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The one unanimous conclusion they came to was that Beijing wants a greater state presence in these sectors. Kroeber says the crackdowns are about "defining what the state does, what the private sector does, and creating a more limited sandbox for the private sector to play in." That has left investors now picking the state over the private sector. The CCP's July Politburo meeting reinforced the message, with the top policymaking body pledging to put a floor under the property sector, help indebted local governments heal and boost consumer demand. Huang Yan, general manager of private fund manager Shanghai QiuYang Capital Co, said Beijing will crack down on any sector seen as increasing people's economic burden.

Persons: Aly, Jack, Arthur Kroeber, Kroeber, Zhang Kexing, Xi Jinping, Mao Zedong's, Thomas Masi, Masi, Xi, Nuno Fernandes, Fernandes, Huang Yan, Huang, Kumar Pandit, Pandit, Jason Xue, Ankur Banerjee, Vidya Ranganathan, Sam Holmes Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Ant Group, CSI Medical Services, Beijing Tongrentang, HK, Poly, Beijing Gelei Asset Management, Communist Party's, Investors, Mao Zedong's Marxist, Boston, K Investment Management, Shanghai QiuYang, Somerset Capital, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, Rights SHANGHAI, HONGKONG, Beijing, New York, London, Singapore

SHANGHAI/HONG KONG, Aug 17 (Reuters) - Faced with a liquidity crisis, Zhongzhi Enterprise Group will conduct a debt restructuring, the Chinese asset manager has told investors, as a deepening property sector downturn raises fears about spillover risks to the broader financial sector. Beijing-based Zhongzhi, which has sizable exposure to real estate, has stopped payment to investors in all investment products, its management told investors in a meeting on Wednesday, a video seen by Reuters showed. Zhongzhi's financial trouble is the latest challenge for Chinese authorities as they battle to contain a worsening property sector crisis and revive a faltering recovery in the world's second-largest economy. Zhongzhi has hired one of the Big Four accounting firms to conduct a comprehensive audit of the company, and is seeking strategic investors, its management told investors in Wednesday's meeting. Anxious retail investors are bombarding listed companies with questions about their exposure to Zhongrong after missed payments by the trust company triggered fears of contagion across the country's financial system.

Persons: Morgan Stanley, Zhongzhi, Lehman, Evergrande, Jason Xue, Clare Jim, Sumeet Chatterjee, Jacqueline Wong, Jamie Freed Organizations: Zhongzhi Enterprise, Reuters, Big, International Trust Co, Citigroup, Zhongrong International Trust, China Evergrande, HK, Energy Vehicle Group, Evergrande, Shanghai, Thomson Locations: SHANGHAI, HONG KONG, Beijing, Wednesday's, China, China's, Shanghai, Hong Kong

Anxious retail investors are bombarding listed companies with questions about their exposure to Zhongrong, a subsidiary of Zhongzhi, after missed payments by the trust company triggered fears of wider contagion. Zhongzhi's financial trouble is the latest challenge for Chinese authorities as they battle to contain a worsening property sector crisis and revive a faltering recovery in the world's second-largest economy. The Wednesday's meeting was held after Zhongrong International Trust Co, a leading trust company controlled by Zhongzhi, missed payments on dozens of investment products since the end of July, Reuters reported on Wednesday, citing sources. PROPERTY CRISISThe liquidity stress facing Zhongzhi highlights the ripple effect of an unprecedented debt crisis in China's property sector, which accounts for roughly a quarter of the economy that has rapidly lost momentum in recent months. Evergrande said late on Wednesday it would delay the voting date and scheme meetings with creditors for its offshore debt restructuring plan to Aug 23 and Aug 28, respectively, to give creditors more time to consider the terms.

