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Lunar New Year 2024: Overseas bookings more than doubled, rise in ‘escape’ and theme park travel

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SINGAPORE, Feb. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — A global trend has emerged in recent years: more and more travellers are ditching the traditional Lunar New Year celebrations at home and jetting off for what’s been dubbed ‘Bi Nian’ (New Year escape) travel. It’s all about ringing in the holiday in a different country, adding an adventurous twist to the festivities. Families are getting in on the action too, choosing to embark on group getaways, shaking up the typical Lunar New Year routine.

Data from Trip.com Group paints an exciting picture: there has been a significant 279% surge in overseas bookings during the first five days of the Lunar New Year holiday compared to last year. And it’s not just one or two spots; this spike is happening in various countries where the Lunar New Year is celebrated, including Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, China and South Korea. This trend underscores a growing appetite for soaking up diverse cultures and diving into unique celebrations abroad.

Younger generation ‘escaping’ LNY, collective family getaways are a growing trend

As many gather together at home to usher in the Spring Festival, some members of the younger generation are doing quite the opposite.

Driven by a thirst for discovery, Millennial and Gen Z individuals are redefining their Lunar New Year, eschewing traditional celebrations in favour of adventures abroad. They make up 38.5% of all bookings during the holiday, seeking out vibrant cities like Bangkok, Tokyo, and Singapore for solo explorations. And when they’re not flying solo, you’ll find them jetting off with friends to attractions such as Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay as well as surprising finds such as the Louvre Abu Dhabi museum.

Yet, amidst this rise in independent travel, the family remains at the heart of Lunar New Year celebrations for many. Collective family getaways are on the rise, constituting 47% of all Spring Festival tourists from China, with customised tours and local guides for private tours gaining popularity. On a wider scale, Thailand, Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates had the most local guide bookings during the holiday season.

Travellers embraced theme parks and unique experiences

Short-haul trips dominated Lunar New Year travel this year, with an impressive 199% uptick compared to last year, indicating a preference for flights lasting four hours or less.

But it wasn’t just about getting there quickly; these adventurers were all about seeking out one-of-a-kind experiences during their vacations. From hitting the slopes at ski resorts to embarking on exotic cruises and exploring safari parks, unique adventures were the top picks for bookings in tours and activities. For instance, Shenzhen’s Safari Park and Guangzhou Bonski, an indoor ski resort, were among the top overall attractions on Trip.com’s vibrant user-generated content platform, Trip Moments.

Throngs of travellers also sought out adventures at thrilling theme parks. For visitors from Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam, the Disneyland parks in Tokyo and Hong Kong stole the spotlight as top attractions. Japan, on the other hand, emerged as a vibrant “theme park” hub, with Universal Studios Japan and Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo – The Making of Harry Potter standing out as favourites alongside Disneyland. Other theme parks, such as Malaysia’s kid-friendly LEGOLAND, and Shenzhen’s Window of the World, also drew crowds.

Top overseas ‘escapes’ during the Lunar New Year

Southeast Asia emerged as a hotspot for jet setters in the whirlwind of Lunar New Year travel, with Malaysia and Thailand leading the charge. Overseas bookings surged by 202% and 195% respectively, compared to last year’s festivities. A trend of intra-Asia travel particularly took hold in Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam, with top spots including China and Japan.

While in Singapore, holidaymakers set their sights on relatively nearby destinations, from bustling Bangkok to Johor Bahru, and even the serene shores of Bali. On average, Singaporean travellers embarked on 2.5-day escapades, with the majority taking off on 9 February, the eve of the Lunar New Year, and returning on 12 February to sync with the nation’s designated public holidays.

Meanwhile, China saw an unprecedented threefold growth in overseas bookings compared to last year, amidst a backdrop of relaxed visa requirements. Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia, which enjoyed mutual visa-free arrangements, emerged alongside perennial favourites like Japan as the go-to destinations for Chinese travellers.

