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Higher costs had the biggest impact on Asian businesses in 2023, even as they continued to grapple with a global economic slowdown and rising borrowing costs, according to a survey by UOB. Of those polled, 32% said they were impacted by high inflation, another 32% said they faced increased operating costs, while 24% said rising labor costs hurt their business, UOB's 2024 Business Outlook Survey reported. Still, about four out of 10 companies said they felt "very positive" about the business environment in 2023, while 32% said they were "somewhat positive," the survey showed. Some 35% of the companies polled said the business environment in 2023 declined compared to the previous year. To combat future headwinds, 30% of the companies said reducing business costs will be their top priority in the next one to three years.
Organizations: UOB, Survey Locations: Southeast Asia, Greater China, China , Hong Kong, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia
Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailStrategist: we are not yet at the tail end of Japan's stock market rallyFrancis Tan of UOB Private Bank discusses his outlook for Japan, South Korea and China markets. He sees further upside for Japanese stocks, due to strong fundamentals and growth in semiconductor cycle.
Persons: Francis Tan Organizations: UOB Private Bank Locations: UOB, Japan, South Korea, China
Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailChina's monetary policy will largely depend on how soon the U.S. Fed will cut rates, says analystQi Wang of UOB Kay Hian discusses his outlook on the consumer sector in China, the upcoming "two sessions" strategic meetings, and why the U.S. FOMC decision is a de-facto third session when it comes to Chinese monetary policy.
Persons: Qi Wang, UOB Kay Hian Locations: U.S, China
Dollar waits on U.S. inflation reading, bitcoin tops $60,000
  + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com   time to read: +3 min
The U.S. dollar was firm and the yen was headed for a monthly loss in the lead up to U.S. inflation data that could ruffle the interest rate outlook, while bitcoin surged above $60,000. The U.S. dollar was firm and the yen was headed for a monthly loss in the lead up to U.S. inflation data that could ruffle the interest rate outlook, while bitcoin surged above $60,000. Bitcoin is on a tear and topped $63,000 overnight as it rides a wave of cash rushing to new U.S. bitcoin exchange-traded funds. It is up more than 45% this month, its largest gain since December 2020 and a record high above $69,000 is within sight. The New Zealand dollar nursed losses on bets that rate hikes there are finished.
Persons: bitcoin, Masato Kanda, Sue Ann Lee, Kristina Clifton, Sterling Organizations: U.S, New Zealand, Reserve Bank of New, Federal, Commonwealth Bank of Australia Locations: Japan, U.S, Asia, Sao Paulo, Reserve Bank of New Zealand, Europe
A customer uses an ATM at an United Overseas Bank Ltd. (UOB) branch in Singapore, on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023. Singapore's United Overseas Bank, or UOB, on Thursday cut its 2024 loan growth projections to low single-digits from mid-single digits after posting a stronger-than-forecast 22% jump in fourth quarter net profit. UOB maintained its 2024 guidance for double-digit fee growth while projecting total income to see positive growth, according to UOB CEO Wee Ee Cheong's earnings presentation slides. Credit costs for 2024 are expected to be at the lower end of its previous 25 to 30 basis points guidance range. "Global economic outlook remains uncertain in the near term, but Southeast Asia continues to be a bright spot," Wee said in a statement.
Persons: UOB, Wee Ee, Wee Organizations: United Overseas Bank Ltd, Singapore's United Overseas Bank Locations: Singapore, Southeast Asia
UOB Kay Hian discusses outlook for China's stock markets
  + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com   time to read: 1 min
Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailUOB Kay Hian discusses outlook for China's stock marketsQi Wang, UOB Kay Hian chief investment officer for wealth management, says foreign money in onshore China markets isn't significant, but "it does have a big psychological effect."
Persons: UOB Kay Hian, Qi Wang Locations: China
Gold prices notched a new record on Monday for a second day in a row — with spot prices touching $2,100 as the global rush for bullion appears set to continue. Gold prices are on course to hit fresh highs next year and could remain above $2,000 levels, analysts said, citing geopolitical uncertainty, a likely weaker U.S. dollar and possible interest rate cuts. Gold tends to perform well during periods of economic and geopolitical uncertainty due to its status as a reliable store of value. He estimated that gold prices could reach up to $2,200 by the end of 2024. "There is simply less leverage this time around vs 2011 in gold ... taking prices through $2,100 and putting $2,200/oz in view," said Nicky Shiels, head of metals strategy at precious metals firm MKS PAMP.
