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☆ Sotheby’s expands Hong Kong footprint with cavernous new exhibition and retail space
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-29 | by ( Oscar Holland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —A fossilized mammoth skull, centuries-old ceramics and Banksy’s famous self-shredding painting are among hundreds of high-value collectibles on show at Sotheby’s ambitious new retail outpost in Hong Kong. With younger collectors seemingly in mind, items on the first floor range in price from 5,000 to 50 million Hong Kong dollars ($640 to $6.4 million). The venture is the latest signal that major auction houses still consider Hong Kong to be their long-term hub in Asia. In June, Hermès also unveiled its expanded retail space in the neighborhood. It has simultaneously sought to grow its footprint in Hong Kong — not only with its newly unveiled Maison, but also a nearby 36,000-square-foot regional headquarters, due to open later this year.

Persons: Maison, Hong Kong, Art Basel’s, Isaac Lawrence, Louis Vuitton, Hermès, Sotheby’s, Patrick Drahi, Hong Kong —, Christie’s, Zaha Hadid’s, Phillips, Bonhams, Nathan Drahi Organizations: CNN, Hong Kong, UBS, Art, Art Basel, Getty, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Louis, Sotheby’s Locations: Hong Kong, Central, Asia, China, Hong, Hong Kong's Central, AFP, London, Singapore, Shanghai, Sotheby’s, Sotheby’s Asia, Paris, New York

☆ Wanxiang Trust: Another Chinese ‘shadow bank’ faces major financial trouble
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

A trust company usually manages funds for individuals, companies or other entities. The reports come two weeks after Zhongzhi Enterprise Group, another major shadow bank, declared itself “insolvent” after missing payments to its investors. Moody’s Investors Services also warned in September that China’s trust sector could face liquidity challenges during the current property downturn. The two medical trust products were related to a hospital project in Guizhou, which is one of China’s most indebted provinces, according to Cailianshe. Last month, at its twice-a-decade Central Financial Work Conference, the Chinese leadership stressed the importance of addressing risks more systematically across the financial sector and preserving overall stability.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, Cailianshe, Wanxiang, hasn’t, Zhongzhi Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Hong Kong CNN — Wanxiang Trust, Century Business Herald, Wanxiang Group, Zhongzhi Enterprise Group, ”, Zhongrong, Zhongzhi Enterprise Group Bloomberg, Getty, Fitch, Moody’s, Services, Kaisa, CNN Local, Financial Work Conference Locations: China, Hong Kong, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, Beijing, Guizhou

☆ What do we know about China's new financial watchdog?
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

BEIJING, Nov 21 (Reuters) - China's Central Financial Commission (CFC), a new regulator with Premier Li Qiang as its head, held a meeting on Monday and urged stronger supervision of risks in the financial sector as Beijing accelerates efforts to become a "major financial power". The CFC was set up for the top-level design, development and supervision of the financial sector, strengthening "unified leadership on financial work", according to a restructuring plan published by state media in March this year. The CFC has recruited many officials from the central bank and the finance ministry, financial news outlet Caixin reported earlier this month. The appointments indicate that both officials, who are close confidants of President Xi Jinping, will play important roles in shaping China's financial policies. He was also appointed as party chief of a separate Central Financial Work Commission (CFWC), which has been set up to strengthen the ideological and political role of the party in China's overall financial system.

Persons: Li Qiang, Premier Li, Li, Lifeng, Xi Jinping, Wang Jiang, Xia Xiande, Xi, Ziyi Tang, Kevin Yao, Ryan Woo, Sumeet Chatterjee Organizations: Financial Commission, Communist Party, CFC, WHO, THE, Financial Work, China Everbright Group, Analysts, Reuters, National Financial Regulatory Administration, State Council, People's Bank of China, prudential, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, Beijing, China, Lincoln

☆ Reaction to Reuters report on potential Ping An rescue of Country Garden
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

EUGENE LAW, DIRECTOR OF CHINA GALAXY INTERNATIONAL:"If the central government steps in to help Country Garden, it's for easing the debt crisis and preventing a spillover to financial institutions. But it will not help the China property market, which depends on factors, including employment and consumer confidence. Homebuyers would not rush to buy property just because Country Garden gets out of trouble. For the broader property market, the key is still home sales." Country Garden may have reached a tipping point where it will need more liquidity to fulfill such a policy goal.

