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☆ Microsoft offers relocation to hundreds of China-based AI staff amid U.S.-China tech tensions
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Dylan Butts | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Microsoft has reportedly asked China-based cloud computing and artificial intelligence operations employees to consider relocating out of the country, as Washington cracks down on Beijing's access to the advanced technology. One source told WSJ that Microsoft had made the offer to about 700 to 800 people in total who were involved in machine learning and other work related to cloud computing. In a statement shared with CNBC, a Microsoft spokesperson confirmed that the company had "shared an optional internal transfer opportunity with a subset of employees" without supplying details on the number and affiliation of staff affected. Microsoft employs roughly 7,000 engineers for its Asia-Pacific research-and-development group, with most of this workforce based in China, the WSJ reports. The move comes amid U.S. efforts to prevent China from developing cutting-edge AI technology, which could be used for military purposes.

Organizations: Microsoft, Street Journal, CNBC Locations: China, Washington, U.S, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, Pacific

The BOJ will now look to utilize its short-term interest rate as its primary policy tool. It will employ an interest rate of 0.1% to current account balances held by financial institutions at the central bank from March 21, while encouraging the uncollateralized overnight call rate (another interest rate used as a policy lever by the bank) to remain at around 0 to 0.1% — effectively raising interest rates from -0.1% previously. It would resort to "nimble responses" in the form of increased Japan government bond purchases and fixed-rate purchases of JGBs, among other things, if there is a rapid rise in long-term interest rates. Japanese investors have looked elsewhere for better returns given years of artificially depressed interest rates in their home market. The Fed is due to announce its own interest rate decision on Wednesday.

Persons: Japan Alexander Spatari, Kazuo Ueda, Rob Carnell, BOJ, Ueda, Michael Brown, —, JGBs, Vishnu Varathan, Hayden Briscoe, Briscoe Organizations: Japan's, Japan Inc, Asia, ING, CNBC, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Mizuho Financial Group, Bank of America, Barclays, U.S . Federal, UBS Asset Management Locations: Dotonbori, Japan, Japan's, U.S, Mizuho's, Asia

☆ Prabowo Subianto: Once banned from the US, this fiery ex-army general is poised to lead Indonesia
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

“The most important objective of democracy is giving people the leaders and representatives they want,” Prabowo told reporters from his pool. Antara Foto/Galih Pradipta/ReutersMany are excited about a Prabowo presidency, like this hardcore supporter who has clearly taken his support to the extreme. Bagus Saragih/AFP/Getty ImagesMore recently, Prabowo has presented himself as a loyal Jokowi ally, serving as his defense minister for the past five years. Experts say Prabowo, known for his fiery speeches, military background and combative past will make for a very different kind of president. Indonesia has long been one of Australia’s most important bilateral relationships and experts say that will not change with Prabowo in charge.

Persons: Prabowo Subianto, ” Prabowo, Prabowo, Indonesia’s, Partai Probawo, Gibran, “ Prabowo, ”, Zachary Abuza, Abuza, “, Antara, Pradipta, Saragih, Widodo, Barack Obama, Tom Pepinsky, Rodrigo Duterte, Javier Milei, Trump, ” “, Dita Alangkara, Jokowi, Jacqui Baker, Laura Schwartz, Schwartz, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Adek Berry, Chong Ja Ian, Suharto, –, Dan Slater, Prabowo “, ” Slater, Chaideer Mahyuddin, Chong, Juni Kriswanto, Usman Hamid, Papuans, Veronica Koman, ” Koman Organizations: CNN, National War College, Getty, Southeast Asia, Cornell University, “, Center, Research, Senior Southeast, National University of Singapore, Center for Emerging Democracies, University of Michigan, Muda Airforce, Amnesty International Locations: Jakarta, United States, South Jakarta, Washington ,, AFP, Indonesia, Singapore, Ukraine, Russia, China, Australia, Asian, Perth, Asia, Beijing, Washington, “ Washington, Sultan, Muda, Aceh, West Papua, South China, Tentara Nasional Indonesia, Southeast Asia, “, Papua, Amnesty International Indonesia, restive, Indonesian, East Timor

