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☆ Tesla's Musk open to expanding in China - foreign ministry
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Musk also told Qin in the meeting that he opposed a decoupling of the U.S. and Chinese economies, according to a statement from the Chinese foreign ministry. Qin told Musk China was committed to improving the business environment for investors, including Tesla, and used an elaborate driving metaphor to describe China-U.S. relations. /Photo prise le 30 mai 2023/REUTERS/Tingshu WangIn a 2019 trip to China, Musk met with then-Premier Li Keqiang. A year later, he created a buzz on Chinese social media for dancing onstage to celebrate the opening of Tesla's Shanghai factory. While his plane was en route to China, Musk tweeted about advances in China's space programme, which aims to land a crew on the moon before 2030.

☆ Elon Musk's private jet has landed in Beijing - Reuters witness
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

BEIJING, May 30 (Reuters) - A private jet used by Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) CEO Elon Musk has arrived in Beijing, according to a Reuters witness. Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether Musk had arrived in China. China is Tesla's second-largest market after the U.S., and the Shanghai plant is the electric car maker's largest production hub. The jet with its identifying tail number could be seen at Beijing Capital International Airport on Tuesday, according to the Reuters witness. While his plane was en route to China, Musk tweeted about advances in China's space program, which aims to land a crew on the moon before 2030.

☆ Syngenta’s IPO is more relief than triumph
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-30 | by ( Yawen Chen | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

LONDON, May 30 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Syngenta’s $9 billion Chinese market listing finally looks ripe. With Chinese markets in choppy waters, stability-minded domestic regulators could still have cold feet about Syngenta’s mammoth initial public offering. But a reform to fast-track Chinese listings introduced earlier this year suggests a debut is imminent. The seeds-and-pesticide maker has since erased nearly $20 billion of debt, partly thanks to debt-to-equity swaps with ChemChina. Syngenta’s dragged-out market debut will be more of a relief than a triumph.

As life in China returns to normal after the pandemic, hawkers are hitting the streets. They look to at least supplement their income amid an uneven economic recovery in which jobs and wage growth has been sluggish. For decades, street stalls and hawkers - common elsewhere in Asia - have been banned or tightly regulated in many Chinese cities, with authorities seeing them as unsightly. The tech hub of Shenzhen, which banned hawking in 1999, will ease restrictions on street stalls from September. Lanzhou in the northwest said this month it would designate areas for street stalls as it sought to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship.

CNN —The Chinese city of Shanghai recorded its highest May temperature in more than 100 years on Monday, hitting a record 36.1 degrees Celsius (nearly 97 degrees Fahrenheit). It is unknown when the city began keeping temperature records. Monday’s record-breaking heat wave for May was recorded in the city’s Xuhui district, state media CCTV reported, citing the Shanghai Meteorological Department. Earlier Monday, the Shanghai Meteorological Department issued its first high temperature alert of the year as temperatures in the city surpassed 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit) for three consecutive days. Across the entirety of 2022, Shanghai recorded 50 days of temperatures over 35 degrees Celsius.

☆ Musk expected to visit China this week, meet officials - sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

HONG KONG/SHANGHAI, May 29 (Reuters) - Tesla (TSLA.O) Chief Executive Elon Musk is expected to visit China this week, three people with knowledge of the matter said, in what would be his first trip to the country in three years. Musk is expected to meet senior Chinese officials and to visit Tesla's Shanghai plant, two of the sources said. China is Tesla's second-largest market after the United States, and its Shanghai plant is the electric carmaker's largest production hub. The company has submitted plans to local authorities to expand capacity for producing powertrains at the Shanghai plant to 1.75 million units annually. Tesla is building a plant in Mexico expected to produce a lower-cost electric car built on its next-generation platform.

☆ Musk expected to visit China this week, meet officials, sources tell Reuters
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk is expected to visit China this week, three people with knowledge of the matter said, in what would be his first trip to the country in three years. Musk is expected to meet senior Chinese officials and to visit Tesla's Shanghai plant, two of the sources said. China is Tesla's second-largest market after the United States, and its Shanghai plant is the electric carmaker's largest production hub. The company has submitted plans to local authorities to expand capacity for producing powertrains at the Shanghai plant to 1.75 million units annually. In the same interview, Musk said tensions between the United States and China "should be a concern for everyone."

