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☆ Strained Chinese cities struggle to pay home buying subsidies
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Chinese cities have promised subsidies and other incentives to prop up the ailing property sector but have failed to deliver, frustrating potential homebuyers. The 30-year-old now pays 6,000 yuan of her 8,000 monthly salary on the mortgage for the 1.1 million yuan apartment and another 1,800 yuan to rent another one, relying on her parents for other basic expenses. Weifang, with a population of more than 9 million and an economy larger than Croatia's, and dozens of other Chinese cities, have promised subsidies and other incentives to homebuyers to prop up the ailing property sector. But the real estate downturn also affects the ability of cities to lease land to developers, a key revenue source. This meant some local governments were unable to raise funds to pay the promised subsidies, frustrating buyers and casting doubts over future support measures.

Persons: Amy Wang, Wang, Christopher Beddor, Gavekal Organizations: People's, Communist Party Locations: Hangzhou city, Zhejiang province, China, Weifang, Shangqiu

☆ Hong Kong October home prices drop to lowest since March 2017
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A general view of Two International Finance Centre (IFC), HSBC headquarters and Bank of China in Hong Kong, China July 13, 2021. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsHONG KONG, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Hong Kong private home prices extended a fall in October, dipping to their lowest since March 2017, official data showed on Tuesday, weighed down by higher interest rates and weak buying sentiment. Home prices in the financial hub, one of the most expensive markets in the world, dropped 2.2% in October from the previous month. Prices have dropped 4% in the first 10 months of the year after the sixth monthly decline in October. Investment bank UBS has forecast that Hong Kong's home prices could drop another 10% in 2024 as borrowing costs in the city have surged to the highest level since 2007.

Persons: Tyrone Siu, Martin Wong, Knight Frank, Clare Jim, Robert Birsel Organizations: International Finance Centre, HSBC, Bank of China, REUTERS, Realtors, Investment, UBS, Thomson Locations: Hong Kong, China, HONG KONG

☆ China wealth manager Zhongzhi flags insolvency, $64 bln in liabilities
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

BEIJING, Nov 23 (Reuters) - China's Zhongzhi Enterprise Group, a leading wealth manager, told investors it is heavily insolvent with up to $64 billion in liabilities, threatening to reignite concerns that the country's property debt crisis is spilling over into the broader financial sector. The firm, which has sizable exposure to China's real estate sector, apologised to its investors in a letter that said it had total liabilities of about 420 billion yuan ($58 billion) to 460 billion yuan ($64 billion). The liabilities compared to Zhongzhi's estimated total assets of about 200 billion yuan, according to the letter, which was issued on Wednesday and was seen by Reuters. 'ENORMOUS' HOLESigns of trouble at the Zhongzhi group first came to light in July when Zhongrong International Trust Co, a leading trust company controlled by Zhongzhi, missed payments on dozens of investment products. "The Zhongzhi group deeply apologises for the losses caused to investors.

Persons: Zhongzhi, Xu, Xing Zhaopeng, Christopher Beddor, Beddor, Ziyi Tang, Ryan Woo, Sumeet Chatterjee, Muralikumar Organizations: Zhongzhi Enterprise Group, Reuters, International Trust Co, Big, ANZ, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, Beijing, Zhongzhi, China's, China

☆ China wealth manager Zhongzhi flags insolvency, $64 billion in liabilities
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/3] The company logo of Chinese developer Country Garden is pictured at the Shanghai Country Garden Center in Shanghai, China August 9, 2023. Beijing needs to pull "multiple levers" at the same time to address the "vulnerabilities" in the financial system, local government financing, as well as consumer sentiment, said Edward Al-Hussainy, head of emerging market fixed income research at Columbia Threadneedle, which owns Country Garden bonds. China property sector slumpShoring up confidence is the biggest challenge facing Beijing and is key to getting homebuyers spending again, which analysts says isn't likely to happen soon given an uncertain economic outlook. Reuters reported last week that Chinese authorities have asked domestic financial behemoth Ping An Insurance Group to take a controlling stake in Country Garden. "You need to fix the macro environment first; if you don't earn enough how do you buy a property?," said Xu, whose firm holds China property dollar bonds.