Persons: Tyrone Siu, Ping, EUGENE LAW, Homebuyers, MICHAEL WONG, XU TIANCHEN, YAO, homebuyers, GARY NG, Clare Jim, Anne Marie Roantree, Edwina Gibbs, Kim Coghill Organizations: Ping An Insurance, REUTERS, Ping An Insurance Group, HK, Reuters, LU, OF CHINA GALAXY, Garden, Central Financial Work Conference, Thomson Locations: Shenzhen, China, HONG KONG

☆ China Appoints He Lifeng as Head of Office of the Central Financial Commission -Central Bank Publication
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

BEIJING (Reuters) - China's economy tsar He Lifeng has been appointed as head of office of Central Financial Commission, according to a central bank publication Financial News report on Monday. He was also appointed as party chief of Central Financial Work Commission, according to the publication. The publication for the first time referred to He by the new titles in a readout of a meeting of the Central Financial Commission, without giving details on the appointments. (Reporting by Beijing Newsroom; Editing by Tom Hogue)

Persons: Lifeng, Tom Hogue Organizations: Central Financial Commission, Central Financial Work, Beijing Locations: BEIJING

☆ China's He Lifeng named to key post in Central Financial Commission
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Florence Lo/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Nov 6 (Reuters) - A Chinese vice premier, He Lifeng, has been appointed head of the office of the Central Financial Commission (CFC), which is responsible for running day-to-day affairs of a new regulator tasked with overseeing a vast financial sector. He was also appointed as party chief of a separate Central Financial Work Commission (CFWC), which has been set up to strengthen the ideological and political role of the party in China's overall financial system. The appointments, announced by the central bank's Financial News publication, underscore how the ruling Communist Party has taken direct control of supervising the financial sector. He has also been appointed director of a key ruling Communist Party economic body, the Central Finance and Economic Affairs Commission, replacing Liu He. In 2014, He was named vice chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission, the state planning agency, before taking full control in 2017.

Persons: Lifeng, Florence, Xi Jinping, Liu He, Xi, Ziyi Tang, Kevin Yao, Ryan Woo, Edwina Gibbs, Robert Birsel Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Central Financial Commission, Financial Work, Financial, Communist Party, Central Finance, Economic Affairs Commission, Xiamen University, National Development, Reform Commission, Thomson Locations: China, EU, Diaoyutai, Beijing, Rights BEIJING, Quanzhou, Fujian province, Xiamen, Tianjin

☆ China rate scare reminds watchdogs of hidden risks
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Chan Ka Sing | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Overnight borrowing rates for some Chinese financial institutions spiked to 50% on Tuesday, according to official interbank data, far in excess of the average rate of roughly 3.6%. In 2012, a national audit confirmed that local governments had amassed up to 10 trillion yuan in debts. Those have since swelled to 92 trillion yuan, per Reuters. The latest liquidity squeeze is a reminder that short-term dangers will complicate any attempts at more drastic surgery on China’s financial system. CONTEXT NEWSOvernight borrowing costs for some Chinese financial institutions jumped to as high as 50% on Oct. 31.

Persons: Xi Jinping’s, Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, Peter Thal Larsen, Thomas Shum Organizations: Reuters, Traders, People’s Bank of, Financial Work, Central Financial Work Conference, Xinhua News Agency, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, People’s Bank of China, Beijing

Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng attends a joint press conference following the 10th China-EU High-Level Economic and Trade Dialogue at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, China September 25, 2023. He, 68, replaced internationally respected Liu He as one of China's four vice premiers during its annual parliament session in March. The full scope of his portfolio had been largely unclear until Sunday when state media referred to him as the director of a powerful Communist Party economic body. "He Lifeng mainly implements policies from the top leader," said a policy adviser who spoke on condition of anonymity, referring to Xi. "Now under the leadership of the Party ... there will be closer cooperation among the top economic planner, central bank and the finance ministry."