☆ Saudi is a BRIC in crumbling East-West money wall
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MUMBAI, May 29 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Middle East money is the answer to plugging the growing financial gaps created in Asia by Western investment restrictions, or at least that’s the very wishful thinking of the regions’ financiers and governments. Even if the NDB might have teamed up with Saudi regardless of sanctions on Russia, any deal will be high on symbolism. It makes sense for petrodollar countries to look East given Asia’s growing oil demand. Bankers also want Middle East companies to come and list in Hong Kong as those from elsewhere stay away and economists believe Middle East funds will step up investments into China as global funds retreat. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

☆ Shanghai breaks more than century-old heat record in sweltering May
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] A person uses clothing to protect themselves from the sun, as they walk on the Bund on a hot day, in Shanghai, China May 15, 2023. The peak recorded by the Shanghai Meteorological Bureau on Monday beat the previous May record of 35.7 degrees Celsius set in 1876, 1903, 1915 and 2018, according to bureau statistics. Earlier, many localities in Sichuan province, which is home to more than 80 million people, issued high-temperature warnings, with some areas maxing out at 42 degrees Celsius, local media reported. In the next three to five days, the maximum temperature in some cities in Sichuan, located in China's southwest, will reach 38 degrees Celsius, and hit 42 degrees Celsius in some areas, according to state media. China, known for extreme weather conditions, has also been experiencing torrential rains for weeks in some regions.

CNN —China’s first large homegrown passenger jet made its inaugural commercial flight on Sunday, flying from Shanghai to Beijing, Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported. Flying as China Eastern Airlines flight MU9191, the new narrow-body C919 plane left Shanghai at 10:32 a.m. local time. With a range of up to 5,555 kilometers (3,452 miles), the C919 will take on the world’s two major aircraft manufacturers, Airbus and Boeing. It will be a direct competitor to their A320 and B737 narrowbody jets, most commonly used for domestic and regional international flights. Many of the plane’s major elements such as the nose, fuselage, outer wing, vertical stabilizer and horizontal stabilizer were designed by COMAC.

A pedestrian looks at an electronic quotation board showing numbers of the Nikkei 225 index in Tokyo on September 11, 2020. Asia-Pacific markets are mixed after Wall Street saw a tech rally led by Nvidia, and U.S. negotiators moved closer to a debt ceiling deal with just a week to go before the government faces a potential default. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 rose 0.31% to end the day at 30,916 after surpassing the 31,000 mark earlier in the day. South Korea's Kospi rose 0.16% to end at 2,558.81, reversing losses from Thursday , while the Kosdaq was down 0.53% and finished at 843.23. In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 closed 0.23% at 7.154.8 after reversing earlier losses and snapping a four day losing streak.

Organizations: Nikkei, Nvidia, U.S, Shanghai, Shenzhen Component Locations: Tokyo, Asia, Pacific, Japan, Australia, Shenzhen, 10.909.65

(Photo by Ed JONES / AFP)Hong Kong's Hang Seng index led losses in Asia on Thursday, falling about 2% to close at 18,746.92 — the lowest level this year. Mainland Chinese markets also fell, with the Shanghai Composite down 0.11% to finish at 3,201.26, its lowest close in over four months. The Shenzhen Component closed 0.22% lower at 10,896.48 in its third straight day of losses. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 declined 1.07% to end at 7,136.9 and record its fourth straight day of losses. The index also hit its lowest level in about two months.

Persons: Ed JONES, Hong, Australia's Organizations: Lotte, Shenzhen Component, Bank of Korea, Nikkei Locations: Seoul, AFP, Asia, Shanghai, Pacific, Japan

☆ China's latest Covid surge pressures 3 Club stocks, but doesn't change our conviction in each
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-24 | by ( Paulina Likos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Investor concern has been spilling over into the Club holdings doing the most business in China: Wynn Resorts (WYNN), Estee Lauder (EL), and Starbucks (SBUX). That ultimately bodes well for Estee Lauder, Starbucks and Wynn, even if increasing consumer demand appeared somewhat uneven in the latest round of quarterly results. And we're expecting Estee Lauder's China business to recover as travel continues to accelerate. We remain optimistic about the growth trajectory in the country, and see this latest Covid wave as a temporary speedbump. As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade.

Persons: Estee Lauder, Wynn, Jim Cramer, Jim, Laxman Narasimhan, Beijing's, hasn't, Estee, Jim Cramer's, WYNN Organizations: Wynn Resorts, WYNN, Starbucks, Wynn, Management, CNBC, China News Service, Getty Locations: China, Shanghai, Beijing, Macao, Asia

☆ Asia markets slide: Shanghai shares hit 4-month low; Japan, HK post second-straight daily loss
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-24 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Asia-Pacific markets slid Wednesday, with the Shanghai Composite ending down 1.28% at 3,204.75, its lowest level since Jan 13. The Shenzhen Component closed 0.84% lower at 10,920, erasing all its gains this year to sink to lowest since Dec 23 last year. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index posted a second-straight daily loss, closing down 1.77% at 19,087, while the Hang Seng Tech index shed 2.1%. In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 was down 0.63% at 7,213.8, its lowest closing level since last Wednesday. The country also saw its retail sales volume fall 4.1% year-on-year in the first quarter, the second straight quarterly contraction following a 4% fall in the quarter ended December.