Persons: Aly, Edward Al, isn't, Morgan Stanley, Ping, Ping An, Elliot Hentov, Steven Xu, Xu, Raymond Cheng, Goldman Sachs, Clare Jim, Davide Barbuscia, Karin Strohecker, Summer Zhen, Rae Wee, Sumeet Chatterjee Organizations: Shanghai Country Garden, REUTERS, HONG KONG, Columbia, Reuters, HK, Economic Work Conference, Reuters Graphics, HIT, Insurance Group, State Street Global Advisors, Country, Harmonia, Bloomberg, China, CIBM Securities, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, HONG, Beijing, outflows, Hong Kong, New York, London, Singapore

☆ U.S.-China relations are now more about crisis prevention
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

It will be a rare summit before the U.S. presidential election cycle kicks off in earnest. "The immediate aftermath of the [Biden-Xi] meeting is likely to mark a cyclical high point for bilateral relations," he said. Taiwan is set to hold its presidential election in January, and a more pro-independence winner could stir more of Beijing's ire. Beijing considers Taiwan part of its territory, with no right to independently conduct diplomatic relations. The U.S. recognizes Beijing as the sole government of China but maintains unofficial relations with Taiwan, a democratically self-governed island.

Persons: Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Kevin Lamarque, Biden, Michael Hirson, Trump, Xi, Gabriel Wildau, Antony Blinken, Chuck Schumer, Shen Yamei, Shen, Gina Raimondo, Lifeng, Janet Yellen, Teneo, Nancy Pelosi, Teneo's Wildau Organizations: Reuters, U.S, China Research, Research, D.C, Strategic, International, Biden, Republican, Democratic, American Studies, China Institute of International Studies, CNBC, U.S . Commerce, Treasury, U.S . House, Representatives, Economic Cooperation, China's Ministry of Commerce Locations: Bali , Indonesia, Reuters BEIJING, U.S, China, Taiwan, South China, Washington, Beijing, San Francisco, Gaza, Ukraine, Asia

☆ China's first deficit in foreign investment signals West's 'de-risking' pressure
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A view of the city skyline, ahead of the annual National People's Congress (NPC), in Shanghai, China February 24, 2022. Onshore yuan trading against the dollar also hit record-low volume in October, highlighting authorities' stepped-up efforts to curb yuan selling. Direct investment liabilities - a measure of FDI - were a deficit of $11.8 billion during the July-September period, according to preliminary data of China's balance of payments released late on Friday. That's the first quarterly shortfall since China's foreign exchange regulator began compiling the data in 1998, which could be linked to the impact of "de-risking" by Western countries from China amid growing geopolitical tensions. In September, foreign exchange outflows from China rose sharply to $75 billion, the biggest monthly figure since 2016, Goldman Sachs data showed.

Persons: Aly, That's, Tommy Xie, Xie, Goldman Sachs, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: National People's Congress, REUTERS, Rights, Greater, Greater China Research, OCBC, People's Bank of, Reuters, Shanghai, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, Western, Greater China, People's Bank of China

That decision gives U.S. officials new sway over companies in the Netherlands and Japan, where some of the most advanced chip machinery is made. In particular, U.S. rules will now stop shipments of some machines that use deep ultraviolet, or DUV, technology made mainly by the Dutch firm ASML, which dominates the lithography market. Peter Wennink, the chief executive officer, said that it was “just a handful” of Chinese chip factories where the company would not be able to ship certain tools. But “it is still sales that we had in 2023 that we’ll not have in 2024,” he added. ASML’s technology has enabled leaps in global computing power.

