In an unexpected shift on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, Sanrio Co. $8136.T, the owner of Hello Kitty, surpassed Japan’s automotive giant Toyota Motor Corp. $7203.T in trading turnover for the month of May. The development reflects shifting investor sentiment, driven by index dynamics and growing risk differentiation in global equities.

Hyundai Motor Co. $005380.KS and Kia Corp. $000270.KS have executed a considerable reduction in their holdings of Ola Electric Mobility Ltd. $OLAELEC.NS, one of India’s most prominent electric vehicle startups. On Tuesday, the South Korean automakers sold close to 136 million Ola Electric shares in block deals, shortly after Ola reported a sharp increase in quarterly losses. These transactions come at a pivotal juncture for both the Indian two-wheeler EV sector and international automakers with exposure to emerging markets.

In May 2025, BYD Co. $1211.HK reached its strongest monthly sales of the year, following the introduction of substantial dealership discounts in the final days of the period. The automaker reported 382,476 vehicles sold, including 376,930 passenger cars—a figure that marks a significant uptick relative to earlier months.