South Korean auto maker Hyundai denied it is in talks with Apple on autonomous electric cars, a month after it confirmed early-stage discussion with the iPhone manufacturer, sending its shares skidding.
In a regulatory filing on the Korea Exchange, Hyundai said it wanted to clarify "rumours" about a joint effort between its affiliate Kia Motors and Apple.
The company said it received proposals from a number of foreign companies to jointly develop self-driving electric vehicles but nothing has been finalised yet.
"We are not conducting consultations with Apple on the development of autonomous vehicles," Hyung-geun Bae, the company’s director and head of finance, said.
"We are considering additional cooperation with a number of overseas companies regarding the autonomous electric vehicle business … but this has not been decided yet," he added.
Shares of Hyundai and Kia fell 4.4 per cent and 12.2 per cent, respectively, in Seoul trading following the filing.
Reports emerged in December that Apple plans to produce its first EV by 2024.
On January 8, Hyundai said it was in early talks with Apple, sending its stocks up nearly 20 per cent. Kia's shares jumped more than 60 per cent on the news as well. A report last week by DongA Ilbo said Kia would receive an investment of $3.6 billion from Apple to make EVs, sending its stock up 10 per cent.
Apple secretly began its automated and EVs development – known as Project Titan – in 2014, according to Reuters. The company has yet to publicly discuss any of its automobile goals, but nearly 5,000 engineers and scientists have been working on the project since 2018.
The company faces stiff competition in the electric car market from dedicated EV maker Tesla as well as automotive giants like Audi, BMW, Volkswagen and General Motors.
The Covid-19 pandemic has increased the focus on making the car industry greener.
Kia, which is South Korea's second-largest automobile manufacturer after parent company Hyundai, will invest $26bn by 2025 on developing its own EV and self-driving technology. It aims to sell more than 500,000 EVs a year by 2026 and 800,000 in next 10 years.
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Scores
Rajasthan Royals 160-8 (20 ov)
Kolkata Knight Riders 163-3 (18.5 ov)
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Four reasons global stock markets are falling right now
There are many factors worrying investors right now and triggering a rush out of stock markets. Here are four of the biggest:
1. Rising US interest rates
The US Federal Reserve has increased interest rates three times this year in a bid to prevent its buoyant economy from overheating. They now stand at between 2 and 2.25 per cent and markets are pencilling in three more rises next year.
Kim Catechis, manager of the Legg Mason Martin Currie Global Emerging Markets Fund, says US inflation is rising and the Fed will continue to raise rates in 2019. “With inflationary pressures growing, an increasing number of corporates are guiding profitability expectations downwards for 2018 and 2019, citing the negative impact of rising costs.”
At the same time as rates are rising, central bankers in the US and Europe have been ending quantitative easing, bringing the era of cheap money to an end.
2. Stronger dollar
High US rates have driven up the value of the dollar and bond yields, and this is putting pressure on emerging market countries that took advantage of low interest rates to run up trillions in dollar-denominated debt. They have also suffered capital outflows as international investors have switched to the US, driving markets lower. Omar Negyal, portfolio manager of the JP Morgan Global Emerging Markets Income Trust, says this looks like a buying opportunity. “Despite short-term volatility we remain positive about long-term prospects and profitability for emerging markets.”
3. Global trade war
Ritu Vohora, investment director at fund manager M&G, says markets fear that US President Donald Trump’s spat with China will escalate into a full-blown global trade war, with both sides suffering. “The US economy is robust enough to absorb higher input costs now, but this may not be the case as tariffs escalate. However, with a host of factors hitting investor sentiment, this is becoming a stock picker’s market.”
4. Eurozone uncertainty
Europe faces two challenges right now in the shape of Brexit and the new populist government in eurozone member Italy.
Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at IG, which has offices in Dubai, says the stand-off between between Rome and Brussels threatens to become much more serious. "As with Brexit, neither side appears willing to step back from the edge, threatening more trouble down the line.”
The European economy may also be slowing, Mr Beauchamp warns. “A four-year low in eurozone manufacturing confidence highlights the fact that producers see a bumpy road ahead, with US-EU trade talks remaining a major question-mark for exporters.”
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