Persons: Vera Kranenburg, ASML, “, ”, Peter Wennink, we’ll, Liesje Schreinemacher Organizations: Clingendael Institute, U.S . Department of Commerce Locations: Netherlands, Japan, U.S, China, Dutch, United States

Wang Yi, China's top diplomat, said the country would continue to play a constructive role in handling global "hotspot issues". But after the killings of more than 900 Israelis in coordinated assaults by the Islamic group Hamas, China's response was muted. China is willing to maintain communication with all parties and make unremitting efforts for peace and stability in the Middle East," Wang Wenbin, a foreign ministry spokesperson, said on Tuesday. "The achievement of peace in the Middle East region and the just settlement of the question of Palestine are inseparable." "China is very successful in a stable environment in the Middle East when it's possible to broker reconciliation agreements between Saudi Arabia and Iran," said Jean-Loup Samaan, Senior Research Fellow at the Middle East Institute of the National University of Singapore.

Persons: Washington . Wang Yi, Xi Jinping, Bill Figueroa, Wang Wenbin, COVID lockdowns, Xi, Steve Tsang, Zhai Jun, Liu Zhongmin, Yun Sun, Tuvia Gering, Jean, Loup Samaan, Samaan, Michael Martina, Don Durfee, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Hamas, University of Groningen, Palestinian, Western, SOAS China Institute, Palestinian Authority, West Bank, Arab League, EU, Palestine, United Nations, Abraham Accords, Institute for Middle East Studies of Shanghai International Studies University, China Program, Stimson, Institute for National Security Studies, Initiative, Middle East Institute of, National University of Singapore, Thomson Locations: China, Middle East HONG KONG, BEIJING, SINGAPORE, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Israel, Gaza, Saudi, Washington, Palestine, Netherlands, United States, PALESTINE, China's, Beijing, Russia, Ukraine, London, U.S

An aerial view shows the 39 buildings developed by China Evergrande Group that authorities have issued demolition order, on the man-made Ocean Flower Island in Danzhou, Hainan province, China January 6, 2022. "The (investigation into Hui) clearly shows that Chinese policymakers prioritise political considerations to economic ones in dealing with Evergrande," he said. Evergrande and China's housing authority did not immediately respond to requests for comment during the week long National Day holiday. Gavekal in its report said that at the very least, an orderly restructuring of Evergrande seemed increasingly hard to achieve. A liquidation petition filed against Evergrande is scheduled for hearing in a Hong Kong court on Oct 30.

Persons: Aly, Hui Ka Yan, Hui, Xin Sun, Evergrande, Christopher Beddor, Sandra Chow, bondholder, Antonio Fatas, Xie Yu, Clare Jim, Kane Wu, Sumeet Chatterjee, Lincoln Organizations: China Evergrande Group, REUTERS, China Evergrande, HK, lurched, East Asian, King's College London, SOE, Evergrande, Thomson Locations: Danzhou, Hainan province, China, HONG KONG, Beijing, homebuyers, Asia, Pacific, Gavekal, Hong Kong, Evergrande

HONG KONG/BEIJING, Sept 28 (Reuters) - China Evergrande Group's (3333.HK) founder is being investigated over suspected "illegal crimes", the embattled developer said on Thursday, as creditors become increasingly concerned about the group's prospects amid an uncertain debt revamp plan and liquidation risk. Evergrande has been working to get creditors' approval for restructuring its offshore debt. The offshore debt restructuring plan now looks set to falter and the risks of the company being liquidated are rising, some analysts said. An Evergrande sign is seen near residential buildings at an Evergrande residential complex in Beijing, China September 27, 2023. "We believe that Evergrande's debt turmoil has had a great turmoil and negative impact on the global economy, and the things behind it are not simple."

