Bottom line: Google's decision to finally talk openly about its plan to return to China looks smart though slightly late, by explaining the desperate need for alternatives in the massive though tightly controlled search market.

After staying mum on the subject for quite some time, Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) is finally speaking out on its controversial decision to return to the China search market. Its CEO Sundar Pichai broke the company's silence on the matter at an event this week sponsored by Wi...

Bottom line: An internal petition calling on Google to be more transparent about its plans to return to China represents the first major backlash to the move, but is unlikely to dissuade the company from going ahead.

When the news first broke a couple of weeks ago that Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) was planning a return to China's search market, many predicted that western sources would be quick to criticize the plan, even though few voices have actually spoken out so far. Fast forward a couple of we...

Bottom line: Tencent's sudden pulling of a popular game just days after its release shows no one is exempt from Beijing's recent online entertainment clampdown, which could weigh on stocks of related company for the next few months.

A new statement from leading online game operator Tencent (HKEx: 700) is dripping with contrition, following the sudden yanking of a new hit game from its platform that apparently didn't pass muster with the regulator. This latest Tencent news, combined with some ...

Bottom line: A new report on Google's plan to launch a new China search engine within the next year looks credible, and underscores the company's decision to put the market's big potential ahead of the negative backlash such a move will bring.

A story in a publication called the Intercept is making big waves in China, saying search giant Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) is preparing a major about-face on its decision to leave the country's large but highly controlled search market. (English article) Whi...

Bottom line: Tencent and Alibaba stocks have become overvalued at current levels compared with global peers, and are due for a pullback of up to 30 percent in 2018.

Tencent looks frothy at current levels

Much ado is being made about the meteoric rise in value for Tencent (HKEx: 700), the Chinese social media giant that is now neck-and-neck with global heavyweight Facebook (Nasdaq: FB). Specifically, the pair now boast nearly identical market values in the $520-$530 billi...

Bottom line:  is likely to pass Baidu this week and become China's third most valuable internet company, while Weibo's stock is likely to enter a period of correction while it awaits an official live broadcasting license.

JD on cusp of overtaking Baidu

The era of the Internet triumvirate of Baidu (Nasdaq: BIDU), Alibaba (NYSE: BABA) and Tencent (HKEx: 700), often called the BAT, is on the cusp of ending, as up-and-comer  (Nasdaq: JD) looks set to pass Baidu in terms of m...

Bottom line: Sogou is unlikely to make an IPO this year, despite new talk of potential for such a plan from its CEO, and may ultimately never list due to its lackluster performance. 

Sogou floats another IPO plan

Online search engine Sogou is testing the market yet again for a potential IPO, hoping to spin a story of opportunity to grab market share from scandal-tainted industry leader Baidu (Nasdaq: BIDU). That story may sound attractive to investors unfamiliar with thi...