Persons: Lehman, Morgan Stanley, Zhongzhi, Aly, Evergrande, Jason Xue, Clare Jim, Sumeet Chatterjee, Jacqueline Wong, Jamie Freed Organizations: Zhongzhi Enterprise Group, Reuters, Citigroup, Big, Workers, REUTERS, International Trust Co, Zhongrong International Trust, China Evergrande, HK, Energy Vehicle Group, Evergrande, Shanghai, Thomson Locations: SHANGHAI, HONG KONG, Beijing, China's, Zhongzhi, China, Wednesday's, Shanghai, Hong Kong

☆ Zhongrong Trust's missed payments trigger fears among Chinese investors
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Investors look at an electronic board showing stock information at a brokerage house in Shanghai, China, March 7, 2016. REUTERS/Aly Song/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSHANGHAI, Aug 16 (Reuters) - Anxious Chinese retail investors are bombarding listed companies with questions about their exposure to Zhongrong International Trust Co after missed payments by the trust company triggered fears of contagion across the country's financial system. Zhongrong managed assets worth 785.7 billion yuan ($107.69 billion) at the end of 2022, out of which 629.3 billion yuan were linked to trust products, according to its latest annual report. Its missed payments had added to stress in the financial sector from the country's worsening property crisis. One investor on Wednesday asked Shanghai-listed New China Life Insurance Company (601336.SS) - which owned 14 billion yuan ($1.92 billion) of products from Zhongrong at the end of last year - whether there was a risk of missed payments.

Persons: Aly, Huang Yan, Jason Xue, Tom Westbrook, Tomasz Janowski, Jason Neely Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Zhongrong International, Co, Investors, Shanghai QiuYang, Zhongzhi Enterprise Group, Wednesday, Shanghai, China Life Insurance, KBC Corp, Bescient Technology, Shanghai New Vision Microelectronics, Nanhua, Jiangsu Azure Corp, Topsperity Securities, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, Shenzhen, Zhongrong, Jiangsu, Singapore

An investor looks at an electronic board showing stock information at a brokerage house in Shanghai, China July 6, 2018. REUTERS/Aly SongSHANGHAI, Aug 11 (Reuters) - A growing number of healthcare companies in China are shelving their initial public offering (IPO) plans as its stock exchanges have stepped up scrutiny of the pharmaceutical industry's business practices amid an escalating anti-corruption drive. Vaccine maker Shanghai Rongsheng Biotech Co terminated its IPO plan this week, after the company's high proportion of sales expenses drew attention from regulators. The company's sales expenses over the past three years amounted to nearly half of its revenue. Another banker said drugmakers are stepping on the brakes of their IPO plans due to the rising uncertainty.

Persons: Aly Song SHANGHAI, Rongsheng, drugmakers, Fujian Mindong, Jason Xue, Tom Westbrook, Muralikumar Organizations: REUTERS, Pharmaceuticals, Shanghai Rongsheng Biotech Co, Shanghai Stock Exchange, Rejuenation Pharmaceutical Co, Shenzhen Stock Exchange, HIT, National Health Commission, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, Fujian, Rongsheng, Shenzhen, Singapore

☆ Country Garden misses bond payments as China property fears flare
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( Clare Jim | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The company logo of Chinese developer Country Garden is displayed at a news conference in Hong Kong, China March 20, 2018. REUTERS/Bobby Yip/File PhotoHONG KONG, Aug 8 (Reuters) - Country Garden (2007.HK) said on Tuesday it has not paid two dollar bond coupons due on Aug. 6, confirming market fears that the biggest privately owned developer in China is slipping into repayment troubles. The bonds in question are notes due on Feb 2026 and Aug 2030 , both with 30-day grace periods, investors said, citing prospectuses. Its Jan 2024 dollar bonds were traded at 18.331 cents on the dollar, according to Duration Finance, down from 25 cents on Monday. Last week, Country Garden aborted a $300 million share placement at the last minute saying it had not reached a 'final agreement' for the deal to go ahead.