Persons: Hui Ka Yan, Evergrande, Hui, Gary Ng, Ng, Florence Lo, They've, Christopher Beddor, Yan Yuejin, Saxo, Redmond Wong, Upasana Singh, Donny Kwok, Scott Murdoch, Ziyi Tang, Anne Marie Roantree, Sumeet Chatterjee, Kim Coghill, Shri Navaratnam, Lincoln, Miral Fahmy, Susan Fenton Organizations: HK, Trading, Asia Pacific, Reuters, REUTERS, Evergrande, China Research, Development Institution, Buyers, China Market, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, BEIJING, China, Asia, Beijing, Evergrande, Shanghai, Bengaluru, Hong Kong, Sydney

☆ Asian shares drop as investors brace for central bank-packed week
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Stella Qiu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures gained 0.8% to $91.52, their highest level since November, while Brent crude futures rose 0.7% to $94.55 per barrel. In Asia, MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) fell 0.7%. This week, global central banks will take centre stage, with five of those overseeing the 10 most heavily traded currencies holding rate-setting meetings. Last Friday, Wall Street ended sharply lower as U.S. industrial labour action weighed on auto shares. The euro gained 0.1% to $1.0667, after slumping to a 3-1/2 month low of $1.0632 last week as the European Central Bank signalled its rate hikes could be over.

Persons: BOE, BOJ, Taiwan's TSMC, Hong, Tommy Xie, Chris Weston, Weston, Kazuo Ueda, Cash Treasuries, Stella Qiu, Shri Navaratnam, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: Federal Reserve, Bank of Japan, Nasdaq, . West Texas, Brent, Japan's Nikkei, Technology, Reuters, Trust, Greater, Greater China Research, OCBC Bank, China Evergrande, Fed, U.S ., Bank of England, Treasury, Amazon, European Central Bank, Thomson Locations: China, SYDNEY, Europe, Asia, Pacific, Japan, Zhongrong, Greater China, HK, Pepperstone, Tokyo

☆ Asian shares stumble as investors brace for central bank packed week
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Stella Qiu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

S&P 500 futures advanced 0.2% while Nasdaq futures edged 0.1% higher. Also, Chinese trust firm Zhongrong International Trust Co, with exposure to Chinese property developers, said over the weekend it was unable to make payments on some trust products on time. The euro recovered 0.1% to $1.0673 in early Asia trade, after slumping to a 3-1/2 month low of $1.0629 last week as the European Central Bank signalled its rate hikes could be over. Brent crude futures rose 0.3% at $94.20 per barrel and U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures were up 0.4% at $91.14. Reporting by Stella Qiu; Editing by Lincoln Feast and Shri NavaratnamOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: BOE, BOJ, Tommy Xie, Jerome Powell, Chris Weston, Weston, Kazuo Ueda, Cash Treasuries, Stella Qiu, Lincoln Organizations: SYDNEY, Federal Reserve, Bank of Japan, Nasdaq, Japan's Nikkei, China Evergrande, HK, International Trust Co, Greater, Greater China Research, OCBC Bank, U.S . Federal, Fed, U.S ., Bank of England, Treasury, Amazon, European Central Bank, Brent, . West Texas, Thomson Locations: China, Asia, Pacific, Japan, Hong Kong, Beijing, Greater China, Tokyo

☆ WTA must keep Peng case in public eye on China return, says human rights advocate
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Shrivathsa Sridhar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Peng then briefly disappeared from public view and the former doubles number one later denied making the accusation, sparking an international outcry over her safety. In meetings with Chinese officials and in public appearances, they should talk about Peng's case. And as for the WTA, it should keep pressing the case robustly and publicly." Reuters has contacted the WTA and Chinese Tennis Association for an update on efforts to speak to Peng since the tour's decision to return to China. This year, it will hold tournaments in Guangzhou (Sept. 18-23) and Ningbo (Sept. 25-30) before the season's final WTA 1000 event in Beijing (Sept. 30-Oct. 8).