The company logo of Chinese developer Country Garden is pictured at the Shanghai Country Garden Center in Shanghai, China August 9, 2023. Country Garden, China's largest private property developer, has not defaulted so far, but has missed coupon payments on some dollar bonds since last month and faces the end of 30-day grace periods for making payments from next week. In a filing with the Hong Kong stock exchange on Tuesday, Country Garden said that its sales and financing were facing "significant challenges", and its available funds have continued to decrease. Country Garden was due on Monday to pay $66.8 million in coupons on 2024 and 2026 dollar bonds, although the payments have a 30-day grace period. ($1 = 7.8284 Hong Kong dollars)Reporting by Scott Murdoch in Sydney and Xie Yu in Hong Kong; additional reporting Rishav Chatterjee in Bengaluru and Clare Jim in Hong Kong; Editing by Rashmi Aich, Lincoln Feast, Jamie Freed and Kim CoghillOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Aly, homebuyers, Houlihan Lokey, Sidley Austin, Jeff Zhang, Sandra Chow, CreditSight's, Scott Murdoch, Xie Yu, Rishav Chatterjee, Clare Jim, Rashmi Aich, Lincoln, Jamie Freed, Kim Coghill Organizations: Shanghai Country Garden, REUTERS, HK, Hong, China International Capital Corporation, Asia, China Evergrande, Investment, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, HONG KONG, Hong Kong, Beijing, Sydney, Bengaluru, Clare

The company logo of Chinese developer Country Garden is pictured at the Shanghai Country Garden Center in Shanghai, China August 9, 2023. Companies accounting for 40% of Chinese home sales - mostly private property developers - have defaulted on debt obligations since a liquidity crisis hit the sector in 2021, leaving many homes unfinished. The developer had been working towards announcing a restructure of its offshore debt, Chinese media reported on Monday. Country Garden faces another big test next week when its entire offshore debt could be deemed in default if it fails to pay a $15 million September coupon by Oct. 17. "The difficult situation shows that Chinese developers face severe liquidity pressure from weak home sales, and repayment to bondholders is still a lower priority," said Gary Ng, senior economist at Natixis Corporate and Investment Bank.

Persons: Aly, Houlihan Lokey, Sidley Austin, Morningstar, Jeff Zhang, Sandra Chow, CreditSight's, Gary Ng, Scott Murdoch, Xie Yu, Rishav Chatterjee, Rashmi Aich, Lincoln, Jamie Freed 私 Organizations: Shanghai Country Garden, REUTERS, Garden Holdings, HK, Hong Kong Stock Exchange, China International Capital Corporation, Asia, Natixis Corporate, Investment Bank Locations: Shanghai, China, HONG KONG, Hong Kong, Sydney, Bengaluru

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

☆ Japan’s property sector sees ‘golden period’ as foreign investments surge 45%
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesForeign investments into Japan's real estate sector have been flourishing in the past year, buoyed by a weak Japanese yen as the country's central bank maintains its ultra-loose monetary policy. "It is a golden period of Japanese real estate," Henry Chin, head of Asia-Pacific research at CBRE, told CNBC. Foreign investors almost doubled their investment from a year ago to $2 billion in the first quarter of the year, the global real estate services company noted. According to latest data provided by CBRE, total foreign investments into Japan's real estate market has risen 45% in the first half of 2023, compared to the same period last year. The solid rebound in Japan's tourism sector following the ease in border restrictions has sparked a rise in hotel occupancies and hospitality investments, Knight Frank said in a recent September note.