Persons: Lifeng, Florence, Xi Jinping's, Liu, Xi, Liu He, Li Keqiang, Peng Liyuan, Kevin Yao, Laurie Chen, Joe Cash, Ellen Zhang, Marius Zaharia Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Communist Party, Central Financial Commission, Harvard, Investors, State Council, Party, Xiamen University, National Development, Reform Commission, Thomson Locations: China, EU, Diaoyutai, Beijing, Rights BEIJING, China's, Washington, Europe, Quanzhou, Fujian, Xiamen, Tianjin, Lincoln

BEIJING (AP) — The remains of former Chinese Premier Li Keqiang are to be cremated on Thursday, with flags around the country to be flown at half-staff to mourn the official who helped guide the world’s second-largest economy for a decade. Mourners gathered at his childhood home in the city of Hefei in an apparently spontaneous outpouring of grief seen by some as a rebuke of state leader and head of the ruling Communist Party Xi Jinping. Li was once seen as a potential top leader, but the trained economist was shunted aside in a leadership shakeup last year and replaced with Xi loyalist Li Qiang. Political Cartoons View All 1227 ImagesAlthough he was the Communist Party's second-ranking official, Li received far less attention from state media outlets than Xi. Flags will be lowered at government offices, including in the semi-autonomous cities of Hong Kong and Macao and at Chinese consulates and embassies around the world, Xinhua said.

Persons: Li Keqiang, Li, Xi, shakeup, Li Qiang Organizations: BEIJING, Communist, Central Financial Commission, China Securities Regulatory Commission, Communist Party, Party, Xinhua News Agency, Xinhua Locations: Hefei, China, Hong Kong, Macao, Asia, asia

Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng attends a joint press conference following the 10th China-EU High-Level Economic and Trade Dialogue at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, China September 25, 2023. REUTERS/Florence Lo/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Oct 30 (Reuters) - China's economy tsar He Lifeng has been appointed director of a key ruling Communist Party economic body, matching his high-profile predecessor Liu He with a particularly powerful portfolio covering economic policy, the financial sector and trade ties with Washington. He, who had previously headed the state planning agency, became one of China's four vice premiers in March when he replaced Liu He, who retired. He has now also replaced Liu as director of the office of the Central Finance and Economic Affairs Commission, a party body headed by President Xi Jinping. He could emerge as head of the resurrected Central Financial Work Commission, when state leaders, regulators and top bankers gather for a quinquennial, closed-door national financial work conference.

Persons: Lifeng, Florence, Liu, Liu He, Xi Jinping, Xi, Li Qiang, Janet Yellen, Valdis Dombrovskis, Joe Cash, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Communist Party, Washington, Central Finance, Economic Affairs Commission, U.S, Treasury, EU Trade, Harvard, Financial Work Commission, Bloomberg News, Thomson Locations: China, EU, Diaoyutai, Beijing, Rights BEIJING, Shanghai, China's, U.S

The National Financial Work Conference, usually held twice a decade, is expected to further fortify leader Xi Jinping’s control of the country’s $61 trillion financial sector. “Overall, the financial sector in China has made progress but at this moment they face challenges,” said Nakao. Last week, Xi reportedly visited the central bank, or People’s Bank of China, a rare step that underscores the party’s consolidation of controls over markets and financial institutions. Country Garden, another major developer, failed last week to meet a deadline to pay interest on a dollar bond. It has adopted measures to support private industries, which provide the lion's share of jobs in China.

Persons: —, Xi Jinping’s, Takehiko Nakao, China’s, ”, Li Keqiang, Li, shakeup, Xi, Lan Fo’an, Evergrande, Hui Ka Yan, Zen Soo Organizations: Financial Work Conference, Asian Development Bank, Central Financial Commission, China Securities Regulatory Commission, People’s Bank of, International Monetary Fund, AP Locations: BANGKOK, Beijing, China's Guangzhou, “, China, People’s Bank of China, Hong Kong, Foshan

☆ China's financial regulators urge support for resolving local debt risks
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

People walk past the headquarters of the People's Bank of China (PBOC), the central bank, in Beijing, China September 28, 2018. The meeting called for coordinating financial support to resolve local debt risks, and adjusting policy for real estate loans. The weak financial situation of local governments has prevented the central government from supporting the economy with fiscal policy, Rhodium Group analysts said in June. Earlier this year, authorities emphasized that preventing financial risks was a priority. "China's ongoing property downturn and COVID restrictions last year have strained the finances of many local governments," S&P Global Ratings analysts said in an early July report.