As for South Korea, travellers were most keen on escaping to Japan, with top cities such as Osaka, Tokyo and Fukuoka drawing arrivals. For South Korean travellers seeking an alternative to Japan, Vietnam’s serene coastal city of Da Nang also emerged as a popular destination.

As the Spring Festival festivities wind down, we reflect on its multi-faceted impact on travel. Whether venturing solo, with friends, or alongside family, the Lunar New Year unites us in a shared celebration of renewal, prosperity, and joy.

About Trip.com Group

Trip.com Group is a leading global travel service provider comprising of Trip.com, Ctrip, Skyscanner, and Qunar. Across its platforms, Trip.com Group helps travellers around the world make informed and cost-effective bookings for travel products and services and enables partners to connect their offerings with users through the aggregation of comprehensive travel-related content and resources, and an advanced transaction platform consisting of apps, websites and 24/7 customer service centres. Founded in 1999 and listed on NASDAQ in 2003 and HKEX in 2021, Trip.com Group has become one of the best-known travel groups in the world, with the mission “to pursue the perfect trip for a better world”. Find out more about Trip.com Group here: group.trip.com. Follow us on: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube

SOURCE Trip.com Group

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Kuaishou Technology to Report 2026 First Quarter Financial Results on May 27, 2026

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HONG KONG, May 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Kuaishou Technology (“Kuaishou” or the “Company”; HKD Counter Stock Code: 01024 / RMB Counter Stock Code: 81024), a leading content community and social platform, today announced that it will report its unaudited consolidated first quarterly results for the three months ended March 31, 2026, after the Hong Kong market closes on Wednesday, May 27, 2026.

The Company’s management will host a conference call on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, at 7:00 PM Beijing Time (7:00 AM U.S. Eastern Time) to discuss the results.

Participants are required to pre-register for the conference call at:

Chinese Line (Mandarin):
https://s1.c-conf.com/diamondpass/10054245-xi6ksd.html

English Simultaneous Interpretation Line (listen-only mode):
https://s1.c-conf.com/diamondpass/10054246-wl3yqp.html

Participants can choose between the Chinese and English simultaneous interpretation options for pre-registration above. Please note that the English simultaneous interpretation option will be in listen-only mode. Upon registration, participants will receive an email containing conference call dial-in details, event passcode, and a unique registrant ID. This information will allow you to gain immediate access to the call. Participants may pre-register at any time, including up to and after the call start time.

Additionally, live, and archived webcasts of the conference call, for both Chinese and English simultaneous interpretation, will be available on the Company’s investor relations website at https://ir.kuaishou.com.

Replays of the conference call will be available until June 3, 2026 via the following dial-in details:

Dial-in Numbers

Mainland China:

400 1209 216

Hong Kong:

800 930 639

US/Canada:

1855 883 1031

Chinese conference ID:

10054245

English simultaneous interpretation conference ID:

10054246

About Kuaishou

Kuaishou is a leading content community and social platform in China and globally, committed to becoming the most customer-obsessed company in the world. Kuaishou uses its technological backbone, powered by cutting-edge AI technology, to continuously drive innovation and product enhancements that enrich its service offerings and application scenarios, creating exceptional customer value. Through short videos and live streams on Kuaishou’s platform, users can share their lives, discover goods and services they need and showcase their talent. By partnering closely with content creators and businesses, Kuaishou provides technologies, products, and services that cater to diverse user needs across a broad spectrum of entertainment, online marketing services, e-commerce, local services, gaming, and much more. For more information, please visit https://ir.kuaishou.com.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

Kuaishou Technology
Investor Relations
Email: ir@kuaishou.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kuaishou-technology-to-report-2026-first-quarter-financial-results-on-may-27-2026-302763955.html

SOURCE Kuaishou Technology

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Mox Breaks Even in Q1 2026 amid Strengthening Profitability Outlook, Launches Mox+ Wealth Solutions and Mox Invest Upgrades

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Bringing Wealth Within Reach of all in Hong Kong

HONG KONG, May 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Mox Bank Limited (“Mox” or “the Bank”), on the back of delivering a financial breakeven quarter for Q1 2026, today announced the launch of Mox+. This wealth solution is engineered for Hong Kong’s young professionals and emerging affluent and will be a driver of sustainable profitability for the Bank. Mox+ combines wealth capabilities with curated lifestyle benefits, marking Mox’s evolution from everyday banking to a comprehensive wealth partnership.