Persons: China’s Peng Shuai, Canada’s Eugenie Bouchard, Edgar Su, Peng Shuai, Peng, isn't, Yaqiu Wang, Frenchwoman Alize Cornet, Le Parisien, Cornet, Shrivathsa Sridhar Organizations: Melbourne, REUTERS, Rights, WTA, Reuters, Freedom House, Chinese Tennis Association, Thomson Locations: Melbourne, Australia, China, Guangzhou, Asia, Ningbo, Beijing, Zhengzhou, Hong Kong, Nanchang, Zhuhai, Le, Bengaluru

☆ Nanjing scraps home-buying curbs in China's latest property boost
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

China's authorities in recent weeks have rolled out a series of measures, such as easing borrowing rules, to support the debt-riddled property sector, which accounts for one-quarter of China's economic activity, but analysts say the steps are unlikely to reverse the slide. China's property sector has been on a downward spiral since 2021, when the government took steps to stop developers from accumulating debt. Nanjing's move indicates property easing will continue, playing an important role in stimulating home-buying and changing expectations in the sector, Yan said. Many smaller locales have eased home-purchase curbs over the past two years, but major cities - traditional targets of speculative buying - had held off. Nanjing also cut the maximum down payments for first home purchases to 20% from 30% for commercial mortgages, state broadcaster CCTV said on Thursday, compared to 30% to 35% in most major cities.

Persons: Tingshu Wang, Yan Yuejin, Yan, Liangping Gao, Ryan Woo, William Mallard Organizations: REUTERS, Garden Holdings, Reuters, China Research, Development Institution, Thomson Locations: Tianjin, China, BEIJING, Nanjing, Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen

☆ Guangzhou eases mortgage rules as China ramps up efforts to revive property sector
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Guangzhou on Wednesday became the first major Chinese city to announce an easing of mortgage curbs as the government ramps up efforts to revive the crisis-hit property sector and shore up the sputtering economy. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Mainland Property Index rose as much as 3.3% after the Guangzhou city government's announcement. Like its peers, the company has been hurt by a drop in margins as property sales and the value of the homes themselves plummeted as the economy slowed. BANKS MARGINThe mortgage rate cuts will add to margin pressure on banks. China's benchmark banking sector index fell 1.04% after the Guangzhou mortgage announcement while China's CSI300 index gained 0.02%.

Persons: Jackson Wang, Wang, I'm, Raymond Cheng, Vivian Xue Organizations: Guangzhou, Wednesday, Hang Seng Mainland, Country Garden, provident, CGS, CIMB Securities, APAC, Fitch, Reuters Locations: Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Hang Seng, Linyi, China, Hong Kong

China cut its one-year benchmark lending rate on Monday, which is set to further weigh on banks' NIM. Chinese commercial banks' NIM shrank sharply to 1.74% last quarter from 1.91% at the end of 2022, official data showed. Shares of China's biggest five banks have been sliding since early May amid concerns over the weakening economy. Debt-laden municipalities represent a major risk to China's economy and financial stability, after years of over-investment in infrastructure and plummeting returns from land sales. Still, there's really no getting around the fact that banks will need to sacrifice profitability to support the economy this year," Beddor added.

Persons: Florence, headwinds, Gary Ng, NIM, Christopher Beddor, there's, Beddor, Ziyi Tang, Ryan Woo, Sumeet Chatterjee, Himani Organizations: Bank of Communications, Fair for Trade, Services, REUTERS, China Construction Bank, Corporate, Investment Banking, Industrial, Commercial Bank of China, Bank of Communications Co, Agricultural Bank of China, JPMorgan, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, BEIJING

Economists say China needs measures to boost consumption and business confidence, such as tax cuts or government-funded consumption vouchers, but add that unlike previous slowdowns, there is no quick fix. Wang's comments came after weak economic activity data on Tuesday fuelled concern that China is heading for a deeper, longer slowdown. The private sector accounts for 60% of gross domestic product and 80% of urban employment, officials say. But there is a growing disconnect between officials calling for investment and a sweeping national security crackdown that is denting business confidence, diplomats in China say. One example was a recent anti-espionage law, accompanied by raids on some foreign consultancy firms, that sent waves of anxiety through the foreign business community.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Tingshu Wang, Joe Biden, Biden, Xi, Christopher Beddor, Wang Wenbin, Wang's, Lee Smith, Baker Donelson, Xu Chenggang, Xu, Laurie Chen, Yew Lun Tian, Martin Quin Pollard, John Geddie, Robert Birsel Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, GAP, State, U.S . Department of Commerce, Stanford University's Center, Chinese Communist Party, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Rights BEIJING, U.S, loggerheads, Taiwan

