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☆ China's Powerlong Real Estate warns of debt default risk
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Nov 29 (Reuters) - Powerlong Real Estate (1238.HK) said on Wednesday its cash on hand and bank deposits would not be enough to cover existing and future debt, making it the latest Chinese property developer that could default. In an exchange filing, Powerlong also said it has not made an interest payment of $15.9 million under 5.95% senior notes due April 2025 issued by the company. China's property sector has been squeezed by a regulatory crackdown since 2020 as authorities curbed excessive debt, which tightened liquidity and raised default risks for developers. Powerlong Real Estate's interest became due and payable on Oct. 30 and the company had a grace period of 30 days to make the payment. Separately, Powerlong said it was working towards ensuring timely delivery of its property development projects to secure cash resources for sustainable development.

Persons: Powerlong, Echha Jain, Devika Organizations: HK, Singapore Exchange, Thomson Locations: Bengaluru

☆ China Evergrande unit commences legal proceedings against parent
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The company logo is seen on the headquarters of China Evergrande Group in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China September 26, 2021. REUTERS/Aly Song/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 28 (Reuters) - Evergrande Property Services Group (6666.HK) said on Tuesday one of its units had commenced legal proceedings against Hengda Real Estate Group Company and embattled developer China Evergrande (3333.HK), among others. The proceedings are related to the enforcement of Evergrande Property Services' deposit pledge of about 13.4 billion yuan. Jinbi Property has also commenced legal proceedings against Shenzhen Qihang Metals Materials Company, Guizhou Guangjuyuan Real Estate Development and Hengda Real Estate Group Guiyang Property. In February, parent Evergrande had said it was in talks with Evergrande Property Services to repay the funds.

Persons: Aly, Evergrande, Echha Jain, Devika Organizations: China Evergrande Group, REUTERS, Evergrande, Services, HK, Hengda Real Estate Group Company, China, Jinbi Property Management Company, Shenzhen Qihang Metals Materials Company, Development, Real, Guiyang, Evergrande Property, Property Services, Guangzhou, People's, Thomson Locations: China, Shenzhen, Guangdong province, Guizhou Guangjuyuan, Guangdong Province, Bengaluru

☆ DouYu International forms committee to manage ops after CEO's arrest
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

People walk past a booth of live-streaming platform Douyu at the ChinaJoy digital entertainment expo in Shanghai, China July 28, 2016. REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 27 (Reuters) - Live streaming platform operator DouYu International Holdings said on Monday it has formed an interim management committee to manage its operations, following the arrest of its chief executive. Last week, DouYu said its chief executive officer and chairman Chen Shaojie was arrested on Nov. 16 in the southwestern city of Chengdu. Backed by Chinese tech giant Tencent (0700.HK), DouYu is the leading video game streaming platform in China by number of users. DouYu also appointed Simin Ren as its vice president last week, it said.

Persons: Stringer, Mingming Su, Hao Cao, Simin Ren, DouYu, Chen Shaojie, Chen, Echha Jain, Krishna Chandra Organizations: REUTERS, DouYu, Holdings, HK, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, Chengdu, Bengaluru

☆ Australia's Lynas plans temporary shutdown of Malaysia ops, shares fall
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Echha Jain | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A small toy figure and mineral imitation are seen in front of the Lynas Rare Earths logo in this illustration taken November 19, 2021. Shares of the miner closed 1.9% lower, after falling as much as 2.7% to A$6.24 mid-trade, the stock marked its lowest since May 3. It will implement an upgrade to its downstream operations at Lynas Malaysia to increase production of neodymium-praseodymium (NdPr) to about 10,500 metric tons per annum. The world's largest producer of rare earths outside China also reported a 21.8% drop in its first quarter sales revenue to A$128.1 million ($81.04 million). NdPr production for the quarter came in at 1,526 rare earth oxide tonnes (REOt), compared with 1,045 REOt a year earlier.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Lynas, Anwar Ibrahim, Echha Jain, Adwitiya Srivastava, Roushni Nair, Devika Syamnath, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: REUTERS, 10,500tpa, Malaysian, Thomson Locations: Malaysia, Lynas Malaysia, Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, China, Bengaluru