Persons: Bobby Yip, HONG KONG, Clare Jim, Jason Xue, Muralikumar Anantharaman, Kim Coghill, Lincoln Organizations: REUTERS, HK, China Evergrande, Reuters, Finance, Thomson Locations: Hong Kong, China, HONG, Guangdong province, Shenzhen, Shanghai

HONG KONG/NEW YORK, July 31 (Reuters) - For all the excitement whipped up in China's markets by the Politburo last week, foreign investors say policymakers' words will have to be matched by substantive action to clean up an ailing property sector before confidence recovers. "The question is what resources they will deploy, because China is still very focused on de-leveraging and preventing financial risks." Absolutely, and urgently," said Qi Wang, the chief investment officer (CIO) of MegaTrust Investment (HK), a boutique China fund manager specializing in domestic Chinese A-shares. Mark Dong, general manager of Minority Asset Management, based in Hong Kong, has reduced his exposure to the property sector. The safest bets in the sector, he said, had come down to state-owned companies such as China Resources Land (1109.HK) and Poly Property (0119.HK).

Persons: Tara Hariharan, Qi Wang, Wang, Mark Dong, Bo Zhuang, Loomis, Weng, Rob Hinchliffe, Hinchliffe, Mei Leong, Xie Yu, Georgina Lee, Shen Yiming, Jason Xue, Ankur Banerjee, Tom Westbrook, Vidya Ranganathan, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: HONG KONG, MegaTrust Investment, Asset Management, Loomis Sayles Investments, Eastspring Investments, PineBridge Investments, China Evergrande Group, HK, China Resources, Poly Property, Thomson Locations: HONG, China, Hong Kong, Loomis Sayles Investments Asia, Shanghai, New York, Singapore

☆ China's property firms rally after Beijing pledges economic support
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( Clare Jim | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Its Shanghai-traded bond surged 25% to 38 yuan, while a Shenzhen-traded bond rose 44% to 33.6 yuan. "Most important, (Beijing) sent a signal of further easing property restrictions by dropping the phrase...and mentioning streaming property policies," Nomura chief China economist Ting Lu said. Sino-Ocean Group's onshore bond rose 8.6% to 23.5 yuan in Shanghai. The state-backed firm is currently negotiating with creditors to extend the repayment for the yuan bond due Aug. 2. Nomura's Lu maintained the view that there is no quick fix for the property sector, and that the central government would only marginally ease some existing restrictive measures in large cities.

Persons: Nomura, Ting Lu, Nomura's Lu, Morgan Stanley, Clare Jim, Jason Xue, Sherry Jacob, Phillips, Sam Holmes Organizations: Mainland Properties, CSI, HK, Garden Services, Communist Party, Longfor, Seazen, KWG, Ocean Group, Greenland Holdings, Country Garden, Dalian Wanda Group, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, Hang, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Beijing, China

"The major thing that we see now is onshore-traded Country Garden bonds going down," he said. Country Garden is a giant with thousands of projects in nearly 300 Chinese cities. Li Changjiang, the president of Country Garden Services, sold 3.2 million shares of the company last week, reducing his stake to 0.11% from 0.21%. They also cut its price target to HK$0.9 from HK$2.3 and that of Country Garden Services Holdings to HK$6.7 from HK$22. "Distressed Chinese property developers’ bond restructurings can buy them some room," Fitch Ratings said in a report on Monday.

Persons: Longfor, Wanda, Yao Yu, Morgan Stanley, Morgan, Li Changjiang, Fitch, Jason Xue, Tom Westbrook, Clare Jim, Xie Yu, Georgina Lee, Marc Jones, Kim Coghill, Jamie Freed, Barbara Lewis, Christina Fincher Organizations: HK, Dalian, Garden, Country Garden Services, Garden Holdings, Garden Services Holdings, China, Greenland Holdings, Ocean Group, Thomson Locations: SHANGHAI, SYDNEY, China, Hong Kong, Evergrande, Cayman Islands, Shanghai, Sydney, London