Persons: Heng Koon, Nicky Shiels Organizations: Markets, Global Economics, Markets Research, CNBC Locations: Israel
Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailChina and U.S. commercial real estate markets are 'hot spots,' UOB CFO saysLee Wai Fi, chief financial officer of UOB, says the bank is "less worried" about the Southeast Asian region.
Persons: Lee Wai Fi, UOB Organizations: China Locations: U.S
The United Overseas Bank (UOB) building is pictured in the Raffles Place financial district in Singapore on August 10, 2023. Singapore's United Overseas Bank , or UOB, expected a stronger outlook for next year including better loan and fees growth, as it reported on Thursday a weaker-than-expected 1% drop in third-quarter net profit from a year earlier. UOB, Singapore's third-largest bank by assets, projected mid single-digit loan growth and double-digit fee growth for its 2024 outlook, versus low-to-mid single-digit loan growth and high single-digit fees growth for this year's outlook. UOB said July-September net profit dropped to S$1.38 billion ($1 billion) from S$1.40 billion a year earlier, mainly on the back of higher allowances for credit and other losses, as well as Citigroup integration costs. The profit was lower than the mean estimate of S$1.46 billion from four analysts polled by LSEG.
Persons: Wee Ee Cheong, UOB's, UOB Organizations: United Overseas Bank, Raffles, Singapore's United Overseas Bank, Citigroup, LSEG Locations: Singapore, Southeast, ASEAN
Commercial real estate markets in the U.S. and China are economic pain points to monitor in a higher-for-longer rate environment, said Singapore's United Overseas Bank. But the bank remains optimistic about one key region. "The U.S. commercial real estate remains a hotspot, especially with the low occupancy rates that we have," Lee Wai Fai, chief financial officer of UOB told CNBC's "Street Signs Asia." "The other hotspots will be China, there [are] worries about the quality and whether they can manage the property uncertainty in China," he added. Lee added the world is heading into a more "uncertain environment" and the impact of higher-for-longer interest rates is starting to filter through the economy.
Persons: Lee Wai Fai, UOB, CNBC's, Lee Organizations: Singapore's United Overseas Bank Locations: U.S, China
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) rose 0.9% and the Hang Seng (.HSI) 2%. China's top parliament approved a 1 trillion yuan ($137 billion) bond issue, state media reported adding the funds would be spent rebuilding disaster zones and improving infrastructure. Investors pulled forward European rate cut expectations a little and the euro was nursing losses at $1.0594. The annual pace of inflation in Australia slowed in the third quarter, but at 5.4% was above forecasts of 5.3%. Oil fell in commodity trade on Tuesday, thanks to the weak economic data from Europe, and was nursing losses on Wednesday.
Persons: Dado Ruvic, hawkish, Bonds, Steven Leung, UOB Kay Hian, Leung, Glenn Yin, Lincoln Organizations: REUTERS, Japan's Nikkei, Treasury, Central, Central Huijin, Investors, 25bp, ANZ, Brent, AETOS Capital Group, U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, Thomson Locations: China, SINGAPORE, Asia, Pacific, Japan, Tokyo, U.S, Hong Kong, Central, Australia, Europe, Melbourne, United States, Russia, Israel, Gaza, BlackRock
Investors were also excited by Tuesday's approval of an additional 1 trillion yuan ($136.76 billion) of sovereign bond issuance. Drawing investors back into China's $10.5 trillion stock market, particularly the foreign buyers that have fled in droves this year, would stem further slides in a market which fell to its lowest since 2019 earlier this week. "China's central government is endorsing the stock market," said Qi Wang, chief investment officer of UOB Kay Hian's wealth management division in Hong Kong. Huijin last bought ETFs during the 2015 stock market crash, and during the money market liquidity crunch in 2013. Still, China's stock markets have to overcome earlier heavy selling from foreigners, burnt by Xi's previous crackdowns on internet companies and other sectors, and its earlier stringent zero-COVID policy.