☆ Australia's Lynas announces planned shutdown of Malaysia ops
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A small toy figure and mineral imitation are seen in front of the Lynas Rare Earths logo in this illustration taken November 19, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration Acquire Licensing RightsOct 20 (Reuters) - Australia's Lynas Rare Earths (LYC.AX) said on Friday there will be a planned shutdown of all its operations in Malaysia except its mixed rare earth carbonate processing plant in the December quarter. The company also reported a 21.8% fall in first-quarter revenue, hurt by lower product prices and continued accumulation of inventory. The company will implement an upgrade to its downstream operations at Lynas Malaysia to increase production of neodymium-praseodymium to about 10,500 tonnes per annum. ($1 = 1.5808 Australian dollars)Reporting by Echha Jain and Adwitiya Srivastava in Bengaluru; Editing by Devika SyamnathOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Lynas, Echha Jain, Adwitiya Srivastava, Devika Organizations: REUTERS, Malaysian, Mt, Thomson Locations: Malaysia, Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, China, Bengaluru

☆ Australia's Lynas announces planned shutdown of Malaysia ops, shares fall
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Echha Jain | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A small toy figure and mineral imitation are seen in front of the Lynas Rare Earths logo in this illustration taken November 19, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration Acquire Licensing RightsSummaryCompanies Lynas to conduct planned shutdown of Malaysia opsCo to upgrade NdPr production in Malaysia to 10,500tpaQtrly sales revenue slips 21.8%Shares fall as much as 2.7%Oct 20 (Reuters) - Australia's Lynas Rare Earths (LYC.AX) said on Friday it planned to shut all operations in Malaysia except a mixed rare earth carbonate processing plant in the December quarter, with minimal volumes of the raw material processed during the shutdown. Shares of the miner fell as much as 2.7% to A$6.24 by 0045 GMT, the lowest since May 3. It will implement an upgrade to its downstream operations at Lynas Malaysia to increase production of neodymium-praseodymium (NdPr) to about 10,500 tonnes per annum. NdPr production for the quarter came in at 1,526 rare earth oxide tonnes (REOt), compared with 1,045 REOt a year earlier.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Lynas, Anwar Ibrahim, Henry Jennings, Echha Jain, Adwitiya Srivastava, Devika Syamnath, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: REUTERS, Co, 10,500tpa, Malaysian, Marcustoday, Thomson Locations: Malaysia, Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, China, Bengaluru

☆ Australia's EcoGraf considers battery anode material facility development in Vietnam
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Oct 9 (Reuters) - Australia's EcoGraf (EGR.AX) said on Monday it would evaluate prospects of developing a battery anode material (BAM) facility in Vietnam in collaboration with local lithium-ion battery manufacturer VinES Energy Solutions (VinES). The Australian graphite producer will support VinES with its U.S.-patented BAM processing technology, whereas VinES, a member of the Vin Group, will provide its services to support EcoGraf's expansion plans in the United States. EcoGraf will evaluate the potential to combine a localised graphite material supply in Vietnam with future feedstock from its Epanko project in Tanzania, the company said in a statement. "The agreement provides for a phased evaluation programme under which VinES and EcoGraf will initially assess and qualify local Vietnam graphite suppliers, with a view to incorporating domestic production into the supply chain," EcoGraf said. The companies will enter a binding agreement to jointly develop a battery anode supply chain in Vietnam with further options for certain financing, investments and product offtake agreements.

Persons: EcoGraf, Echha Jain, Kim Coghill, Subhranshu Organizations: Energy, Vin, Thomson Locations: Vietnam, United States, Tanzania

☆ Australia's Hancock Inches Towards Blocking Stake in Liontown Amid Albemarle Bid
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-01 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

(Reuters) - Australian billionaire Gina Rinehart's Hancock Prospecting increased its stake in lithium miner Liontown Resources, the company said, moving it closer to being able to block a $4.3 billion bid by U.S.-based Albemarle for Liontown. Hancock said on Friday it raised its stake from 10.7% last month to 12.4%, paying no more than A$3.00 per additional share. Hancock would be able to block the Albemarle deal with a 15% position. Last month, Liontown accepted Albemarle's revised $4.3 billion bid, or A$3 a share. The offer is part of a surge of interest in Australian lithium assets amid the clean energy transition.

