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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%.

Western lead buyers remain reliant on China's exports to smooth out the global supply chain. WESTERN MARKET STILL TIGHTChinese inflows have helped nudge LME stocks higher. U.S. buyers are paying up to 20 cents/lb ($440 per tonne) over the LME cash price to secure spot metal, according to Fastmarkets. Europe, however, should fare better this year thanks to the restart of the Stolberg lead smelter in Germany. The difference between the pace of production and usage recovery explains the narrowing global supply gap this year.

A Reuters poll of economists estimates annualized GDP growth of 0.7% in the first three months of 2023, rising sharply from just 0.1% October-December and the fastest since the 4.7% of April-June 2022. If indicators from Japan have been underwhelming, they've been alarming from China, the world's second-largest economy. Another batch of Chinese economic data fell short of expectations on Tuesday, slamming Chinese financial assets and cementing the view that Beijing will have to inject fiscal or policy stimulus into the sputtering economy. Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February last year demand for Chinese debt has evaporated, casting extra doubt over the yuan's ability to gain reserve currency status. Here are three key developments that could provide more direction to markets on Wednesday:- Japan GDP (Q1)- China house prices (April)- Australia wage growth (Q1)By Jamie McGeever;Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Stock Market Today: S&P 500 Wavers With Debt Ceiling in Focus
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

U.S. stocks were wavering Monday as investors monitored debt-ceiling negotiations, coming off two consecutive losing weeks for the S&P 500. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said over the weekend that negotiations over raising the debt ceiling were making progress and could result in a deal. The major U.S. stock indexes were mixed. Turkey’s benchmark stock index fell after results from its election suggested President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had performed better than expected, but not enough to avoid a runoff vote. Other overseas stock indexes mostly gained.

Major economic data from China and Japan, and a central bank rate decision from the Philippines could be the main regional drivers for Asian markets this week, with investors growing increasingly nervous about the U.S. and global macro outlook. These were some of the issues discussed at the three-day meeting of G7 finance leaders that concluded on Saturday. The MSCI World index fell 0.5% - not a big deal, perhaps, but the second weekly decline in a row and the steepest since the U.S. banking crisis blow-up two months ago. Japan's first-quarter GDP figures will be released on Wednesday, and perhaps more importantly, the latest inflation numbers are out on Friday. Core inflation is far higher than the Bank of Japan would like and is expected to have re-accelerated to 3.4% in April.

☆ China's recovery lifts U.S. companies' sales as domestic consumers pull back spending
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-14 | by ( Amelia Lucas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

U.S. companies are reporting that demand in China is returning, boosting their sales at a time when many U.S. consumers are pulling back their spending. Starbucks reported that its same-store sales in China rose 3% in its latest quarter, reversing their declines. Some Wall Street analysts were still anticipating shrinking same-store sales for the company's second-largest market. That quarter, Starbucks' same-store sales in China sank 23%. Yum China , Yum Brands' master franchisee in China, also said its same-store sales grew 8% in the first quarter.

(Photo by Marc Fernandes/NurPhoto via Getty Images)Asia-Pacific markets are trading mixed after the U.S. posted more data that showed inflation was easing. The producer price index for April, posted a year-on-year increase of 0.2%, against a Dow Jones estimate for 0.3% and after declining 0.4% in March. In mainland China, the Shanghai Composite fell 1.12% and closed at 3,272.36, dragged lower by in academic and educational services stocks. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index also fell 0.7% ahead of its first-quarter GDP figures. The Topix also climbed 0.64% and ended at 2,096.39, led by health care and utilities stocks.

☆ Turkey's Erdogan faces toughest test yet in landmark election — with high stakes for the world
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-12 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

He came to prominence as mayor of Istanbul in the 1990s, and was celebrated in the first decade of the new millennium for transforming Turkey's economy into an emerging market powerhouse. But recent years have been far less rosy for the religiously conservative leader, whose own economic policies have triggered a cost-of-living crisis. Now, given a recent downturn in support for Erdogan, some fear he may play dirty to ensure his hold on power. The stakes are high for the entire country and, more broadly, global geopolitics – and the mood on the ground is tense. Mustafa Kamaci | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images"I'm very concerned that [Erdogan] may deploy underhanded tactics, cheating and even violence," Ibish said.

☆ Tesla to recall 1.1 million cars in China over potential safety risks, Chinese regulator says
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-12 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Hong Kong CNN —Tesla will recall more than 1.1 million cars in China due to potential safety risks, the country’s top market regulator said on Friday. The models to be recalled include imported Model S, Model X, Model 3 and China-made Model 3 and Model 6. An aerial view of Tesla's Shanghai Gigafactory on March 29, 2021. The company plans to make adjustments or add notification features to the recalled vehicles to reduce the risk, it added. In March, Tesla recalled more than 2,600 imported Model S cars in China, according to the SAMR.