Persons: Henry Chin, Chin, Koji Nato, JLL, Knight Frank, CBRE's Chin, Knight Frank's, Christine Li, David Madison Organizations: Bloomberg, Getty, CNBC, Nato LL's, Capital Markets, U.S, APAC Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Asia, Pacific, Osaka, Singapore, U.S, Canada, Magome

☆ Sunac China files for Chapter 15 bankruptcy protection
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Hong Kong CNN —One of China’s leading property developers, Sunac, has filed for bankruptcy protection in the United States, shortly after winning approval from its creditors to restructure nearly $10 billion worth of debt. The company filed a petition for Chapter 15 protection with the US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York on Tuesday. It’s the second big distressed Chinese developer in weeks to seek such protection: Evergrande made a Chapter 15 filing in the United States a month ago, after posting losses of $81 billion in the last two years. Entering the process may help Sunac China negotiate with overseas lenders as it works to overhaul its debt. “While Evergrande is still struggling to get their offshore creditors on board, Sunac has really overtaken them,” she said.

Persons: It’s, Evergrande, Sunac, Sandra Chow, it’s, Chow, ”, —, ” Chow, “, Andy Rose Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, US, Court, Southern, of, Asia, CNN, Evergrande Locations: China, Hong Kong, United States, of New York

☆ Cash-squeezed developer Country Garden faces another dollar coupon deadline
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Xie Yu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The company logo of Chinese developer Country Garden is pictured at the Shanghai Country Garden Center in Shanghai, China August 9, 2023. A Country Garden spokesperson did not immediately respond to Reuters request for comment on Monday about its latest debt repayment obligation. Country Garden last month warned of default risks if its financial performance continues to deteriorate. Last week, onshore bondholders approved to extend repayments of seven other Country Garden bonds by three years. Many creditors believe that Country Garden will have to restructure its offshore debt if it doesn't get liquidity support soon.

Persons: Aly, Sandra Chow, Chow, Kim, Ashurst, Xie Yu, Sumeet Chatterjee Organizations: Shanghai Country Garden, REUTERS, HK, London, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, HONG KONG, Beijing, Asia, Pacific, Hong Kong, New York, Lincoln

☆ China's real estate market roiled by default fears again
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Qilai Shen | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesBEIJING — Two years after Evergrande's debt troubles, worries about China's real estate sector are coming to the forefront again. In late July, its top leaders indicated a shift toward greater support for the real estate sector, paving the way for local governments to implement specific policies. For the last several years, Chinese authorities have attempted to curb debt-fueled speculation in the country's massive — and hot — real estate market. Real estate and related industries have accounted for about a quarter of China's economy. He pointed out that since China started its deleveraging campaign in 2016, it is very unlikely the state would step in to bail out real estate developers.

Persons: Qilai Shen, Dalian Wanda, Liu Haibo, Sandra Chow, Nomura, Chow, Evergrande, Redmond Wong, —, Wong, Vanke, that's Organizations: Country Garden Holdings Co, Bloomberg, Getty, BEIJING, Reuters, CNBC, Country, Asia Pacific Research, CreditSights, Fitch, Saxo Markets Hong, China's, House Research, Stock, Poly Development, Research Locations: Baoding, Hebei province, China, Dalian, Hong Kong, Beijing, Saxo Markets Hong Kong

☆ China's heading for another real estate crisis — but it's on a whole different scale than what it's seen before
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Nidhi Pandurangi | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Country Garden, a massive Chinese property developer, missed interest payments on two dollar bonds this week. However, it's the scale of Country Garden's projects that is a big warning signal for the Chinese real estate sector and the wider economy. Evergrande faced a liquidity crisis in 2020, prodding it to try to halve its around $100 billion debt by mid-2023. These efforts were scuppered by a slowdown in China's property sector and regulators' efforts to put brakes on property developers borrowing excessively. However, putting the brakes on borrowing started sending the property sector into a crisis.

Persons: Kristy Hung, Yang Guoqiang, Yang Huiyan, Yang, Moody's, Sandra Chow, Evergrande, Huileng Tan Organizations: Service, Bloomberg Intelligence, Hong Kong Stock Exchange, CNN, China Index Academy, Reuters, Pacific Research, New York Times, Caixa Bank Locations: Beijing, Wall, Silicon, China, Evergrande, Foshan, Asia, Pacific, CreditSights

☆ Another Chinese Property Giant Teeters, Raising Worries About the Economy
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Alexandra Stevenson | More About Alexandra Stevenson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

That this is happening to Country Garden is alarming investors. It had largely benefited from measures to bolster the property market last year that included more financial support. But recent events have led Country Garden to a point of distress that was unthinkable a year ago, when it was making nearly $50 billion in sales. The worry now is that even as Beijing has pledged more support to the property market, the measures may not be enough. But if Country Garden doesn’t make the payments it will trigger a default, scaring those who have lent it money in the past.