Persons: China's, Huang Yan, QiuYang, Huang, Pan Gongsheng, Qi Wang, UOB Kay, Huijin, Fabiana Fedeli, Fedeli, Goldman Sachs, Samuel Shen, Ankur Banerjee, Brigid Riley, Vidya Ranganathan Organizations: Central Huijin Investment, Shanghai QiuYang, People's Bank of China, Sino, CSI, Huijin, China Asset Management Co, Singapore's United Overseas Bank, G Investments, Thomson Locations: SHANGHAI, SINGAPORE, Shanghai, China, Hong Kong, Tokyo
Yuan leads rally in Asian currencies on China's economic bounce
  + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com   time to read: +2 min
Asian currencies caught a boost from better-than-expected Chinese economic data on Wednesday, driving the yuan to a one-week high and putting a dampener on the U.S. dollar which has rallied for weeks on end as U.S. yields have climbed. A blast at a Gaza hospital also kept moves modest and traders on edge at the prospect of a widening conflict. Official data showed China's economy grew 1.3% in the third quarter, accelerating from 0.5% in the previous quarter and topping market forecasts for an increase of 1%. On Tuesday U.S. yields had shot sharply higher after data showed retail sales increased strongly, which had helped the dollar pile pressure on the low-yielding Japanese yen. "Maybe it's hitting the limits of this stage of the rally, and needs a bit of a correction."
Persons: Joe Biden, Woei Chen Ho, It's, it's, Imre Speizer, Sterling Organizations: U.S ., Israel, Wednesday, New, Tuesday, Bank of Japan, greenback, Treasury, Westpac Locations: Gaza, Singapore, New Zealand, Asia
Paramilitary police officers stand guard in front of the headquarters of the People's Bank of China, the central bank (PBOC), in Beijing, China September 30, 2022. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsSHANGHAI, Oct 16 (Reuters) - China's central bank ramped up liquidity support to the banking system as it rolled over medium-term policy loans on Monday, but kept the interest rate unchanged as expected. It held the rate on the one-year policy loans at 2.50%, unchanged from the previous operation. With 500 billion yuan worth of MLF loans maturing, the PBOC is injecting fresh liquidity into the banking system. Market watchers polled by Reuters last week predicted no change to the MLF rate.
Persons: Tingshu Wang, PBOC, Stone Zhou, Xing Zhaopeng, Christian Schmollinger Organizations: People's Bank of China, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Global Markets, UOB, ANZ, Shanghai, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, U.S, UOB China, Liaoning, Chongqing, United States
China Evergrande Group's logo is seen on its headquarters in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China, Sept. 26, 2021. "Its debt restructuring plan is now stuck and can't go any further," said Steven Leung, sales director at UOB Kay Hian in Hong Kong. Evergrande's offshore debt restructuring involves a total of $31.7 billion, which includes bonds, collateral and repurchase obligations, potentially making it one of the world's biggest such exercises. "Concern over the financial health (of developers) still clouds the property sector, especially those smaller property developers with high gearing but very few property projects on hand," Leung said. The latest roadblock in Evergrande's debt restructuring plan opens a new front for the developer just a week after police detained some staff at its wealth management unit, sending its shares slumping.
Persons: Aly, Group's, Hengda, Hong, Steven Leung, UOB Kay Hian, Leung, Evergrande, Donny Kwok, Anne Marie Roantree, Sumeet Chatterjee, Lincoln, Sam Holmes Organizations: REUTERS, HK, Hengda, Estate Group Co, China Oceanwide Holdings, National Bureau of Statistics, Thomson Locations: China, Shenzhen, Guangdong province, HONG KONG, firming, Seng, Hong Kong, Bermuda
Strategist explains what's behind the U.S. dollar's strength
  + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com   time to read: 1 min
Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailStrategist explains what's behind the U.S. dollar's strengthHeng Koon How, head of markets strategy at UOB, says foreign exchange market moves in the past month have been mostly driven by interest rate differentials.
Persons: what's, Heng Koon
The company logo of Chinese developer Country Garden is pictured at the Shanghai Country Garden Center in Shanghai, China August 9, 2023. REUTERS/Aly Song/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsKUALA LUMPUR, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Embattled Chinese developer Country Garden (2007.HK) said on Monday its $100-billion project in Malaysia was proceeding as planned and it had sufficient assets, despite concerns over its financial strength. Country Garden is building its largest overseas development, the massive Forest City project, across four reclaimed islands in the southern Malaysian state of Johor bordering the wealthy city state of Singapore. Malaysia's incentives should be "very positive" for Country Garden, said Steven Leung, Hong Kong-based director of UOB Kay Hian. Shares of Country Garden were up more than 8% on Monday.