The financial achievement was driven by robust momentum across all business lines and achieving a significant milestone demonstrates the success of the accessible business model which after 5 years is now used and valued by over 750,000 customers in Hong Kong.

Barbaros Uygun, CEO of Mox, said, “Achieving financial breakeven for the first quarter of 2026 on the back of a strong 2025 set of results, shows our direction of travel. We have the momentum to drive positive change, providing wealth opportunities to all in Hong Kong and do so in a profitable manner. Our client-centric business model is proving that it is the right one for sustainable profitability. 

Our digital wealth management platform serves as a trusted partner for our over 750,000 customers at every stage of life, empowering them to manage their finances with confidence and unlock new possibilities. We are entering a new chapter of growth as we continue to expand our product portfolio and wealth management offerings, with the launch of Mox+ being one such initiative.”

He continued, “To support this evolution, we are evolving into an AI-native bank, doubling our operational capacity through a strategic human-bot partnership, equipping every staff member with a personalised AI assistant to deliver even greater service and efficiency.”

Mox+ members enjoy preferential fees and charges on Mox Invest and preferential pricing on foreign exchange, enhanced deposit rates (3.5% p.a. up to HKD5 million), as well as priority customer support and early access to experiences and new products. These benefits can be gained simply by maintaining an average daily balance of HKD 600,000 or above across all deposits and investments which will lead to automatic qualification for Mox+ for the following month. The programme integrates financial advantages with lifestyle benefits—including curated dining rebates, free hotel stays, Starbucks coffee vouchers, health benefits and exclusive member experiences—reflecting Mox’s belief that wealth building should be both strategic and rewarding.

Jayant Bhatia, Chief Business Officer of Mox, commented, “At Mox, we are dedicated to establishing the financial well-being of Hongkongers. Designed and tailored for Hong Kong’s young professionals and emerging affluent segment, which is underserved in Hong Kong, Mox+ offers solutions for daily savings and preferential wealth management service fees for long-term wealth creation as well as rewarding lifestyle benefits. This is strategically significant as one of our key initiatives to drive business growth and make Wealth Within Reach for Hongkongers.”

Throughout 2025, Mox has already strengthened its product portfolio with new solutions in Mox Invest. The Mox Invest platform saw trading volumes increasing to 2.4 times and assets under management (AUM) growing to 2.6 times that of last year. More than 10% of Mox customers have opened a Mox Invest account, reflecting strong demand for its wealth solutions driven by new products and services. In 2026, we will continue our momentum in launching new and innovative products and services and are already scaling up to serve the next generation of wealth builders in Hong Kong. Having already recently launched a crypto trading service, Mox Invest is set to introduce an IPO subscription service later this year.

The Bank has clear reasons for continuing to develop wealth management products. The “Wealth Behaviours: Insights into how individuals are saving and investing” survey conducted by Mox in collaboration with Ipsos revealed that Hongkongers continue to take a conservative approach to investing, with 63% of their liquid assets kept in cash and deposits – a trend that contributes to “cash drag” and limits potential wealth growth. More than two-thirds of respondents indicated they require an average of 5.6 months to save up to their desired investment threshold and typically delay investing their savings by a further 2.75 months on average, resulting in missed opportunities for long-term wealth accumulation[1]. This survey will continue as an ongoing research initiative to deepen our understanding of Hongkonger’s wealth management behaviours and enable the Bank to develop tailored solutions that puts wealth within reach.