Persons: Sandra Chow Organizations: Pacific Research Locations: Beijing, China, Shenzhen, Shanghai, Asia, Pacific, CreditSights

☆ Explainer: Dalian Wanda's repayment woes weigh on China property sentiment
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Clare Jim | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

HOW MUCH DEBT DOES DALIAN WANDA HAVE? Dalian Wanda Group, owned by China's once-richest man Wang Jianlin, is the country's largest commercial property developer managing many shopping malls, offices and hotels across the country. WHAT IS NEXT FOR DALIAN WANDA? If Wanda Commercial manages this repayment, the next deadline will be a 3.5 billion yuan onshore bond due on July 29. "The extreme volatility in Dalian Wanda's bond prices shows how fearful and emotional the market is at this point."

Persons: DALIAN WANDA, China's, Wang Jianlin, Wanda Commercial, Wanda, Sandra Chow, Scott Murdoch, Jamie Freed Organizations: Dalian Wanda, DALIAN, Dalian Wanda Group, Dalian Wanda Commercial Management, Zhuhai, Bloomberg News, Country Garden, HK, Ocean Group, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, Dalian, Hong Kong, Asia, Pacific, Sydney

☆ It's hard to see how weaker Chinese developers will regain homebuyer confidence, says analyst
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | 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 EmailIt's hard to see how weaker Chinese developers will regain homebuyer confidence, says analystSandra Chow, co-head of Asia-Pacific research at CreditSights, says there's an "increasing bifurcation" in China's property sector — between strong and state-linked developers and smaller ones that are "left to languish."

Persons: Sandra Chow Locations: Asia, Pacific, China's

☆ Evergrande's overdue results to show steep losses, market eyes liquidity update
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( Clare Jim | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The developer defaulted in late 2021 and has been struggling to complete projects and repay its many suppliers and creditors. After announcing an offshore debt restructuring plan in March, it is now garnering support to complete the process. Charles Macgregor, head of Asia of Lucror Analytics, said he was not optimistic about Evergrande's results. Analysts expect Evergrande to post steep losses for 2021 and 2022, years in which its contracted sales fell to 443 billion yuan and 31.7 billion yuan respectively, versus 723 billion yuan in 2020. Evergrande's shares listed in Hong Kong have been halted from trading since March 21 last year, pending the financial results and an investigation into a 13.4 billion yuan of seized deposits of a unit.

Persons: Sandra Chow, Charles Macgregor, Evergrande, Clare Jim, Himani Sarkar Organizations: China Evergrande, HK, Asia, Lucror, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, China, China's, Asia, Hong Kong

☆ Singapore rent prices are still sky-high. Long-time expats are having to consider drastic changes
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( Charmaine Jacob | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

If rents continue to grow steadily, more residents will bite the bullet and purchase a property before paying higher prices for rent, Knight Frank's Christine Li said. Whether one's renting a room, an apartment or a house, long-time expatriates living in Singapore are digging deep into their pockets and making drastic changes to cope with rising rents. Some foreigners living here say their landlords may be taking advantage of an overheated property market to jack up prices — with some doubling the rent. "If rents continue to grow steadily, more people will just bite the bullet and purchase a property before paying higher prices for rent," she said. Justin Paget | Stone | Getty ImagesFrancesca said many potential landlords offered her "rent free deals" to convince her to agree to higher prices — that essentially translates to no rent for the first few months.

☆ Our R&D center in Singapore will help us build our network in the region: Renewable diesel firm
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-28 | 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 EmailOur R&D center in Singapore will help us build our network in the region: Renewable diesel firmMatti Lehmus, Neste's president and CEO, tells CNBC's Christine Tan about the Finnish refiner's plans and the role its Asia-Pacific research and development center can play for the company.