☆ China names head of NFRA as financial industry faces greater scrutiny
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-11 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN —China has appointed the head of its powerful new financial watchdog, which was created as part of sweeping reforms aimed at reining in the $60 trillion industry. Currently, several provincial leaders had previous careers in the financial industry, including Wu Qing, vice mayor of Shanghai and formerly the chairman of the Shanghai Stock Exchange. China’s sprawling financial industry is coming under closer scrutiny as Xi and his key allies have asserted greater direct control over financial policy. For years, Xi has said the financial industry should better serve the real economy, including making money available to businesses that need it. To further consolidate control, according to analysts, the top anti-graft body has carried out a sweeping anti-corruption campaign in the financial industry, which has ensnared more than a dozen senior executives from state-owned financial institutions.

☆ Chinese company earnings reveal lopsided economic recovery
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Summer Zhen | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Restaurants and tourism businesses recovered, with travel-related consumer services sector earnings surging 155%, data from China International Capital Corp (CICC) showed. Food-and-beverage sector earnings jumped 18% and automobiles were up a smaller 8%. Several analysts believe the first quarter will be the low point for 2023 and full-year earnings will reach double digits. Refinitiv data forecasts full-year earnings growth of 26% for companies listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange. The materials sector posted the worst results, with earnings in steel and building materials tumbling more than 60%, respectively.

☆ Stocks stumble in jittery mood ahead of US inflation
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Tom Westbrook | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

S&P 500 futures were steady and European futures rose 0.1%. "That's the thing that'd get taken out if CPI numbers come in on the higher side," said ING economist Rob Carnell. "It doesn't look particularly sensible if inflation is falling at too slow a rate and that could feed through into higher longer-term treasury yields as well." Interest rate futures imply about a 60% chance the Federal Reserve cuts rates in September, according to the CME FedWatch tool. "But the debt ceiling drama, and market participants’ focus on rate cuts is unlikely to change much from one CPI report.

☆ Battle for China's electric SUV market heats up at home and abroad
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The trend will spread abroad with growing exports of China-made electric SUVs. The market for SUVs has boomed in China over the past decade and now represents almost 40% of all cars sold, with 400 SUV models of all fuel types. Legacy automakers Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE), BMW (BMWG.DE) and Toyota (7203.T) are counting on new electric SUVs to bolster China sales. Tesla and Renault (RENA.PA) have already been exporting their China-made electric SUVs to Europe on a large scale. Chinese automakers have their own plans to grow electric SUV sales to Europe.

☆ Stocks stumble as investors' nerves show ahead of US inflation data
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Tom Westbrook | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

SINGAPORE, May 10 (Reuters) - Stocks were struggling to advance in Asia and the dollar was firm on Wednesday ahead of U.S. consumer price data that could damage hopes for interest rate cuts later this year if inflation fails to show much of a decline. Overnight the S&P 500 (.SPX) fell 0.5% and S&P 500 futures were steady in the Asian morning. A firm U.S. dollar pushed the euro back below $1.10 to $1.0971. Treasuries were broadly steady overnight, though debt-ceiling brinkmanship is warping the bills market as investors avoid bills maturing early in June. The dollar was also firm at 135.14 yen and has lifted slightly from recent lows on the Aussie , kiwi and sterling .

☆ CPI Report Today: Dow Futures Edge Down Ahead of Inflation Data
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

Stock futures edged lower ahead of inflation data that will help determine whether the Federal Reserve keeps raising interest rates or pauses next month. ET, are expected to show annual consumer-price inflation stuck at 5% in April, while core inflation slowed slightly to 5.4% from 5.6%. S&P 500, Dow industrials and Nasdaq-100 futures were down 0.2% or more. Regional bank stocks slipped. Brent-crude futures fell 1.6% to $76.21 a barrel.

☆ China's car sales rise 2.1% in April as price war effect fades
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BEIJING/SHANGHAI, May 9 (Reuters) - China's passenger vehicle sales rose by 2.1% in April from a month earlier, industry data showed, underscoring a slower pace of growth as the stimulus effect of price cuts and incentives faded. Car sales in April totalled 1.65 million units, 54.5% higher from a year earlier when COVID-19 lockdowns disrupted productions and sales, the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) said on Tuesday. In the first four months of 2023, vehicle sales were down 1.4% year-on-year to 5.98 million units, it added. Reuters GraphicsChina's crowded auto market is getting even more congested with nearly 300 models displayed at the Shanghai auto show in April, 172 of which were NEVs, according to Ways Consulting. A tepid property market recovery and an unexpected contraction in factory activity is also pointing to a shaky economic outlook, casting clouds over the strength of the post-COVID rebound and potentially dampening consumer spending.

Hong Kong CNN —China’s state security authorities raided multiple offices of international advisory firm Capvision, state media reported Monday, part of a broader crackdown on the consulting industry as Beijing tightens control over what it considers sensitive information related to national security. The consultancy firm, which is headquartered in Shanghai and New York, adds to a growing list of global consulting companies that have been ensnared in Beijing’s widening crackdown on what it perceives as national security risks. In the report, Capvision was singled out as a “leading company” in the industry. According to state security police, he downloaded 5,000 documents from his state-owned company’s internal network. The authorities said he had provided clients with six pieces of information that were classified as state secrets, CCTV said.