Persons: Aly, Anwar Ibrahim, Anwar, Loong Kok Wen, Steven Leung, UOB Kay Hian, Clare Jim, Martin Petty, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: Shanghai Country Garden, REUTERS, HK, Malaysian, . Forest, Esplanade, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Singapore, Forest, Malaysian, Johor, Forest City, Hong Kong
Its Hong Kong listed shares plunged 79% to HK0.35 in the afternoon session, narrowing losses from 87% at the opening. Market capitalisation shrank to HK$4.6 billion ($586.38 million from HK$21.8 billion ($2.78 billion) from when it last traded. Its units, China Evergrande New Energy Vehicle Group (0708.HK) and Evergrande Property Services Group (6666.HK), have both resumed trading in the past month after a 16 month halt. The company logo is seen on the headquarters of China Evergrande Group in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China September 26, 2021. ($1 = 7.8442 Hong Kong dollars)($1 = 7.2834 Chinese yuan renminbi)($1 = 7.8447 Hong Kong dollars)Reporting by Clare Jim; Additional reporting by Donny Kwok Editing by Kim Coghill and Christopher CushingOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
Persons: Evergrande, Steven Leung, UOB Kay Hian, Aly, homebuyers, Clare Jim, Donny Kwok, Kim Coghill, Christopher Cushing Organizations: China Evergrande, HK, Hong, Hong Kong Stock Exchange, Energy Vehicle Group, Evergrande Property Services, China Evergrande Group, REUTERS, Prism Hong, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, China, China's, Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Guangdong province, Prism Hong Kong, Shanghai
The company logo is seen on the headquarters of China Evergrande Group in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China September 26, 2021. Next month, courts will decide on Evergrande's plan to restructure almost $32 billion worth of offshore debt obligations. Its Hong Kong-listed units, China Evergrande New Energy Vehicle Group (0708.HK) and Evergrande Property Services Group (6666.HK) have both resumed trading in the past month after a 16 month halt. The resumption of trading in all three companies is crucial for Evergrande Group because its offshore debt restructuring plan includes swapping part of the debt into equity-linked instruments backed by them. ($1 = 7.8435 Hong Kong dollars)($1 = 7.8442 Hong Kong dollars)($1 = 7.2834 Chinese yuan renminbi)Reporting by Clare Jim; Additional reporting by Donny Kwok Editing by Kim Coghill and Christopher CushingOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
Persons: Aly, HONG KONG, Steven Leung, UOB Kay Hian, homebuyers, Evergrande, Clare Jim, Donny Kwok, Kim Coghill, Christopher Cushing Organizations: China Evergrande Group, REUTERS, China Evergrande, Hong Kong Stock Exchange, Evergrande, HK, Energy Vehicle Group, Evergrande Property Services, Evergrande Group, Prism Hong, Thomson Locations: China, Shenzhen, Guangdong province, HONG, HK, China's, Hong Kong, Prism Hong Kong, Shanghai, Cayman
Spot gold prices hit a record intraday high of $2,072.5 on Aug. 7, 2020, according to data from Refinitiv. We also see a return of physical gold jewelry demand from China and India as both economies stabilize and retail spending returns. Gold prices tend to have an inverse relationship with interest rates. "We also see a return of physical gold jewelry demand from China and India as both economies stabilize and retail spending returns," Heng said. Chinese retail gold demand has been resilient in 2023 even as consumption of other commodities remained weak, Citi said in a July report.
Persons: Sven Hoppe, Bart Melek, Melek, David Neuhauser, Neuhauser, Randy Smallwood, Heng, Heng Koon, UOB Heng, Citi's, Doshi Organizations: Getty, Refinitiv, CNBC, Securities, U.S . Federal, Livermore Partners, Fed, Wheaton Precious Metals, greenback, Markets, Federal Reserve, Citi, Commodities, Future Publishing Locations: U.S, China, India, Yichang, Hubei province
UOB's CFO discusses the bank's second-quarter earnings
  + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com   time to read: 1 min
Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailUOB's CFO discusses the bank's second-quarter earningsLee Wai Fai, group chief financial officer at UOB, explains why it expects the second half of the year to be better than its challenging first half.