☆ China developer Country Garden shares extend losses on debt worries; others fall
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SHANGHAI/SINGAPORE, July 24 (Reuters) - Shares and bonds in Chinese property developer Country Garden (2007.HK) and its property service arm Country Garden Services Holdings (6098.HK) tumbled on Monday, extending losses from the previous week on debt concerns. More liquidity troubles surfaced in China's property sector last week, sending down shares and bonds of the country's biggest developers. Country Garden Services Holdings shares slumped more than 10% on Monday, while Country Garden fell more than 5%, with both down to their lowest level since last November. Two onshore-traded bonds of Country Garden , plunged roughly 20% each, and some of its offshore-listed bonds also declined. Shares in other developers, including Longfor Group (0960.HK), China Overseas Land & Investment (0688.HK) and Sunac China Holdings (1918.HK), also slumped on Monday.

Persons: Jason Xue, Tom Westbrook, Kim Coghill, Jamie Freed Organizations: HK, Garden Services Holdings, Country Garden Services Holdings, Mainland Properties, CSI, Longfor, China Overseas Land & Investment, Sunac China Holdings, Thomson Locations: SHANGHAI, SINGAPORE, China, Shanghai, Singapore

"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

"For China, it is 'bad news is good news' at the moment," said Jun Bei Liu, portfolio manager at Tribeca Investment Partners in Sydney. Even before the latest disappointing growth data, a slew of soft economic indicators had shown China's recovery was falling short, slamming the brakes on nascent stock market rallies. Foreign money has been leaving, with worries over China's cyber-security crackdowns and Sino-U.S. flaps over chips and rare metals adding to growth concerns. REVIEWING CHINAGoldman Sachs analysts led by Kinger Lau also believe a 'tactical market recovery' thesis is compelling, and project a 15% 12-month return for the CSI300. "We are conservative about the extent of the policy support down the road," said Alicia Garcia Herrero, chief economist, Asia Pacific at Natixis.

Persons: Jun Bei Liu, Liu, Marcella Chow, CHINA Goldman Sachs, Kinger Lau, it's, Mike Kelly, Alicia Garcia Herrero, Eugenia Victorino, SEB, Victorino, Ting Lu, Jason Xue, Tom Westbrook, Kim Coghill Organizations: Tribeca Investment Partners, CSI, Morgan Asset Management, CHINA, JPMorgan, PineBridge Investments, Nomura, Thomson Locations: China, Sydney, U.S, Asia, Natixis, Shanghai

July 13 (Reuters) - Qingdao city in China's debt-laden Shandong province has set up a company to bail out its cash-strapped local government financing vehicles (LGFVs), sources said, as regional governments rush to reduce debt risks in a wobbly economy. The government of Qingdao and the China Development Bank did not reply to Reuters' requests for comment. While no LGFV in China has defaulted in the public markets, cases of delinquencies in the private debt market are increasing, worrying Beijing. Tianjin LGFV bonds yield more than 514 bps over government bonds, compared with 200 bps for Shandong bonds, reflecting the elevated risks. Fund manager Zhou said although he is bullish on LGFV bonds, "the first priority is to be absolutely diversified in investment.

Persons: Qingdao's, Xi Jinping, LGFVs, Goldman Sachs, Zhai Jianye, Zhai, It's, Zhou Tingzuo, Ning Yong, Zhou, Samuel Shen, Jason Xue, Tom Westbrook, Vidya Ranganathan Organizations: Dongdin Industrial Group, China Development Bank, Southwest Securities, Agricultural Bank of China, China Construction Bank, Commercial Bank of China, SS, Shoupu Fund Management Co, Ning Yong Fu Fund Management, Thomson Locations: Qingdao, China's, Shandong, China, Shandong LGFVs, Beijing, Big, Jinan, Weifang, Liaoning, Hunan, Shanghai, Tianjin, Singapore

China's central bank said that financial regulators would fine Ant and its subsidiaries a total of 7.12 billion yuan, require it to stop operations of its crowdfunded medical aid service Xianghubao and compensate users. Reuters reported earlier, citing sources, that Chinese authorities intended to unveil its fine on Ant as early as Friday. The sources had earlier said that the fine on Ant had been revised to at least 8 billion yuan. Reuters reported in April that Chinese regulators were considering fining Ant about 5 billion yuan, a lower sum than what they initially had in mind. Alibaba was fined a record 18 billion yuan in 2021 for antitrust violations.