Persons: Gina Rinehart's Hancock, Hancock, Liontown, Rinehart, Echha Jain, Melanie Burton, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: Reuters, U.S, Patriot, Metals Locations: Resources, Albemarle, Liontown, Bengaluru

☆ China Evergrande defers scheme meeting to reassess terms of proposed restructuring
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The company logo is seen on the headquarters of China Evergrande Group in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China September 26, 2021. REUTERS/Aly Song/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 22 (Reuters) - China Evergrande (3333.HK) said on Friday it would not be conducting the scheme meeting scheduled on Sept. 25 and Sept. 26 as the embattled property developer considers it necessary to reassess the terms of the proposed restructuring. Evergrande on March 22 announced plans for the restructuring of its $22.7 billion in offshore debt. But since then, sales of the group has not been as expected by the company, it said. With more than $300 billion in total liabilities, including offshore debt, Evergrande has been at the centre of a property debt crisis, in which multiple Chinese developers defaulted over the past year, forcing many to enter debt restructuring talks.

Persons: Aly, Evergrande, Echha Jain, Shilpi Majumdar Organizations: China Evergrande Group, REUTERS, HK, Sunday, Thomson Locations: China, Shenzhen, Guangdong province, Hong Kong, Bengaluru

The National Australia Bank Logo is seen on a branch in central Sydney, Australia, February 8, 2018. REUTERS/Daniel Munoz/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 14 (Reuters) - National Australia Bank (NAB) (NAB.AX) said on Thursday it would shut its Hong Kong branch, as offices in Singapore, Tokyo and Shanghai were its preferred customer outreach hubs in Asia. The move is likely to impact about 50 roles in the Hong Kong, however, the lender said in a statement that its "too early" to confirm the impact of the branch closing. "The decision probably reflects that foreign businesses are not finding operating conditions in Hong Kong as conducive as they once were," said Tim Waterer, chief market analyst at KCM Trade. The office shutdown comes after Finance Sector Union said earlier this month that the bank was planning to cut 222 back-office jobs.

Persons: Daniel Munoz, Tim Waterer, NAB's, Navya Mittal, Subhranshu Sahu, Rashmi Organizations: National, REUTERS, National Australia Bank, NAB, KCM, Westpac, Finance Sector Union, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo, Shanghai, Asia, Bengaluru

☆ Olam Group denies reports of multi-billion dollar forex fraud in Nigeria, shares slump
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

An Olam logo is pictured in their office in Singapore August 14, 2017. REUTERS/Edgar Su/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 11 (Reuters) - Singapore's Olam Group (OLAG.SI) on Monday denied reports by the Nigerian media last week, alleging that its units in the African country were involved in a multi-billion dollar foreign exchange fraud. The Daily Nigerian and Prime Business Africa reported that Nigeria's secret police was investigating the company's units Olam Nigeria and Olam International and their associate firms for a more than $50 billion foreign exchange fraud. "The company categorically denies the allegations in the Articles," Olam said in a statement, and said it has directed its audit committee to review the matter. The company said that its unit Olam Nigeria has responded to requests for information by Nigerian authorities and will continue to cooperate.

Persons: Edgar Su, Olam, Echha Jain, Sonia Cheema Organizations: REUTERS, Daily Nigerian, Prime Business Africa, Olam International, Thomson Locations: Singapore, Nigerian, Nigeria, Bengaluru

A worker walks near conveyer belts loaded with iron ore at the Fortescue Solomon iron ore mine located in the Valley of the Kings, around 400 km (248 miles) south of Port Hedland in the Pilbara region of Western Australia December 2, 2013. The world's fourth-largest iron ore miner, which has been beset by senior management turnover over the past two years, earlier in the day announced the resignation of its metals division head and co-CEO Fiona Hick. Fortescue shares, up nearly 2.1% so far this year, fell as much as 6% to A$19.7 by 0200 GMT. A review of its assets at the company's Iron Bridge project resulted in a pre-tax impairment charge of $1 billion. The company said rising interest rates and industry-wide inflation had fuelled the asset write-down at its Iron Bridge project, a major plank in the group's growth strategy.