Persons: Jason Lee, Pan Gongsheng Organizations: People's Bank of China, Reuters, Group, China, Global, National Administration of Financial, China Securities Regulatory, Central Financial Locations: Beijing, China, Reuters BEIJING, Shanghai, Shenzhen

☆ Pan Gongsheng: China's new central bank governor faces daunting tasks
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Hong Kong CNN —China has a new central bank governor. He replaced Yi Gang, who took office in March 2018, when China’s longest-serving central banker Zhou Xiaochuan stepped down after a 15-year tenure. He was previously a deputy governor of the PBOC and has served as head of China’s foreign exchange regulator since 2016, managing currency reserves worth $3.18 trillion. In China’s political system, the Communist Party boss is usually the top official in the relevant organization, be it a level of government or a public institution. In March, Beijing created a powerful financial watchdog run by the Communist Party, named the Central Financial Commission, as part of a broad reform of governing bodies to strengthen the party’s oversight of economic affairs.

Persons: Pan Gongsheng, Yi Gang, Zhou Xiaochuan, Xi Jinping, Xi, ”, Ken Cheung, Zhou Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, People’s Bank of China, Communist Party, Renmin University of China, Cambridge University, Harvard University, Xinhua, Mizuho Bank, Central Financial Commission, Financial Regulatory Locations: Hong Kong, China, Beijing

☆ China's choice of PBOC party chief signals financial stability worries
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( Kevin Yao | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The central bank did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment. Pan, central bank deputy governor since 2012 who turns 60 this month, is not expected to deviate from China's measured pace of policy easing to support the recovery, analysts said. "His professional ability will help safeguard the bottom line of systemic financial risks, especially as the property sector is slowing, and fend off a big systemic crisis." In an unexpected move, the ruling Communist Party appointed Pan as the central bank's party secretary on Saturday, taking over from Guo Shuqing. China has taken a series of steps this year to tighten party control over the country's vast, but largely closed, financial system, including plans to set up the Central Financial Commission to oversee the PBOC and other financial regulators.

Persons: Gongsheng, Jason Lee, Pan, Yi Gang, Gu Tianyong, Guo Shuqing, Yi, Yi's, Zhou Xiaochuan, Zhou, Xu Hongcai, Marius Zaharia, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: People's Bank of China, National People's Congress, REUTERS, outflows, Reuters, cryptocurrencies, prudential, Central University of Finance, Economics, Communist Party, Pan, Street, Cambridge University, Harvard University, Central Financial Commission, China Association of Policy, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, BEIJING

☆ China revives ruling party control of financial oversight
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Greg Baker | Afp | Getty ImagesBEIJING — The ruling Communist Party of China is establishing commissions to oversee finance and tech, state media announced Thursday. A new "Central Financial Commission" is set to strengthen the party's "centralized and unified leadership over financial work," state media said Thursday in Chinese, according to a CNBC translation. watch nowWhile state media did not specify, a financial work commission of the same name had been set up in the aftermath of the 1998 Asian financial crisis. Responsibilities of that party commission are borne by the restructured Ministry of Science and Technology. The State Council changes established a National Financial Regulatory Administration to oversee most of the financial industry — except for the securities industry.

☆ Europe didn't roll back post-2008 banking rules. That was smart
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-15 | by ( Anna Cooban | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

London CNN —Shares in European banks slumped Wednesday as speculation about the health of Credit Suisse (CSGKF) reignited the market turmoil sparked by the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank. Europe’s benchmark Stoxx Europe 600 Banks index, which tracks 42 big EU and UK banks, has fallen 13% since last Wednesday’s close. In 2018, former President Donald Trump watered down key parts of the Dodd-Frank Act, which set stricter rules for the banking sector. But European banks are required to hold capital to cover the risk of a large and sudden change in borrowing costs. “This means that European banks have less exposure to market risk on bonds, despite a similar rise in yields,” Moody’s said in its note.