The yuan firmed by more than 0.5% in both the onshore and offshore markets as investors cheered comments at the closely watched Politburo meeting, though many were still seeking specific details on greater stimulus measures. The yuan traded offshore was last at 7.1444 per dollar and in the onshore market it was at 7.1454 per dollar. Also propping up the yuan were China's major state-owned banks selling U.S. dollars to buy yuan in both onshore and offshore spot markets on Tuesday, sources told Reuters. The positive sentiment from China lifted the Australian dollar, often used as a liquid proxy for the yuan, which rose 0.4% to $0.6767. In Europe, the pound rose 0.22% to $1.2854, its first day of gains after seven straight sessions of losses, its longest such streak since March 2020.

Persons: Tommy Xie, Guillermo Felices, Ueda, Aninda Mitra, Rae Wee, Alun John, Shri Navaratnam, Lincoln, Christina Fincher Organizations: Reuters, European Central Bank, Federal Reserve, Bank of Japan, BNY Mellon Investment Management, Thomson Locations: SINGAPORE, LONDON, China, Europe, Asia, Singapore, London

"That doesn't get them completely out of the woods," said one Country Garden bondholder, who declined to be identified, adding that the developer was facing a further batch of bonds payments in coming months. "If sales don't improve people will worry about the repayment ability for developers like Country Garden who have large exposure in smaller cities," Cheng said. "Country Garden is a top developer in terms of sales. It has been another week of unsettling news in the property market in China. Other efforts are needed to boost buyers’ sentiment about the long-term trajectory of the property market," they added.

Persons: Raymond Cheng, Cheng, Friday's, Wanda, China's, Wang Jianlin, DWCM, selloff, Yao Yu, Wanda Commercial's, Ankur Banerjee, Jason Xue, Clare Jim, Xie Yu, Marc Jones, Tom Hogue, Robert Birsel, Sharon Singleton, Frances Kerry Organizations: HK, CGS, CIMB Securities, Dalian Wanda Group, ANZ, Dalian Wanda Commercial Management, P, JPMorgan, Reuters Graphics, Thomson Locations: SINGAPORE, HONG KONG, Hong Kong, China, Beijing, Greenland, Dalian, Singapore, Shanghai, London

[1/2] A participant applies rainbow coloured facepaint before a 5.17 km run to mark International Day Against Homophobia in a park in Beijing, China, May 17, 2018. Thirteen diplomats from nine Western and Asian delegations said that the challenges they face when arranging events about gender equality and LGBT issues, or broader cultural activities, showed how China's red lines have shifted. Some recent Chinese actions around foreign missions drew widespread attention, including a warning from authorities aimed at embassies displaying Ukraine flags. Three diplomats told Reuters the incident had made them more careful about meeting with civil society figures. "A case could be made that the intentional disruption of embassy activities violates one or the other of these provisions, if not both," he said.