Persons: Kospi Organizations: Shanghai, Shenzhen Component, Hang Seng, Nikkei, Reuters, New, New Zealand, U.S Locations: Asia, Pacific, Japan, Australia, New Zealand

☆ China's tech sector may see fewer regulatory surprises — not zero, says S&P Global Ratings
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-24 | by ( Sheila Chiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

SHANGHAI, CHINA - MAY 10: A visitor takes photos of Ehang 216 electrical vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) autonomous aerial vehicle (AAV) during the Exposition on China Brand 2023 at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Center on May 10, 2023 in Shanghai, China. But the scope for surprises should be significantly diminished and they shouldn't result in significant operational challenges, as occurred in 2021," said S&P Global Ratings, in a report. "China's internet sector has emerged from its regulatory shakeup. Policymakers are signaling support and seem done with big legal changes or sweeping actions," said the report entitled "China's internet regulations: Fewer surprises, not zero surprises." China's crackdown on its large tech companies started in 2020, which saw the government imposing new regulations on tech.

☆ Japan stocks snap seven-day winning streak as Hong Kong sinks to 2-month low
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-23 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

(Photo by Kazuhiro NOGI / AFP) (Photo by KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP via Getty Images)Asia-Pacific markets mostly slid on Tuesday as talks between U.S President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy ended without a deal. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said he had a "productive" and "professional" meeting, and said "I think the tone tonight was better than any other night we've had discussions," McCarthy said outside the West Wing following the hourlong meeting. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 closed 0.42% down at 30,957, snapping its seven day winning streak. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index reversed earlier gains and to sink 1.27% to 19,428.08, its lowest closing levels since March 21, while mainland Chinese markets also traded lower. The Shanghai Composite closed down 1.52% at 3,246.24 while the Shenzhen Composite ended down 1.03% at 11,012.58.

Persons: Kazuhiro NOGI, KAZUHIRO NOGI, Joe Biden, Kevin McCarthy, we've, McCarthy, Kospi Organizations: Nikkei, Getty Images, U.S, Wing, Juno Bank Locations: Tokyo, AFP, Asia, Pacific, Japan, Australia, Shanghai, Shenzhen

☆ Ukraine's Zelensky and India's Modi meet in Japan for first face-to-face since Russia invasion
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-20 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Japan Saturday, the first in-person meeting between the two since Russia’s invasion began. Modi – who has so far refused to condemn the invasion – said India would do “everything we can” to help end the war. For me, it is an issue of humanity.”For his part, Zelensky invited Modi to join Ukraine’s peace efforts to bring the war against Russia to an end. Winning support or understanding from leaders like Modi could be a key motivation also driving Zelensky to attend the G7, analysts have said. Zelensky’s peace plan, in contrast, calls for the restoration of Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders and the withdrawal of Russian troops.

☆ Asian stocks inch up on US debt ceiling hopes, Nikkei hits 33-year high
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( Ankur Banerjee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Australia's S&P/ASX 200 index (.AXJO) rose 0.66%, while Japan's Nikkei (.N225) continued its ascent, rising to its highest since August 1990, during the country's so-called bubble era. Futures indicated European stocks were set to open higher, with Eurostoxx 50 futures up 0.44%, German DAX futures up 0.41% and FTSE futures up 0.23%. China's blue-chip CSI300 Index (.CSI300) rose 0.20%, while the Shanghai Composite Index (.SSEC) was up 0.13%, having reversed from earlier losses. Hawkish rhetoric from Fed speakers continued with Dallas Fed President Lorie Logan and St. Louis Fed President James Bullard saying inflation was not cooling fast enough to allow the Fed to pause its interest-rate hike campaign. Against a basket of currencies, the dollar rose 0.029% and was wedged near a two-month high.

☆ China's economy is growing again. So why are investors dumping stocks?
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Investors trimmed their exposure to China amid economic uncertainty in the country, rising geopolitical tensions and Beijing’s crackdown on international consulting firms. The Nasdaq Golden Dragon China Index has lost more than 5% since April 18. Another concern for global investors is the country’s “fundamental investability,” he said, referring to geopolitical and Chinese policy risks. Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, one of the world’s largest pension funds, has closed its Hong Kong-based China equity investment team. “The more cracks appear in Western economies,” the more global investors will need to put money into Chinese assets, he added.