Persons: Fortescue Solomon, David Gray, Australia's Fortescue, Fiona Hick, Fortescue, Echha Jain, Roushni Nair, Rashmi Organizations: REUTERS, Metals, Fortescue Future Industries, Fortescue Energy, Gibson, Phoenix Hydrogen, Thomson Locations: Port Hedland, Pilbara, Western Australia, Australia, Bengaluru

☆ Albemarle to take 5% stake in Patriot Battery Minerals for Canada lithium
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Albemarle, the world's biggest lithium producer, is acquiring the stake in Patriot just as the Canadian company estimated its Corvette resource as the biggest hardrock lithium deposit in the Americas. Patriot also agreed to study with Albemarle the viability of a downstream lithium hydroxide plant integrated with its Corvette deposit. The battery metals miner on Monday announced the first mineral resource estimate for spodumene pegmatite at Corvette, which showed deposits of 109.2 million tonnes of lithium oxide. Albemarle will subscribe to about 7.1 million Patriot shares for C$15.29 apiece, a near 7% premium to the stock's July 31 closing price on the TSX Venture Exchange. Patriot's Australia-listed shares jumped as much as 20.7% to A$1.823 by 0053 GMT, posting their biggest intraday percentage gain since March 28.

Persons: pegmatite, Reg Spencer, Blair Way, Echha Jain, Melanie Burton, Subhranshu Sahu Organizations: Battery Metals, Albemarle, Canadian, Monday, TSX Venture Exchange, Patriot, Patriot's, Thomson Locations: Australia, Canada, Albemarle, Americas, Genuity, Patriot's Australia, Bengaluru, Melbourne

☆ Macquarie flags lower quarterly profit as commodities arm flounders
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Harish Sridharan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Macquarie's Commodities and Global Markets (CGM) unit, its biggest earner, has for several years cashed in on increasing hedging activity amid volatility in oil and gas markets. That had driven the Sydney-based firm's annual earnings to a record A$5.18 billion ($3.53 billion) in fiscal 2023 ended March. While Macquarie did not disclose a profit figure in its quarterly update, Citi Research had expected first-quarter earnings of around A$1 billion ($680.90 million). The analysts noted, however, that Macquarie's earnings may have come in below that. At the end of the quarter, Macquarie's capital surplus stood at A$10.8 billion.

Persons: Shemara Wikramanayake, Macquarie, Harish Sridharan, Navya Mittal, Echha, Subhranshu Sahu, Christopher Cushing Organizations: Macquarie, Citi, Macquarie Group, Macquarie's Commodities, Global Markets, Citi Research, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Bengaluru

☆ Chipmaker Hua Hong says China's state-owned fund to invest $414.2 million
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

June 28 (Reuters) - Hua Hong Semiconductor (1347.HK) said on Wednesday China IC Fund II would participate in a proposed RMB share issue as a strategic investor by subscribing for RMB shares worth 3 billion yuan ($414.15 million), subject to allotment. China's second-largest chip foundry has established an independent board committee to consider and advise its independent shareholders as to whether the terms of the China IC Fund subscription are fair and reasonable, it said. The company said it expects the RMB share issue to enable it to enhance its production capacity and research and development capability, among other things. The Shanghai-based chipmaker had in May received Shanghai Stock Exchange's approval for a planned public share sale worth $2.6 billion, which would be the year's biggest mainland listing so far. ($1 = 7.2437 Chinese yuan renminbi)Reporting by Echha Jain in Bengaluru; Editing by Shilpi MajumdarOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: chipmaker, Echha Jain, Shilpi Majumdar Organizations: Hua Hong Semiconductor, HK, China IC, China IC Fund, Shanghai Stock, Thomson Locations: China, Shanghai, Bengaluru

☆ Australian lender Westpac to raise interest rates after cenbank hike
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

