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☆ Nikkei 225: Japan plans to raise interest rates and investors are spooked
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-02 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The Nikkei 225 sank 4.5% on Friday, extending a global stock rout that started following the release of weak US economic data. The Bank of Japan (BOJ) raised interest rates by 15 basis points to 0.25% on Wednesday, its second hike this year, and announced plans to taper off its policy of bond buying. ”The hike has narrowed the difference in interest rate between the United States and Japan, which pushed the Japanese yen higher against the greenback. Combined with strong corporate earnings and effective corporate governance reforms, the weak yen propelled the Nikkei 225 to all-time highs this year. “From a Japanese equity perspective, the earnings boost from a weak yen is set to diminish,” Citi analysts said on Thursday.

Persons: ”, Ken Cheung, Frank Benzimra, Korea’s, Australia’s Organizations: Hong Kong CNN — Japan’s Nikkei, Nikkei, Bank of Japan, Traders, Mizuho Securities, greenback, Societe Generale, ” Citi, Dow, Nasdaq, Labor Department, “, ” ANZ, Federal Reserve Locations: Hong Kong, United States, Japan, Asia, Shanghai

☆ Chinese government bonds are on fire. That’s ringing alarms bells in Beijing
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-03 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

“What worries policymakers is the interest rate risk, which will rise once the dominant narrative shifts from deflation to reflation,” Hu from Macquarie said. If that happens, bond yields will rise as investors switch back into riskier stocks. The country’s “4,000 or so small and medium-sized banks” will be particularly vulnerable to the interest rate risk, he added. “The bubble formed by the rush of funds into the bond market is accumulating interest rate risks,” the Securities Times said in an editorial. Economic risksThe rapid decline in Chinese bond yields also poses significant risks to the economy.

Persons: “, ”, Pan Gongsheng, SVB, Larry Hu, ” Hu, Macquarie, Hu, Zhang Jiqiang, Ken Cheung Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Silicon Valley Bank, People’s Bank of China, prudential, “, Federal Reserve, Macquarie Group, Zheshang Securities, Securities Times, Japan’s Norinchukin Bank, Huatai Securities, Mizuho Securities Locations: Hong Kong, Silicon, United States, Shanghai, China, Beijing, SVB, outflows

☆ China stock market: CSRC limits short-selling in latest effort to stem a rout
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN —China’s top securities regulator has limited short-selling, in its latest effort to stem a protracted $6 trillion-dollar stock market rout that began in 2021. The China Securities Regulatory Commission announced Sunday it would “fully” suspend the lending of restricted shares on bourses in mainland China. The Shenzhen stock exchange is the second-largest in mainland China after Shanghai. Bloomberg/Getty ImagesCalm returns but challenges remainChinese authorities have stepped up their measures to stem the stock market rout over the past week. A day later, in an unprecedented move, regulators said they were considering evaluating the performance of the heads of state-owned companies based on their stock market value.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, ”, Ken Cheung, Evergrande, ” Cheung, Hong, Li Yunze, Pan Gongsheng Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, China Securities Regulatory Commission, Mizuho Bank, Bloomberg, Shanghai Shenzhen, Administration of Financial, People’s Bank of China Locations: Hong Kong, bourses, China, Shanghai, Shenzhen

☆ Premarket stocks: The world is a mess and Wall Street isn’t paying attention
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

But geopolitical tensions are growing and Wall Street appears to be underestimating their potential impact on the global economy and markets. The United States and China are squabbling about trade, particularly high-powered AI chips that both believe carry consequences for national security. Less trade could mean lower supplies to meet demand — and that could be bad news for inflation around the world. Bank of America also gave geopolitical risk a top spot on its list of surprises that could affect markets in 2024. It’s the worst start to a year for Chinese stocks since 2016, when investors were ditching their holdings following a market crash in 2015.

Persons: ”, “, Jamie Dimon, dory, he’s, Anna Cooban, Laura He, Hong, Premier Li Qiang, Ken Cheung, Catherine Thorbecke Organizations: New, New York CNN, Dow Jones, Federal Reserve, BlackRock, Shipping, CNBC, Economic, Bank of America, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Apple, Google, Microsoft, Meta, Nvidia, “, Shenzhen Component, Premier, Mizuho Bank, MIT’s Computer, Artificial Intelligence Locations: New York, Russia, Ukraine, United States, China, Taiwan, Suez, Iranian, Pakistan, Iran, Europe, Asia, Drewry, Yemen, Davos, Switzerland, Wall, Shanghai, Shenzhen

☆ Why Chinese stocks have lost $6 trillion in 3 years: everything you need to know
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Hong Kong CNN —Chinese shares haven’t just had a bad start to 2024. The astonishing losses, reminiscent of the last Chinese stock market crash of 2015-2016, highlight a crisis of confidence among investors concerned about the country’s future. But on the same day, major state-owned banks moved to support the Chinese yuan, in order to prevent the currency from falling too fast as Chinese shares plunged, according to a Reuters report, citing unnamed sources. Topics related to the “market plunge” and “China’s stock market rescue” were trending on Weibo on Tuesday. “I’m sad about today’s stock market performance,” Hu Xijin, former editor-in-chief for state newspaper Global Times, posted on Weibo on Monday.