After Mox was amongst the first wave of banks in Asia to offer a crypto trading service, Mox Invest now further offers One Click Investments (a simplified process for buying equities based on themes such as AI, technology, amongst others), Trading Signals, and gives customers access to professional  fund strategies including Signature CIO funds developed in partnership between Standard Chartered Bank CIO office and Amundi. The Signature CIO funds offer four different type of funds based on individuals’ risk appetite which could be Conservative, Income, Balanced or Growth. Customers also have options amongst a wide range of funds offered by other world-class fund houses.

A Track Record of Rapid Scale and Adoption in the Last 5 Years

Since its launch in September 2020, Mox has brought to the market more than 15 market-first products or services and achieved significant scale with over 750,000 customers, reflecting the trust and growing preference of Hong Kong consumers for a seamless digital banking experience. To date, Mox customers have driven a cumulative spend of HKD70 billion, supported by a robust volume of 176 million card transactions and approximately 2 billion Asia Miles earned through Mox Card and other banking services. Its commitment to delivering tangible value to customers is further evidenced by the HKD2 billion distributed in cash rewards.

Beyond daily spending, Mox has become central to its customers’ financial lives, facilitating approximately 50 million outward FPS transfers and more than 5 million bill payments. As a preferred companion for travelers, the Mox Card has been used over 31 million times in overseas transactions, contributing to a total of 250 million app engagements as we continue to redefine digital banking for the Hong Kong community.

To learn more about Mox, please visit: mox.com.

About Mox Bank Limited (“Mox”) 
Mox is a pioneering digital bank licensed in Hong Kong, and a registered institution (CE number: BNO808) powered by Standard Chartered in partnership with PCCW, HKT and Trip.com. Launched in September 2020, Mox is reimagining banking, unlock more of life’s possibilities, and setting global benchmarks for digital banking from Hong Kong.   

Mox is well on track to be the number one digital bank for cards, lending and wealth. In 2026, it was awarded as Best Pure-Play Digital Bank for CX in Hong Kong and Outstanding Digital CX in Banking App/ Platform by The Digital Banker Digital CX Awards. It was also recognised as NeoBank of the Year, Retail Banking, Hong Kong and Best Retail Banking Experience, Hong Kong by The Asset Triple A Digital Finance Awards. In 2025, Mox is ranked as the number one digital bank in Hong Kong in Neobank Ranking 2025 by The Banker, a publication by Financial Times. It was also awarded the Best Digital Bank in Hong Kong by The Asian Banker for three consecutive years, and the Digital Bank of the Year in Hong Kong by Asian Banking & Finance for two years in a row. It was also recognised as one of Asia’s Top 5 mobile banking app and the number one Hong Kong digital banking app in Sia Partners’ 2025 International Mobile Banking Benchmark. Mox Credit Card held its position as the seventh-largest credit card portfolio among all retail banks in Hong Kong[2]. Through a scalable platform, lower cost-to-serve, top-notch customer experience and the unique promise of safe, simple, smart, and fun banking, Mox has found immense affinity among Hong Kong customers: Mox app is the top-rated Hong Kong digital banking app in Apple App Store in Hong Kong[3], scoring 4.8 out of 5. Mox’s influence extends beyond Hong Kong, as shown by the company’s technology and know-how being transferred to Trust Bank in Singapore. 

Join us in shaping the future of banking.

Follow Mox on mox.com, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, LinkedIn and YouTube for our latest updates.

[1] The “Wealth Behaviours: Insights into how individuals are saving and investing” study was conducted in collaboration with Ipsos and it surveyed 2,500 working adults with a monthly household income above HKD15,000 in Hong Kong between August 2025 and April 2026.

[2] According to TransUnion’s Market Insights and Intelligence Dashboard (MIID) for the period from January to December 2025.

[3] As of the period from 28 January 2025 to 5 May 2026.