Persons: Thomas Peter, Xi, Guy Saint, Jacques, Peter Stano, Yaqiu Wang, Wang, Yu Wensheng, Xu Yan, Joseph Klingler, Foley Hoag, Laurie Chen, Yew Lun Tian, Brenda Goh, Engen Tham, David Crawshaw Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, China's Foreign Ministry, Vienna Convention, Diplomatic Relations, of Public Security, Europe, UNESCO, United Nations, Coordinator's, Beijing LGBT Center, Human Rights Watch, Police, European Union, EU, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, BEIJING, SHANGHAI, Canada, Vienna, Ukraine, Western, Joseph Klingler , Washington, Shanghai

☆ China's slower home price growth, deepening investment slump signal more easing
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

New home prices in May rose 0.1% month-on-month, slower than a 0.4% gain in March, according to Reuters calculations based on National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) data. Additional easing measures are needed to revive the industry, economists say, adding to expectations Beijing will deliver stimulus such as further easing home purchase curbs in first-tier cities. Beijing's broad-based stimulus measures to prop up the embattled property market since late last year had boosted sentiment in the wake of the abrupt end of COVID-19 curbs in December. In annual terms, prices rose slightly for the first time since April 2022, up 0.1% last month after a 0.2% drop in April. China's central bank cut the borrowing cost of its medium-term policy loans for the first time in 10 months on Thursday.

Persons: Yan Yuejin, Goldman Sachs, China's, Liangping Gao, Qiaoyi Li, Ryan Woo, Sam Holmes, Christopher Cushing Organizations: National Bureau of Statistics, China Research, Development Institution, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, Beijing, China, COVID

This week it hit a six-month low on the dollar after surprise cuts to key China rates, putting the gap between 10-year sovereign yields in China and the U.S. at its widest since November. The position, with China's rates below those in the United States , is the reverse of more than a decade of high-growth that saw China paying better yields than markets in the west. "The People's Bank of China's tolerance of currency weakness ... also opens up room for further yuan weakness." Even if the Federal Reserve holds rates steady later on Wednesday, as expected, traders are braced for an extended period of elevated U.S. interest rates and, increasingly, for China to hold rates low or push them even lower. Analysts polled by Reuters expect the PBOC will cut the costs of medium-term loans on Thursday and many market watchers expect a benchmark lending rate cut next week.

Persons: hasn't, Morgan, J.P, Tommy Xie, Kiyong Seong, Winni Zhou, Brenda Goh, Tom Westbrook, Kim Coghill Organizations: Bond, People's Bank, People's Bank of China, Federal Reserve, Reuters, Authorities, OCBC Bank, Societe Generale, Thomson Locations: SHANGHAI, SINGAPORE, China, U.S, Beijing, United States, Asia, Shanghai, Singapore

☆ Keothavong hopes Peng safe but says WTA's China return good for the game's finances
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( Shrivathsa Sridhar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

April 14 (Reuters) - The WTA's decision to end its China boycott over concerns about Peng Shuai will generate much-needed revenue for the women's tennis tour and provide more financial opportunities for players, Britain's Anne Keothavong said. Former player Keothavong, now captain of Britain's Billie Jean King Cup team, said she hoped Peng was safe but that ultimately "tennis is a business". The WTA's decision to suspend tournaments in the country is expected to have cost it hundreds of millions of dollars in broadcasting and sponsorship revenue. "One is that we hope Peng is OK and secondly it's just an excitement to have tournaments on the calendar. Yaqiu Wang, a senior China researcher at Human Rights Watch, said the WTA's decision was a "huge disappointment" and called for Peng's case to be kept in the public eye.

☆ Analysis: No China, no deal: Bid to break sovereign debt logjams gets weary thumbs up
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( Libgeorge Marc Jones | Marc Jones | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

LONDON, April 13 (Reuters) - The latest bid by the world's leading institutions and creditors to speed up debt restructurings and get bankrupt countries back on their feet has been greeted by a mix of cautious optimism and weary scepticism by veteran crisis watchers. The somewhat loose framework around sovereign restructurings has seen Beijing seek to influence the traditional rules of engagement in these processes. The Common Framework platform introduced by leading G20 nations in 2020 aimed to bring all creditors, including China, together and streamline negotiations. Anna Ashton, director of China research at Eurasia Group, said this week’s developments underscored the benefits for China to give some ground on some of its concerns. "China is a difficult partner to talk to but we need China at the table for the solution of debt problems, because otherwise we won't see any progress," Lindner said.

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