☆ Stock Market News: Dow Futures Tick Lower
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

Stock futures traded lower Tuesday as investors waited for another batch of earnings reports. Oil prices dropped after Chinese trade data disappointed, indicating the world's second largest economy is revving back up slower than expected. U.S. stock futures edge lower. Oil prices looked set for further volatility, with Brent crude falling 1% to $76.25 a barrel after jumping 2.3% in the previous session. The Hang Seng index fell 2.1% while the Shanghai Composite index fell 1.1% after data showed China’s imports slumped 7.9% in April.

☆ China Raids Offices of Another Global Firm in Espionage Crackdown
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( David Pierson | Daisuke Wakabayashi | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

China has targeted another global business consulting firm on national security grounds, launching an investigation of the Shanghai-based Capvision Partners as part of a broader crackdown on the industry, state media reported on Monday night. Officers raided several of the firm’s offices in China, including in Shanghai, Beijing, Suzhou and Shenzhen, state media said, explaining that the company was not “earnestly fulfilling the responsibilities and obligations” of preventing espionage. The investigation is the latest in a recent government crackdown on consulting and advisory firms, whose clients include overseas investors and foreign companies seeking information into Chinese industry. Mintz Group, an American company that specializes in corporate investigations, said in March that Chinese authorities had raided its offices, detained five of its Chinese staff and closed the branch. Last month, Bain & Company, a U.S. consulting firm, said security officials had visited its offices and questioned employees.

☆ Analysis: Battle for China's electric SUV market heats up at home and abroad
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

☆ China assures Russia, India of deepening 'cooperation'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/3] India's Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Qin Gang pose for a photograph during the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers' meeting in Goa, India, May 4, 2023. Currently the bloc includes Russia, India, China, Pakistan and four Central Asian countries - Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Iran and Belarus are expected to be inducted into the SCO at a summit in New Delhi in July, an Indian foreign ministry official said. In a separate meeting with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Qin said China is willing to deepen "coordination and cooperation" on international and regional issues with India and bring ties back to a "healthy" track of development. China's ties with India have deteriorated since 2020, when their troops clashed on a disputed Himalayan border and 24 people were killed.

☆ JPMorgan's Dimon reportedly making first mainland China visit in four years
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Jamie Dimon, chief executive officer of JPMorgan Chase, is planning his first visit to mainland China in four years as the American bank prepares to host three conferences in Shanghai at the end of May. The visit is Dimon's first to mainland China since the pandemic gathered pace in 2020 and closed the world's second-largest economy for almost three years as it enforced some of the world's most stringent restrictions. He will also visit Hong Kong in early June after the Shanghai trip, two of the sources added. Dimon visited the Asian financial hub of Hong Kong to meet the bank's staff and clients in November 2021. A JPMorgan spokesperson in Hong Kong declined to comment on Dimon's visit to mainland China and Hong Kong.

The visit is Dimon's first to mainland China since the pandemic gathered pace in 2020 and closed the world's second-largest economy for almost three years as it enforced some of the world's most stringent restrictions. He will also visit Hong Kong in early June after the Shanghai trip, two of the sources added. Dimon visited the Asian financial hub of Hong Kong to meet the bank's staff and clients in November 2021. A JPMorgan spokesperson in Hong Kong declined to comment on Dimon's visit to mainland China and Hong Kong. Reporting by Julie Zhu in Hong Kong, Scott Murdoch in Sydney and Nupur Anand in New York; Editing by Sumeet Chatterjee and Clarence FernandezOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Volkswagen sees growing competition ahead as revenue jumps on Europe, US
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Victoria Waldersee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Next is debuted at an event ahead of the Shanghai Auto Show, in Shanghai, China April 17, 2023. "Competition will intensify with more chips and more availability," Antlitz said on a media call after the results. Volkswagen's revenue for the quarter was 76 billion euros ($84.22 billion). Operating profit fell to 5.7 billion euros from 8 billion last year, but still beat expectations of five analysts polled by Refinitiv SmartEstimate for 5.48 billion. Excluding the valuation effect from commodity hedging, operating profit rose by 35% to 7.1 billion euros, yielding a margin of 9.3%.

☆ Volkswagen revenue jumps on growth in Europe, North America
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Aly SongBERLIN, May 4 (Reuters) - Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) posted a 21.5% gain in first-quarter revenue on Thursday, boosted by higher prices and strong growth in Europe and North America, but operating profit declined from last year when the period benefited from commodity hedging. Revenue for the quarter was 76 billion euros ($84.22 billion). Operating profit fell to 5.7 billion euros from 8 billion euros last year, but still beat expectations of five analysts polled by Refinitiv SmartEstimate of 5.48 billion euros. Excluding the valuation effect from commodity hedging, operating profit rose by 35% to 7.1 billion euros, yielding a margin of 9.3%. Volkswagen attributed the rise in group revenue largely to strong growth in Europe and North America, and said its order book in western Europe totalled 1.8 million vehicles, including 260,000 battery-electric cars.

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