Persons: China c.bank, Ant, Ping, Rukim Kuang, Jack Ma, Jeffrey Towson, Pan Gongsheng, Pan, Didi Global, Alibaba, Julie Zhu, Jane Xu, Jason Xue, Kevin Huang, Meg Shen, Twinnie Sui, Josh Ye, Ethan Wang, Muralikumar Anantharaman, Brenda Goh, David Holmes, Susan Fenton Organizations: Ant, Singapore FinTech Festival, REUTERS, Ant Group, People's Bank of China, Reuters, Ping An Bank, PICC, HK, Postal Savings Bank, Tencent Holdings, Alibaba, Hong Kong, Financial Regulatory Administration, State Council, Lens Consulting, Thomson Locations: Singapore, China, HONG KONG, Ant's, Hong, Beijing, CHINA

Reuters reported earlier, citing sources, that Chinese authorities intended to unveil its fine on Ant as early as Friday. The National Financial Regulatory Administration (NFRA), a new government body under the State Council, is now the primary regulator to grant Ant the license, they added. The sources had earlier said that the fine on Ant had been revised to at least 8 billion yuan. Reuters reported in April that Chinese regulators were considering fining Ant about 5 billion yuan, a lower sum than what they initially had in mind. Alibaba was fined a record 18 billion yuan in 2021 for antitrust violations.

Persons: China c.bank, Ant, Ping, Rukim Kuang, Jeffrey Towson, Jack Ma, China's, Pan Gongsheng, Pan, Didi Global, Alibaba, Julie Zhu, Jane Xu, Jason Xue, Kevin Huang, Meg Shen, Twinnie Sui, Josh Ye, Ethan Wang, Muralikumar Anantharaman, Brenda Goh, David Holmes, Susan Fenton Organizations: Ant, Singapore FinTech Festival, REUTERS, Ant Group, People's Bank of China, Reuters, Ping An Bank, PICC, HK, Postal Savings Bank, Tencent Holdings, Tenpay, Alibaba, Hong Kong, Lens Consulting, Communist Party, Financial Regulatory Administration, State Council, Thomson Locations: Singapore, China, HONG KONG, Ant's, Hong, Beijing, CHINA

The National Financial Regulatory Administration (NFRA), a new government body under the State Council, is now the primary regulator to grant Ant the license, said the sources. PENALTY FOLLOWS MA'S RETURN TO CHINAThe final amount of the fine has been revised to at least 8 billion yuan, the sources said. Reuters reported in April that Chinese regulators were considering fining Ant about 5 billion yuan, a lower sum than what they had in mind initially. Alibaba was fined a record 18 billion yuan in 2021 for antitrust violations. ($1 = 7.2439 Chinese yuan renminbi)Reporting by Julie Zhu and Jane Xu; Additional reporting by Jason Xue; Editing by Muralikumar AnantharamanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Alibaba, Rukim Kuang, Jack Ma, Ant, China's, Pan Gongsheng, Didi Global, Julie Zhu, Jane Xu, Jason Xue, Muralikumar Organizations: Alibaba Honk, Ant Group, People's Bank of China, Reuters, Alibaba, HK, Lens Consulting, Communist Party, Financial Regulatory Administration, State Council, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, Hong Kong, Ant's, Beijing, CHINA, China

☆ Analysis: Investors shelve China assets before bigger stimulus
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( Summer Zhen | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/2] A view of the city skyline, ahead of the annual National People's Congress (NPC), in Shanghai, China February 24, 2022. A global fund manager survey by BofA Securities showed shorting Chinese stocks was the second-most "crowded" trade in June, after going long on big tech. "I can't believe that there is anymore bad news to absorb," said Andy Maynard, head of equities at China Renaissance. Restoring confidence is looking increasingly like a long-term project and investors are positioning for a longer game and a slower rebound. "We are all looking for something a bit more decisive in helping to restore animal spirits, investor confidence and market confidence, and I think that hope may be still at risk of being disappointed."

