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Taiwan Dollar Strength Spells Trouble for Tech Exporters, Insurers

Taiwan Dollar Strength Spells Trouble for Tech Exporters, Insurers

Another flare-up in the Taiwan dollar's strength is unwelcome news for the island's exporters and life insurers.
The New Taiwan dollar hit a three-year high against the greenback on Friday, bringing year-to-date gains to around 12%. It was last changing hands at 29.01 to the U.S. dollar, hovering at a key psychological level.

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Building a Scalable and Inclusive Agri Network
Building a Scalable and Inclusive Agri Network

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Building a Scalable and Inclusive Agri Network

With over 30,000 FPOs in its outreach network, 6,500 engaged in active transactions, and a footprint that integrates 8 million farmers, Samunnati has developed a system that not only "signifies deep trust across the agricultural ecosystem," but also operationalizes "inclusive, last-mile connectivity through FPOs." Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. "Samunnati has built one of the largest agri-value chain networks in India," shares Anil Kumar SG, Founder and Group CEO of Samunnati. With over 30,000 FPOs in its outreach network, 6,500 engaged in active transactions, and a footprint that integrates 8 million farmers, Samunnati has developed a system that not only "signifies deep trust across the agricultural ecosystem," but also operationalizes "inclusive, last-mile connectivity through FPOs." By aggregating demand and supply, the company enables these FPOs to access "tailored financial services and market linkages," which have helped "reduce costs, improve market access, and drive farmer prosperity at scale." Among its suite of offerings, one product stands out. "Samunnati introduced the Instant Preapproved Loan (IPL), a first-of-its-kind product designed specifically for newly formed FPOs with no credit or transaction history." Anil explains how IPL's minimal documentation, quick access, and customized design are critical for new FPOs. Acting as a starter credit product, it helps build credit history and improves borrowing capacity over time. The impact is tangible. "The IPL product has transformed the landscape by making thousands of new FPOs institutionally creditworthy," says Kumar, allowing them to evolve into financially sustainable, market-ready entities. While operational issues are part and parcel of any business, Anil highlights the deeper challenges that exist. "The biggest hurdles in our business stem from fundamental structural issues inherent to the agricultural value chain surrounding smallholder farmers." One major issue, according to Anil, is the lack of customized financial and trade solutions aligned with the highly seasonal nature of agriculture. Samunnati responds by "designing tailored solutions aligned with the specific cash flow patterns of different crops," thus enhancing repayment capacity. Another problem is scale. The fragmented and dispersed nature of smallholder farmers and agri enterprises limits scale and bargaining power. To overcome this, Samunnati leverages the power of aggregation through Farmer Producer Organizations, thereby reducing transaction costs and improving price realization. Finally, the absence of suitable underwriting models for FPOs has hampered credit flow. Samunnati tackled this by "developing robust in-house underwriting capabilities that combine social capital and trade capital of FPOs." This, Anil says, "transforms FPOs into credible financial entities and emerging asset classes." The cumulative result? "These solutions create significant entry barriers for others," while ensuring "scalability, risk mitigation, and sustainable growth." "Samunnati's journey toward profitability is anchored in a multi-pronged strategy focused on sustainable growth and operational efficiency," Anil says. • Year of inception – 2014 • No. of employees – 550+ Revenue for FY 2024-25: ~$850 Mn External funding: $46.5 Mn

Xiaomi's Model Y Challenger Breaks Pre-Order Records
Xiaomi's Model Y Challenger Breaks Pre-Order Records

Yahoo

time2 hours ago

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Xiaomi's Model Y Challenger Breaks Pre-Order Records