Persons: Lee Wai Fai
Singapore's United Overseas Bank is expecting "some upside" in interest income in the next quarter, after the U.S. Federal Reserve announced a fresh rate hike overnight. Its net interest income for the quarter grew 31% from a year ago — boosted by robust net interest margin that expanded 50 basis points to 2.13% on higher interest rates, the Singapore-based lender said in a statement released early Thursday. Net interest margin, a measure of lending profitability for banks, is the difference between interest earned and interest paid. Overnight on Wall Street, the Fed raised interest rates by 25 basis points, taking its benchmark borrowing costs to a target range of 5.25%-5.5% — the highest level in more than 22 years. The midpoint of that target range would be the highest level for the benchmark rate since early 2001.
Persons: Lee Wai Fai, CNBC's JP Ong Organizations: Singapore's United Overseas Bank, U.S . Federal Reserve Locations: Singapore
Singapore’s clean reputation gets a timely test
  + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Anshuman Daga | ) www.reuters.com   time to read: +4 min
SINGAPORE, July 18 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Singapore could turn a governance crisis into an opportunity. Its transport minister S. Iswaran and Ong Beng Seng, the property billionaire credited with bringing Formula One to the city, were arrested and released on bail last week. The rare high-profile probe involving a public official by the hub’s anti-graft agency is a timely test of the Asian centre’s willingness to act tough on corruption. It's been six days since Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong revealed the investigation by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau and the exact details remain unclear. S. Iswaran and businessman Ong Beng Seng were arrested on July 11 and subsequently released on bail, the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau said.
Persons: Ong Beng Seng, It's, Lee Hsien Loong, Iswaran, Ong, Una Galani, Thomas Shum Organizations: Reuters, Formula, Practices, Beijing, DBS, Hotel Properties, InterContinental Hotels Group, Marriott International, Thomson Locations: SINGAPORE, Singapore, Denmark, Finland, New Zealand, Norway, Asia, Hong Kong, COMO
"Consumers are not spending, mainly driven by the bleak outlook for the property market. Disappointing retail numbers and property market sales show it doesn't seem that the boost from rate cuts is sufficient. ..the property market is beginning another slowdown - the government will have to come up with more stimulus for property." "Nonetheless, we think more stimulus is required to stabilise and restore confidence in the property market." ZHIWEI ZHANG, CHIEF ECONOMIST, PINPOINT ASSET MANAGEMENT, HONG KONG"Nominal GDP growth turns out to be lower than real GDP growth in Q2, the first time since comparable data are available in Q4 2016.
Persons: CHRISTOPHER WONG, LOUIS KUIJS, CAROL KONG, XING ZHAOPENG, KEN CHEUNG, ALVIN TAN, VISHNU VARATHAN, MARCO SUN, CHEN, TONY SYCAMORE, ZHIWEI ZHANG, JING LIU Organizations: Gross, National Bureau, Statistics, Shanghai, NBS, BANK OF, ANZ, MIZUHO BANK, OF, OF ASIA FX, RBC, MUFG BANK, IG, SYDNEY, Friday's, BANK OF SINGAPORE, HSBC, stoke, Authorities, Reuters, U.S, Thomson Locations: U.S, SINGAPORE, ASIA, HONG KONG, SYDNEY, CHINA, SHANGHAI, OF ASIA, China
HONG KONG, July 12 (Reuters) - China's major tech companies have shed more than $1 trillion in value -equivalent to the entire Dutch economy - since the government's regulatory crackdown on the sector began more than two years ago, according to Refinitiv data. Reuters GraphicsTechnology stocks (.HSTECH) in Hong Kong have rallied 4.1% since Monday as investors bank on an easing regulatory environment to boost earnings, but some analysts have sounded a note of caution. "Mega-cap tech companies will allocate increasingly large amounts of capital expenditure towards developing generative AI technologies and products in a hostile external environment, potentially impacting profitability," said Redmond Wong, Saxo Markets strategist in Hong Kong. Steven Leung, UOB Kay Hian sales director, said current valuations would last "until we see more supporting policies from authorities". Reporting by Donny Kwok in Hong Kong and Scott Murdoch in Sydney; Editing by Kevin LiffeyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
Persons: Tencent, Redmond Wong, Steven Leung, UOB Kay Hian, Donny Kwok, Scott Murdoch, Kevin Liffey Organizations: People's Bank of China, Tencent Holdings, HK, Alibaba, Baidu Inc, Reuters Graphics Technology, Saxo Markets, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, Hong Kong, Sydney
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