Persons: Aly, Morgan Stanley, Hong, Dong Chen, Andy Maynard, Morgan, James Liu, Guan Yi, Summer Zhen, Jason Xue, Tom Westbrook, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: National People's Congress, REUTERS, BofA Securities, Pictet Wealth Management, China, Reuters, G Investments, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, HONG KONG, Beijing, Asia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Pacific

☆ Another Chinese company scraps GDR plan as listing rules tighten
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SHANGHAI/SINGAPORE, June 20 (Reuters) - Bethel Automotive Safety Systems Co (603596.SS) scrapped plans to issue Global Depository Receipts (GDR), citing changes in domestic and overseas capital market conditions, after China tightened rules for GDR listings. The new GDR rules by China's securities regulator last month put curbs on the use of proceeds and made issuances liable to national security reviews, potentially dampening Chinese companies' interest in listing in Europe, bankers said. The Shanghai-listed automotive braking system manufacturer said on Monday it decided to terminate the GDR plan after considering its financial and operational situations. Earlier this month, Shenzhen-listed medical devices maker Jiangsu Yuyue Medical Equipment & Supply Co (002223.SZ) cancelled a proposed Swiss GDR offering plan, citing changes in market conditions. Reporting by Jason Xue in Shanghai and Tom Westbrook in Singapore; Editing by Varun H KOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Bethel, Jason Xue, Tom Westbrook, Varun Organizations: Bethel Automotive Safety Systems, SIX, SIX Swiss Exchange, Supply, Thomson Locations: SHANGHAI, SINGAPORE, Bethel, China, GDR, Europe, Shanghai, SIX Swiss, Shenzhen, Jiangsu, Swiss GDR, Zurich, London, U.S, Singapore

[1/4] Li Yunze, director of China's National Financial Regulatory Administration (NFRA), speaks at the Lujiazui Forum in Shanghai, China June 8, 2023. REUTERS/Jason XueSHANGHAI/BEIJING, June 8 (Reuters) - China is open for investment, the country's top financial regulators told foreign financiers at a high-profile forum in Shanghai on Thursday, as concerns mount among foreign firms that they may no longer be welcome. "Opening up is China's long-term national policy, and the door of China's financial industry will only be opened wider and wider." Yi Huiman, chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, told forum participants that China will "adamantly" push for deregulation in terms of market access, institution qualification and products. Internal circulation will be supported by "external circulation," as in foreign financing and China's interactions with the global economy.

Persons: Li Yunze, Jason Xue, Goldman Sachs Group's, David Solomon, Tesla's, Elon Musk, Xi, Merrill Lynch, Li, Jane Fraser, Yi Huiman, Noah Fraser, Yi, Joe Cash, Shri Navaratnam, Edmund Klamann, Kim Coghill Organizations: China's, Financial Regulatory Administration, REUTERS, HSBC, Credit Agricole, Mizuho Financial, Paypal, China Securities Regulatory Commission, Canada China Business Council, Shanghai, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, Jason Xue SHANGHAI, BEIJING, U.S, flashpoints, Ukraine, South, Beijing, Inner Mongolia, Russia, Mongolia

Data showed Chinese temple visits more than quadrupled this year compared with 2022, while sales of lottery tickets jumped in April to their highest in a decade. In stark contrast, the youth unemployment rate hit a record 20.4% in April, and multiple indicators showed economic recovery is losing steam following an initial bounce after China lifted its zero-COVID policy. "The surging stocks reflect a major macro-economy change this year - rising youth employment pressure," said Shi Pengfei, consumer analyst at Beijing-based Spring Capital. "I don't expect the youth unemployment rate to see an inflection point soon as the graduation season approaches," he said. China's main stock benchmark (.CSI300) has handed back most gains since last November after a reopening rally and is down 1% year-to-date, as the economic recovery missed expectations and geopolitical tensions rose.