☆ Asian equities rise, dollar sways as focus firmly on Fed minutes
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-04 | by ( Ankur Banerjee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) rose 0.91%, set for a third straight day of gains for the year. The index fell 20% in 2022. Japan's Nikkei (.N225) lost 1.12% in early trade, while Australia's S&P/ASX 200 index (.AXJO) rose 1.28%. The dollar index , which measures the greenback against six other currencies fell 0.162% after rising 1% overnight. The two-year U.S. Treasury yield, which typically moves in step with interest rate expectations, was down 3.7 basis points at 4.368%.

Summary Data due at 1200 GMT Dec. 12BENGALURU, Dec 9 (Reuters) - India consumer price inflation likely cooled to a nine-month low of 6.40% in November mainly due to a moderation in food prices, according to a Reuters poll of economists. Food prices alone account for nearly 40% of the consumer price index (CPI) basket in Asia's third largest economy. The Dec. 5-8 Reuters poll of 45 economists predicted the second consecutive decline in inflation (INCPIY=ECI) to an annual 6.40% from 6.77% in October. The central bank maintained its inflation forecast for financial year 2022/23 at 6.7%, the same as a recent Reuters poll. Furthermore, there are upside risks to food inflation particularly from cereals."

☆ Asia stocks edge up despite global growth worries
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SINGAPORE, Dec 8 (Reuters) - Asian equities edged higher on Thursday, propped up by Hong Kong and China stocks even as growing fears of an economic slowdown and worries over the pace of the Federal Reserve's interest rate hikes weighed on sentiment. Elsewhere in Asia, Australia's S&P/ASX 200 index (.AXJO) lost 0.67%, while Japan's Nikkei (.N225) fell to near one-month low. Also weighing on the equities market was U.S. Treasury yields, with five-year notes to 30-year bonds hovering at three-month lows. Meanwhile, the yield on 10-year Treasury notes was up 4.3 basis points (bps) to 3.451%, while the yield on the 30-year Treasury bond was up 3.4 bps to 3.448%. The two-year U.S. Treasury yield, which typically moves in step with interest rate expectations, was up 3.9 bps at 4.296%.

☆ US and Indian troops are teaming up for tough training in the Himalayas near a tense border with China
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( Christopher Woody | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

US soldiers are training with Indian troops in the Himalayas this month for exercise Yudh Abhyas. This year's version of the exercise is being held near India's disputed border with China. An Indian army convoy on a highway leading to Ladakh, in Kashmir's Ganderbal district in June 2020. REUTERS/Danish Ismail"The US and India probably anticipated that conducting the exercise near the Chinese border would draw Beijing's ire. Indian soldiers during Yudh Abhyas in Alaska in October 2021.

☆ Singapore's mortgage costs are rising — but some buyers are shrugging off higher rates
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-27 | by ( Abigail Ng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

The rising cost of borrowing is unlikely to have a major impact on Singapore's property market, analysts told CNBC. Ore Huiying | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesSINGAPORE — The rising cost of borrowing is unlikely to have a major impact on Singapore's property market, analysts told CNBC. Singapore's real estate market is backed by wealth, according to Christine Li, head of Asia-Pacific research at Knight Frank. Demand driversHowever, it doesn't mean the residential property market ignores rising rates and looming risks, said Alan Cheong, executive director of research and consultancy at Savills. "However, past trends indicate that our property market is highly resilient and usually rebounds within six months of a cooling measure," she said.

☆ China delayed the release of key economic data to avoid distraction amid the Communist Party Congress, not to conceal data, analysts say
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

China delayed the release of key economic data, including third-quarter GDP, scheduled for this week. The postponement of the data — GDP in particular — has raised speculation that the numbers are deliberately being hidden. "Beijing just wants everyone and the media coverage to focus on the Congress, not on economic data." While delays in monthly statistical data release are indeed "quite unusual," they are not unprecedented, according to Zhuang. However, it's the first time Beijing is delaying GDP data release.

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