Xiaomi's Model Y Challenger Breaks Pre-Order Records originally appeared on Autoblog. The Tesla Model Y has become the benchmark for electric SUVs, not just in the U.S., but especially in China – the world's largest EV market. In fact, the Model Y was one of the world's best-selling nameplates in 2024, surpassing even the sales of those powered by internal combustion engines. Of course, those at the top will sooner or later face rivals, and one of the newest challengers comes from an unexpected yet increasingly popular player: the Chinese tech giant Xiaomi. Best known for its smartphones, Xiaomi is quickly carving out space in the EV market. After making a strong debut with its SU7 sedan, which has outsold the Tesla Model 3 in China and even outgunned the Rimac Nevera at the Nürburgring, Xiaomi is now targeting SUV buyers with its newly launched YU7. Unsurprisingly, it's off to a great start. The YU7 is Xiaomi's first electric SUV, and, on paper, it's a bold and calculated strike at the Model Y. Slightly larger in size, the YU7 offers more presence on the road with a longer wheelbase and wider stance. Like the SU7 sedan, three variants are available – Standard, Pro, and Max – with both single- and dual-motor configurations. Acceleration is impressive across the board, with the top-spec Max hitting 0 to 62 mph in just 3.23 seconds, compared to 4.3 seconds for the Tesla Model Y Long Range. Battery capacity is another advantage: up to 101.7 kWh in the YU7 Max, claiming a range of up to 519 miles, substantially higher than the Model Y's 447 miles of maximum range in China. The YU7 also operates on a more modern 800-volt electrical architecture versus Tesla's 400-volt setup, which promises faster charging and better thermal efficiency. View the 2 images of this gallery on the original article Naturally, no battle in the tightly contested EV market is complete without a price war. The YU7 undercuts the Model Y right out of the gate: its base model starts at RMB 253,500 (around $35,360), about RMB 10,000 (roughly $1,400) cheaper than the base Model Y. Even the top-tier Max variant is more affordable than the fully loaded Tesla. Xiaomi also threw in limited-time benefits worth up to RMB 66,000 (approximately $9,200) for early buyers. That tactic worked as over 200,000 reservations were logged within just three minutes of the order books opening. Deliveries are expected within 1-5 weeks for early adopters, and Xiaomi even allows existing SU7 order holders to switch to the YU7 until June 29. With Tesla having issues selling its EVs this year in Europe and elsewhere, it's safe to say that Xiaomi is off to a great start. Xiaomi's Model Y Challenger Breaks Pre-Order Records first appeared on Autoblog on Jun 27, 2025 This story was originally reported by Autoblog on Jun 27, 2025, where it first appeared.

Li Auto Just Slashed Its Forecast--But It's Betting Big on One Make-or-Break EV Launch
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Li Auto Just Slashed Its Forecast--But It's Betting Big on One Make-or-Break EV Launch

Li Auto (NASDAQ:LI), often seen as one of Teslas fiercest challengers in Chinas premium EV market, just dialed back its Q2 delivery guidanceby a lot. The company now expects to ship around 108,000 vehicles this quarter, down from its earlier estimate of 123,000128,000. The drop isnt due to slumping demand or production issues. Instead, management said it's the result of a temporary disruption as Li overhauls its internal sales systeman investment aimed at scaling more efficiently in the long run. Investors may not love the headline number, but this kind of short-term dip is sometimes the price of building for a bigger future. That future might arrive sooner than expected. The company is preparing for the launch of the Li i8, a new model that could redefine its product roadmap and kick off a fresh sales cycle. Executives say the internal restructuring should be done before the i8 hits the streetspositioning Li Auto to embrace the new product cycle with sharper execution and stronger organizational muscle. If the transition goes smoothly, Q3 could look very different. And for investors betting on execution during inflection points, this is the moment to watch. Since beginning volume production in late 2019, Li Auto has steadily built a portfolio of high-tech family EVsfrom the flagship Li MEGA MPV to the five- and six-seat L-series SUVs. Its one of the few players in China to successfully commercialize extended-range EVs while also building out full battery-electric platforms in parallel. While the Q2 miss isnt ideal, the long-term thesis might still hold: this is a company making bold bets on platform scale and product diversificationand taking its lumps now to set up a more competitive second half of 2025. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data

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