☆ Asian shares muted, US debt ceiling talks weigh on risk appetite
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Ankur Banerjee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

SINGAPORE, May 17 (Reuters) - Asian shares were subdued on Wednesday and the dollar hovered around a five-week peak as investors remained risk averse, with the U.S. debt ceiling talks and a mixed set of economic data weighing on sentiment. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) was down 0.09% in choppy trading, with Australia's S&P/ASX 200 index (.AXJO) down 0.45%. Democratic President Joe Biden and top congressional Republican Kevin McCarthy edged closer to a deal to avoid a looming U.S. debt default Tuesday. After an hour of talks, McCarthy, the speaker of the House of Representatives, told reporters the two sides remained far apart on an agreement to lift the debt ceiling. Against a basket of currencies, the dollar rose 0.01% to 102.61, inching closer to the five-week high of 102.75 it touched on Monday.

☆ Asian shares tentative, US debt ceiling talks weigh on risk appetite
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Ankur Banerjee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SINGAPORE, May 17 (Reuters) - Asian shares were subdued on Wednesday and the dollar hovered around a five-week peak as investors remained risk averse, with the U.S. debt ceiling talks and a mixed set of economic data weighing on sentiment. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) was 0.20% lower, while Australia's S&P/ASX 200 index (.AXJO) was down 0.56%. U.S. stock indexes closed down overnight, hamstrung by dour forecast from Home Depot and April U.S. retail sales data that underscored softer consumer spending. "These actually came in on the lower end of expectations though the news was mixed, with a lower headline but higher core sales figures muddying the message." Recent economic data indicates slowing in the U.S. economy following a string of rate hikes by the Federal Reserve to fight high inflation.

☆ No Joke: China Fines a Comedy Firm $2 Million for ‘Insulting’ the Military
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Chang Che | Olivia Wang | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Beijing fined a Chinese comedy studio around $2 million on Wednesday for a joke that compared China’s military to stray dogs, a reminder of the ever-narrowing confines of expression under the country’s leader, Xi Jinping. The Beijing Municipal Culture and Tourism Bureau accused a popular comedian, Li Haoshi, who is employed by the studio, of “severely insulting” the People’s Liberation Army, China’s military, during two live performances in Beijing on Saturday. The authority said his joke had a “vile societal impact.”“We will not allow any company or individual to wantonly slander the glorious image of the People’s Liberation Army,” the statement read. The authority also said it indefinitely suspended all Beijing performances hosted by the studio, the Shanghai-based Xiaoguo Culture Media. Officials in Shanghai followed suit, suspending all Xiaoguo performances there and ordering the company to “deeply reflect” on the lessons from the incident, according to a government social media account.

☆ Tesla applies to expand Shanghai plant, add pouch battery cell output
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

May 16 (Reuters) - Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) has applied for regulatory clearance to expand its Shanghai plant and to begin producing for the first time pouch-type battery cells, albeit in small numbers. It was not clear how Tesla would use the pouch cells, which it has not previously used in its electric vehicles. Pouch cells, widely used in consumer electronics, differ from the cells Tesla has used for EVs in that the battery components are housed in a more flexible metal bag rather than a rigid cylinder. Tesla’s Shanghai plant, its largest worldwide, produced about 726,000 Model 3 and Model Y vehicles in 2022, more than half of the automaker’s global sales. Tesla is also seeking to ramp up production of cylindrical, 4680 battery cells in China and has brought in new suppliers to cut costs, Reuters has reported.

☆ Say goodbye to the US car market as we know it: Cheap Chinese EVs are coming
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Nora Naughton | Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

After years of eyeing the American market, Chinese brands are poised to arrive. After years of preparation, Chinese car companies are poised to upend the US electric-vehicle market. Chinese EV manufacturers can gain a foothold in the US by coming in at a budget price point, analysts said. "I've driven a number of the Chinese EV brands, and boy oh boy, the Europeans are in trouble." The sheer size of the US car market means new entrants will need to build locally to compete seriously in the long term, he said.

The view from the observation deck at Shanghai Tower in Shanghai, China, on Sunday, April 9, 2023. Photographer: Qilai Shen/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesAsia-Pacific markets are set to rise ahead of key economic releases from China. Compared to a low base seen in April a year ago, market watchers are largely expecting a rebound in growth. In mainland China, the Shanghai Composite and the Shenzhen Component saw their best days since May 8 and March 20, respectively. South Korea's Kospi and Kosdaq also saw gains on Tuesday, advancing 0.66% and 0.75% respectively, while Australia's S&P/ASX 200 slipped 0.15%.

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