Persons: Shi Pengfei, Jason Xue, Tom Westbrook, David Holmes Organizations: Investors, Shan Tourism Co, Development, China Sports Industry Group, Thomson Locations: SHANGHAI, SINGAPORE, China, Anhui, Beijing, Shanghai, Singapore

☆ China's Baidu launches $145 million venture capital AI fund
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SHANGHAI, May 31 (Reuters) - Chinese search giant Baidu Inc (9988.HK) will set up a venture capital fund of 1 billion yuan ($145 million) to back start-ups focused on content generated by artificial intelligence applications, it said on Wednesday. The company will also launch a competition for developers to build applications off its ERNIE large language model (LLM) or integrate the model into their existing products, it added. E-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd (9988.HK) was among the other Chinese companies that followed quickly. In response to the surge of LLMs, China published draft regulations in April on the use of generative AI. ($1=6.9121 Chinese yuan renminbi)Reporting by Josh Horwitz, Samuel Shen and Jason Xue; Editing by Clarence FernandezOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Ernie Bot, Josh Horwitz, Samuel Shen, Jason Xue, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: Baidu Inc, HK, Baidu, Alibaba, Holding, Thomson Locations: SHANGHAI, China, United States

The easiest trade of the year is fizzling, and the lost momentum is keeping investors' money out. "I will not put any more money into stocks until all my losses are recovered," he said. Interviews with a dozen more small investors showed the sentiment to be reasonably widespread. Brokerage account creation, while volatile, likewise dropped off in April after promising momentum in February and March, China Securities Depository and Clearing data showed. "It is as if stocks are losing faith in the China recovery story," said Grow Investment Group chief economist Hong Hao.

The easiest trade of the year is fizzling, and the lost momentum is keeping investors' money out. Interviews with a dozen more small investors showed the sentiment to be reasonably widespread. Brokerage account creation, while volatile, likewise dropped off in April after promising momentum in February and March, China Securities Depository and Clearing data showed. "It is as if stocks are losing faith in the China recovery story," said Grow Investment Group chief economist Hong Hao. China's April industrial output and retail sales growth undershot forecasts as the recovery turned wobbly.

Persons: Eric Yu, Yi Huiman, Hong Hao, Wang Zaizheng, Chi Lo, Hayden Briscoe, Meng, Jason Xue, Winni Zhou, Tom Westbrook, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: China Securities Regulatory, JPMorgan, China Securities Depository, Mutual, Grow Investment Group, Management, UBS Asset Management, Thomson Locations: SHANGHAI, SINGAPORE, China's, Shanghai, China, United States, Hong Kong, Asia, Pacific, Singapore

☆ Chinese chipmakers' shares rise after China fails Micron in security review
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

SHANGHAI, May 22 (Reuters) - Shares in some Chinese memory chipmaking-related companies opened up on Monday after China failed Micron Technology (MU.O) in a security review. China's cyberspace regulator said on Sunday that products made by Micron had failed its network security review, and it would bar operators of key infrastructure from buying from the company. China's memory chipmaking-related firms gigadevice semiconductors (603986.SS), ingenic semiconductor (300223.SZ), shenzhen kaifa technology (000021.SZ) opened up between 3% and 8%. Reporting by Jason Xue and Brenda Goh; Editing by Kim CoghillOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

As doubts grow about the strength of its economic recovery, foreign money has left China's markets and the currency has fallen 4% against the dollar since late January. Analysts at Nomura and Societe Generale say the yuan could soon head for 7.3, which as last plumbed in November. Reflecting that, the trade-weighted CFETS basket against which the People's Bank of China (PBOC) manages the currency, has dropped to 99 from 100 in February. THE CHEAP CURRENCYBecky Liu, head of China macro strategy at Standard Chartered Bank, expects the yuan will continue to depreciate. "The interest rate gap remains wide, so many hedge funds continue to use yuan as a funding currency," Liu said.

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