June 6 (Reuters) - Top Australian lender Westpac Banking Corp (WBC.AX) said on Tuesday that it will raise its home loan variable interest rates by 25 basis points (bps), in line with the Reserve Bank of Australia's (RBA) rate hike. In a surprise move, the RBA raised interest rates by a quarter-point to an 11-year high, and warned that further tightening may be required to ensure that inflation returns to target. The cash rate now sits at 4.1%, bringing the total RBA hikes in its price battle to a whopping 400 basis points since May last year. Westpac's new home loan rate will be effective from June 20, the bank said in a statement. Westpac is the first of the 'big four' banks to have passed on the central bank's latest rate hike to its customers, with the other three expected to follow suit soon.

Persons: Echha Jain, Savio D'Souza, Eileen Soreng Organizations: Westpac Banking Corp, Reserve Bank of Australia's, Westpac, Thomson Locations: Bengaluru

☆ Australian court approves BHP's $6.4 bln OZ Minerals takeover
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

April 17 (Reuters) - Global miner BHP Group Ltd (BHP.AX) said on Monday the Federal Court of Australia had approved its A$9.6 billion ($6.44 billion) takeover of OZ Minerals Ltd (OZL.AX). The court approval follows overwhelming support from OZ Minerals shareholders for the deal, which is the third largest in global mining in recent months. Shares of the Australian copper producer will be suspended from trading on the local bourse at the close of trading on Tuesday. ($1 = 1.4914 Australian dollars)Reporting by Echha Jain in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi AichOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Australia's IPH switches to new network infrastructure after cyberattack
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

March 24 (Reuters) - Intellectual property services provider IPH Ltd (IPH.AX) said on Friday it has established new network infrastructure and restored key system functionality, a week after reporting a data breach that affected a portion of its IT systems. IPH said on Friday new systems were now in use by the two affected member firms, Spruson & Ferguson (Australia) and Griffith Hack. Sydney-based IPH said it has enhanced network security, adding that it was continuing to work with external cybersecurity and forensic IT advisors on the investigation related to the cyber breach. Fintech firm Latitude Group Holdings (LFS.AX), which also reported a cyberattack last week, had to take its platforms offline after the attack remained active. IPH and Latitude were the latest to join a host of Australian firms which have reported cybersecurity breaches over the past few months.

☆ Australia's Big Four banks pass c.bank rate hike to home loan customers
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Dec 6 (Reuters) - All of Australia's "big four" banks said on Tuesday they will raise their home loan rates by a quarter-point, passing on the central bank's eighth rate hike in as many months to their customers in full. Earlier on Tuesday, the Reserve Bank of Australia lifted its cash rate by 25 basis points to a 10-year high of 3.1%, and reiterated that further policy tightening would be needed to contain inflation. The top four lenders, the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA.AX), National Australia Bank (NAB.AX) and Australia and New Zealand Banking Group's (ANZ.AX) will hike their rates from the end of next week, while Westpac Banking Corp's (WBC.AX) hike will be effective December 20, the banks said in separate statements. However, heightened borrowing costs could impact credit demand, housing market, employment and economic growth, posing as challenges to the lenders. Reporting by Rishav Chatterjee and Echha Jain in Bengaluru Editing by Vinay Dwivedi and Nivedita BhattacharjeeOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Australia's Ampol expects record annual profit; shares tumble on quarterly miss
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Oct 25 (Reuters) - Australia's Ampol Ltd (ALD.AX) forecast record full-year earnings and posted a threefold jump in quarterly profit on Tuesday, as strong demand for refined products pushed up refining margins at the country's biggest fuel supplier. Its shares, however, sank more than 9%, as its third-quarter net profit missed Jefferies' estimate, amid the company warning of further market volatility. "The market volatility experienced year to date is expected to continue in the period ahead." The company's quarterly net profit on a replacement cost basis, which excludes the impact of inventory and foreign exchange changes, was A$102.5 million ($64.70 million), significantly missing Jefferies' estimate of A$199 million. Refining margin at the Queensland refinery was $15.46 per barrel, significantly higher than $6.76 per barrel a year ago, but below the $32.96 a barrel in the prior quarter.

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