☆ Factbox: Key takeaways from China's annual NPC parliamentary meeting
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-13 | by ( Laurie Chen | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

These include Premier Li Qiang, NPC Chairperson Zhao Leji, Executive Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang, and Vice President Han Zheng. China's private sector has been rattled in recent years by a sweeping regulatory clampdown targeting some of its most vibrant industries, including the internet and private education. The new national financial regulatory administration will replace the existing banking and insurance watchdog and oversee all aspects of China's $57 trillion financial sector apart from the securities market. A separate top-level party financial watchdog, the Central Financial Work Commission, is likely to be resurrected after the NPC, sources earlier told Reuters. This will likely have responsibility for the new state financial regulator.

☆ Factbox: What is China's new government restructuring plan?
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( Laurie Chen | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The restructured ministry will be overseen by a newly created Communist Party body, the Central Science and Technology Commission, strengthening party oversight of science and technology policy. A new national data bureau will be responsible for coordinating the sharing and development of data resources, as well as planning the digital economy and promoting initiatives. Since taking power in 2012, Xi has established several new central party committees overseeing multiple ministries, which report directly to him. Analysts expect the party reforms to be revealed soon after the NPC concludes its meetings on Monday. A top-level party financial watchdog, the Central Financial Work Commission, is likely to be resurrected after the NPC, sources earlier told Reuters.

☆ China to set up new financial regulator in sweeping reform
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

The new financial regulator will replace the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission (CBIRC) and bring supervision of the industry, excluding the securities sector, into a body directly under the State Council, or cabinet. The proposal for setting up the new regulator, the National Financial Regulatory Administration, was presented to China's parliament during its annual meeting on Tuesday. China's financial sector is overseen by the People's Bank of China (PBOC), the CBIRC, and the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC), with the cabinet's Financial Stability and Development Committee having overall responsibility. The setting up of the new financial regulatory body comes as Beijing seeks to rein in large corporate and financial institutions that may bring systemic risks via regulatory arbitrage among multiple authorities. 'STRENGTHEN SUPERVISION'The new administration will "strengthen institutional supervision, supervision of behaviours and supervision of functions", according to the plan.

☆ Xi's planned revival of Chinese financial watchdog exerts more party control
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( Joe Cash | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

BEIJING, March 1 (Reuters) - Plans by China's Communist Party to revive a high-level economic watchdog after two decades signal President Xi Jinping push to increase oversight of the financial sector, analysts say, part of a wider tightening of control by Xi and the party. "Through the CFWC, Xi and his allies could more rapidly roll out a reshuffle to replace the remaining legacy technocrats with people more loyal to them," he said. China's financial sector is overseen by the People's Bank of China (PBOC), the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission, the China Securities Regulatory Commission, with the cabinet's Financial Stability and Development Committee at the top. Under the new proposed structure, the party would take on a direction-setting role for the economy and regulatory bodies. "But this could also lead to policies replacing some market forces, which may not be ideal for financial liberalisation", she said.

☆ Is Asia's bull market over? Strategists say there's room for stocks to rally further
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( Jihye Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The region's rally – supported by China's reopening – seems to have hit a wall, but economists say MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan has further room to run. I still expect the Asian stock markets will outperform their U.S. peers after a short-term correction on China's reopening in 2023. "Modest valuations, light investor positioning and good fundamentals are buffers that should help Asian stocks withstand near-term volatility," BNP's Liu said. She added that domestic demand in the region will be the "driver of economic growth," and she expects trade volumes to recover with China's market reopening. "I still expect the Asian stock markets will outperform their U.S. peers after a short-term correction on China's reopening in 2023," she said.

☆ Investor fears about Xi's new leadership team 'may be misguided'
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Li Qiang, likely to become the next premier, is pictured here speaking at a major annual financial conference in Shanghai in 2020. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesBEIJING — Chinese stocks' plunge on Monday over fears about China's new leadership team "may be misguided," consulting firm Teneo said. Xi's leadership teamThe Politburo standing committee is the highest circle of power in China. Li Xi has led the export-heavy province of Guangdong as party secretary, while Cai Qi held the role for the capital city of Beijing. Mr Li [Qiang] has been widely regarded as a capable pro-market and pro-growth politician.

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