Why Baidu, Bilibili, and Qudian Stocks All Popped Today

As of 12:45 p.m. EST, shares of Baidu (NASDAQ: BIDU) -- the "Chinese Google" -- were up 12.5%, online entertainment provider Bilibili (NASDAQ: BILI) was up 13.8%, and consumer finance company Qudian (NYSE: QD) had climbed 14%. This morning in Brussels, European Union negotiators finalized the terms of a historic investment agreement with China. Seven years in the making, the new Comprehensive Agreement on Investment is expected to grow international trade between the EU and China, facilitate cross-border investment, and "strongly stimulate" the economies of both nations, according to Chinese president Xi Jinping.