Yahoo this, Microsoft that – it’s enough to make you move to China. Or at least look at China-centric news, in which Baidu is generating headlines for both succeeding financially and pushing its own version of Wikipedia.
Let’s start with stuff relating to dollar signs. In a one-month view of all three stocks, Baidu rises at a much more impressive rate than either Google or Yahoo. Toss in Microsoft, too, if you want – the Chinese company is still on top.
Baidu vs. Everyone
Rick Aristotle Munarriz reports, “China’s leading search engine has bucked the malaise that has plagued many of its country’s bellwethers, with its shares soaring 78% higher since last month. . . . In a testament to Baidu’s volatility, the stock is still trading well below its all-time highs set back in November, but it’s also sitting pretty as nearly a four-bagger over the past year.”
After reading about this accomplishment, it’s a little easier to swallow the statement of William Chang, Baidu’s chief scientist. “There’s, in fact, no reason for China to use Wikipedia, a service based ‘out there,'” he said, according to Graham Webster. “It’s very natural for China to make its own products.” Such as Baidu Baike.
Webster goes on to note that the Chinese-language version of Wikipedia is blocked in China, anyway, so it’s not as if there’s a real competition. Still, Baidu seems willing and able to take on all comers.
