Bottom line: Alibaba's move into unmanned coffee shops could stand a strong chance of success due to its relative simplicity, while WeChat's move into Hong Kong convenience stores should also be relatively well received.

Alibaba samples coffee shops

Bottom line: Yum's purchase of a high-end take-out delivery service looks smart in targeting a higher margin, niche product in the competitive space, while McDonald's and Starbuck's rapid growth in mobile payments reflects rapid growth of the technology.

Yum buys take-out specialist Sherpa's

Three of the world's top restaurant chain operators are in the China headlines as we head into summer, in different moves that reflect their attempts to tap into the nation's growing...

Bottom line: This year is likely to see at least a half dozen privately owned financial services companies make public listings in the U.S., Hong Kong and China, with Lakala and Lufax likely to be among the first.

Lakala files for ChiNext IPO

We're already three months into the new year, and still awaiting the first of what looks set to be a bumper crop of IPOs by a new generation of privately owned financial services firms that are far more dynamic than their state-run ...

Bottom line: Weibo's rise from the ashes is likely to be followed by a decline similar to the one after its initial rise, as the current boom in live broadcasting wanes or that part of its business gets stolen by a better product from rival Tencent. 

Weibo links with People's Daily

Bottom line: Meitu's new disclosure of rapid growth in its internet services revenue looks encouraging, as it takes advantage of its early arrival status in a beauty products sector with big profit potential. 

Meitu makes over image with internet revenue growth

A month after its lackluster IPO, beauty app operator Meitu (HKEx: 1357) is trying to shore up its sagging stock by releasing some financial data that proves it's more than just a place for people to doll up selfi...

Bottom line: iQiyi won't make an IPO next year even though Baidu would like to get the company off its books, while Renren's privatization marks one of the last buyouts for a US-listed Chinese firm from a wave dating back to last year.

iQiyi reportedly eyes 2017 IPO

The year 2016 is winding down as an unmemorable one for Chinese IPOs, thanks to a rocky start that cast a chill over the entire space. That said, the new year could be a bit more lively, amid signs that China...

Bottom line: Starbucks' selection of WeChat before Alipay for in-store electronic payments is a symbolic victory for the former, while Alipay's aggressive global expansion could eventually help it to overtake UnionPay outside China.

WeChat ties with Starbucks

China's two leading mobile payments services are both in the headlines, led by word of a major new tie-up between Tencent's (HKEx: 700) WeChat and coffee lifestyle titan Starbucks (NYSE: SBUX). I have to admit that ...