 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/mox-breaks-even-in-q1-2026-amid-strengthening-profitability-outlook-launches-mox-wealth-solutions-and-mox-invest-upgrades-302763875.html

SOURCE Mox Bank Limited

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UK Students Recognised in National AI Investment Challenge

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University teams apply AI to real-world investment problems, with Lancaster University team taking the top prize.

LONDON, May 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — CFA Institute, the global association of investment professionals, has announced the winner of its inaugural AI Investment Challenge, with the top prize awarded to a student team from Lancaster University.

Some 28 teams from 15 universities took part in the competition.

Delivered by CFA Institute and CFA Society UK, the competition brought together students from universities across the United Kingdom to tackle real investment challenges using artificial intelligence. The focus was on practical application, responsible use, and real-world relevance. 

Finalists came from Durham University, Heriot-Watt University, Lancaster University, University of Exeter, and University of Manchester. 

Teams presented AI-powered solutions to a range of industry challenges, from assessing how carbon pricing affects portfolio values to analysing large volumes of company disclosures and extracting insights from company earnings calls. The winning team from Lancaster University impressed judges with its design of a Disclosure Degradation Detection System – an early-alert tool for analysts that monitors upstream exposure to disclosure risk by analysing company and supplier filings for increasingly vague, complex, or weakening language.

Peter Watkins, Head of University Relations, CFA Institute, said:

“It’s encouraging to see how quickly students can apply technical skills to real investment problems. The strongest teams combined solid analysis with a clear understanding of how AI can be used responsibly in practice. This reflects where the investment industry is heading, with professionals expected to use new technologies effectively while continuing to apply sound human judgement.”

Nick Bartlett, CFA, ASIP, Chief Executive, CFA Society UK, adds:

“It’s been great to see students from across the UK take part. Opportunities like this help people build practical skills, make connections in the industry, and gain confidence in applying what they’ve learned. Bridging that gap between education and industry is increasingly important, as the skills needed for a career in the investment profession continue to evolve.” 

The winning team members from Lancaster University are Connor O’Keeffe, Ebro Dossajee, and Bradley McCann.  

Connor O’Keeffe, speaking on behalf of the winning team, said: 

“The CFA Institute AI Investment Challenge gave us the chance to work on a real investment problem and engage directly with industry professionals. Presenting our work and receiving feedback has been invaluable, and we’re proud to bring first place back to Lancaster. It’s been a great experience for the whole team.”

Steve Young, Professor of Accounting at Lancaster University Management School, commented:

“The AI Investment Challenge is a fabulous initiative from CFA Institute that helps students formulate and execute artificial intelligence solutions to assist investment analysis professionals, and we are thrilled that Brad, Connor, and Ebro have been able to make such a positive contribution to the competition. Congratulations to all teams involved and thank you to CFA Institute and CFA Society UK for organising such an inspiring event.” 

The competition was judged on practical relevance, quality of analysis, innovation in the use of AI, responsible use of technology, and clarity of presentation. The final was judged by a panel of six investment industry professionals based in the UK. 

University representatives and students can opt-in to be the first to hear about future AI Investment Challenge events via Information Waitlist.

Notes to Editors

The AI Investment Challenge was held on Thursday 30 April 2026 in London.

First, second, and third-place teams received prizes of £2,000, £1,200, and £800, respectively. In addition, all finalist team members received a CFA Program Access Scholarship and the opportunity to showcase their work on CFA Institute platforms. 

More information about the AI Investment Challenge is available here: CFA Institute AI Investment Challenge

About CFA Institute
As the global association of investment professionals, CFA Institute sets the standard for professional excellence and credentials. We champion ethical behavior in investment markets and serve as the leading source of learning and research for the investment industry. We believe in fostering an environment where investors’ interests come first, markets function at their best, and economies grow. With more than 200,000 charterholders worldwide across 160 markets, CFA Institute has 8 offices and 157 local societies. Find us at www.cfainstitute.org or follow us on LinkedIn, and subscribe on YouTube.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/uk-students-recognised-in-national-ai-investment-challenge-302762959.html

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