powers an expansive product portfolio of smart EVs, robotaxis, and humanoid robots, advancing the deployment of Physical AI at scale. Headquartered in Guangzhou, China, XPENG is dual-primary listed on the New York Stock Exchange and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. With global capabilities across R&D, manufacturing, sales, and services, XPENG drives continuous technological innovation and fosters an open Physical AI ecosystem, making life smarter, safer, and better for users worldwide. For more information, please visit https://www.xpeng.com/.

For media inquiries:

XPENG PR Department

Email: [email protected] 

Marvell (MRVL.US) announced the acquisition of optical component maker Lumentum (LITE.US) at an enterprise value of USD115 billion, meaning the merger of two companies backed by NVIDIA (NVDA.US). Marvell CEO Matt Murphy said he will continue to serve as chairman and CEO of the combined company, adding that the transaction will benefit NVIDIA.

Marvell shares closed down 12.72% overnight at USD171.41. Some analysts questioned whether the acquisition price was too high, as the deal exceeds more than half of Marvell's market capitalization. Lumentum shares also closed down 18.59% at USD684.4.

Lumentum shareholders will receive 4.5 shares of Marvell for each share held, equivalent to USD1,132 per share and representing a premium of 23.9%. The transaction is expected to be completed in 1H28, after which Lumentum shareholders will own a 33% stake in the combined company.
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Meta Platforms, Inc. (META.US) is seeking to raise at least USD20 billion through the issuance of multi-currency bonds to fund the construction of AI infrastructure, Bloomberg, citing sources, reported.

The bond issuance size could reportedly increase depending on investor demand. The company has asked Citigroup, Inc. (C.US) and Morgan Stanley (MS.US) to hold investor conference calls.

Meta's potential USD-denominated bonds may have maturities ranging from 5 years to 30 years, while EUR-denominated bonds may have maturities ranging from about 4 years to slightly more than 38 years, sources divulged.
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Oracle Corporation (ORCL.US) plans to sell shares worth a total of USD10 billion at a price of USD116 per share, representing a discount of about 11% to last Friday's (October 30) closing price of USD130.67,
Bloomberg, citing sources, reported.

Prior to the share offering, Oracle issued USD10 billion of bonds on Monday (November 2), with maturities ranging from 3 to 20 years.

On the news, shares of Oracle closed down 8.76% at USD119.22.
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Chinese robotics companies continue to support multiple development initiatives of US technology firms, particularly in robotic hand technology. Over the past few months, NVIDIA (NVDA.US) showcased two humanoid robot training solutions, one using Sharpa robotic hands and the other using Wuji robotic hands. The founders of both companies have ties to Shanghai.

Pan Yunzhe founded Wuji in 2019 and later relocated most of the team to Shenzhen. Investors include Ant Group, HSG and Future Capital. According to PitchBook data, Wuji Hand 2 released a demonstration video last week showing it could autonomously spin a pen despite external interference.

When NVIDIA unveiled its first reference humanoid robot design on May 31, it also mentioned Stanford University and ETH Zurich. The system uses the robot body of YUSHU TECHNOLOGY (688836.SH) and Sharpa robotic hands, with deliveries originally scheduled to begin by the end of 2026.

NVIDIA did not immediately respond to inquiries regarding whether deliveries had already begun and whether researchers would test both reference robots simultaneously.

Singapore-headquartered Sharpa was co-founded by HESAI-W (02525.HK) CEO Li Yifan. Sharpa said its manufacturing and research operations are based in Shanghai.
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AASTOCKS Financial News
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上海2026年11月2日 /美通社/ -- 10月31日至11月1日，初音未來(Hatsune Miku)「未來有你2026」(MIKU WITH YOU 2026)演唱會在上海舉行。中國拼搭角色類玩具品牌布魯可作為本屆演唱會官方戰略合作伙伴，展示了旗下「奇跡版」(Fantastics)系列和「綺遇記」(DaaLaMode)系列的初音未來產品組合，並帶來「綺遇記」系列2款新品首展。同時，布魯可首次舉辦初音未來主題BFC (Blokees Family Creator)優秀作品展，集中呈現20余件粉絲攝影及改造作品。

2024年10月，布魯可首次將初音未來引入「奇跡版」系列，推出初音未來公式服。2025年10月，初音未來IP進一步拓展至「綺遇記」系列，以拼裝、可動、換裝、展示及收藏等多元形式，豐富初音未來的表達。目前，布魯可已開發50款不同主題、不同形態的初音未來相關產品。

本次演唱會上，布魯可帶來「綺遇記」系列2個新品的首展。其中，BLOKEES-DaaLaMode1/12–ULTRAMIKU- 「Kaiju Party」 Collaboration Series-Gomora Ver.（布魯可積木人綺遇記1/12奧特曼x初音未來聯名系列-怪獸派對-哥莫拉款）取材奧特曼經典怪獸形象，將全可動模型與毛絨服飾相結合，帶來別具一格的跨IP體驗。BLOKEES-DaaLaMode1/12–Snow Miku（布魯可積木人綺遇記1/12雪未來）則還原雪未來標志性冬日風格造型，服飾細節豐富，搭配透感漸變發型與專屬配件，擁有18處以上可動關節。

除產品創新外，布魯可攜BFC (Blokees Family Creator)創作者社區一同參與本次盛會。這場初音未來主題BFC作品展，展品包括來自第四屆BFC創作大賽以及初音未來專屬創作活動的優秀作品。創作者通過攝影、定制改造與創意表達等方式，從不同視角重新詮釋初音未來。

BFC (Blokees Family Creator)是布魯可打造的全球創作者社區，通過創作賽事、線下活動及作品展等形式連接玩家。本次將產品與BFC創意作品一同帶到演唱會現場，布魯可持續深化IP、產品、創作與分享之間的聯結，為粉絲提供全新方式，與初音未來互動、表達對IP的熱愛。