Persons: It’s, “, Goldman Sachs, Wall, Li Qiang, ”, Nomura, bedeviling, Beijing’s, Li, Ken Cheung, ” Hu Xijin, “ Hu Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Reuters, Bloomberg, Monday, People’s Bank of China, ”, Big Tech, Xinhua, Hong, Mizuho Bank, Global Times Locations: China, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Japan, Asia, Beijing, US, Weibo

☆ Chinese stocks are having their worst start to a year since 2016
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-22 | by ( Anna Cooban | Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The Shenzhen Component Index, a tech-heavy benchmark, had its worst day in nearly two years, plunging 3.5%. It’s the worst start to a year for Chinese stocks since 2016, when investors were ditching their holdings following a market crash in 2015. The country’s economy grew by 5.2% last year. That beat government projections but is still one of China’s worst economic performances in over three decades. The International Monetary Fund forecasts the country’s economic growth to slow to 4.2% this year.

Persons: Ken Cheung, ”, Europe’s, Premier Li Qiang, Brian Martin, Daniel Hynes, Li, “, ” Stephen Innes, managing Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Shenzhen Component, Mizuho Bank, CSI, Nikkei, Premier, Economic, ANZ Research, Monetary Fund, China’s Commerce Ministry, Investors Locations: Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, China, United States

☆ Moody's cuts China credit outlook, citing lower growth, property risks
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/2] A Chinese national flag flutters at the headquarters of a commercial bank on a financial street near the headquarters of the People's Bank of China, China's central bank, in central Beijing November 24, 2014. "The outlook change also reflects the increased risks related to structurally and persistently lower medium-term economic growth and the ongoing downsizing of the property sector," Moody's said. "Moody's concerns about China's economic growth prospects, fiscal sustainability and other aspects are unnecessary," the ministry said. STRUGGLING FOR TRACTIONMost analysts believe China's growth is on track to hit the government's target of around 5% this year, but that compares with a COVID-weakened 2022 and activity is highly uneven. Analysts widely agree that China's growth is downshifting from breakneck expansion in the past few decades.

Persons: Kim Kyung, Moody's, Ken Cheung, Pan Gongsheng, COVID, Goldman Sachs, Gnaneshwar Rajan, Kevin Yao, Tom Hogue, Kim Coghill Organizations: People's Bank of China, REUTERS, Mizuho Bank, Economic Work Conference, Fitch, China's Finance Ministry, International Monetary Fund, Thomson Locations: Beijing, Hong Kong, China, outflows, Bengaluru

☆ Dollar stalls as dovish Fed tone dials down rate expectations
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Tom Westbrook | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSINGAPORE, Oct 10 (Reuters) - The dollar remained steady against major peers on Tuesday, after a pause in its rally following a slight dovish shift in Federal Reserve officials' tone. "If long-term interest rates remain elevated because of higher term premiums, there may be less need to raise the Fed funds rate," said Dallas Fed president Lorie Logan -- a notable shift from previously hawkish rhetoric. Fed Vice Chair Philip Jefferson said the central bank would need to "proceed carefully" given the recent rise in yields. "There are another 13 Fed speakers scheduled this week which could see this theme develop further," said analysts at Westpac. "The idea that the increases in bond yields have done part of the tightening job appears to be gaining traction among some Fed officials," said OCBC rates strategist Frances Cheung.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Lorie Logan, Philip Jefferson, Frances Cheung, Ken Cheung, Tom Westbrook, Sam Holmes, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Federal, New, East, Swiss, Palestinian, Dallas, Fed, Westpac, Columbus, People's Bank of, Thomson Locations: Rights SINGAPORE, Asia, New Zealand, Israeli, Israel, Tokyo, People's Bank of China

☆ China boosts liquidity with medium-term policy tool
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The headquarters of the People's Bank of China, the central bank, is pictured in Beijing, China, February 3, 2020. All 33 market watchers polled by Reuters this week predicted no change to the MLF rate. With 400 billion yuan worth of MLF loans set to expire this month, the operation resulted in a net 191 billion yuan of fresh fund injections into the banking system. It lent another 34 billion yuan via 14-day reverse repos at 1.95%, down from 2.15% previously. The rate reduction was a follow-up move to the rate cut to the seven-day tenor last month.

Persons: Jason Lee, Ken Cheung, Cheung, Marco Sun, Sun, Winni Zhou, Tom Westbrook, Tom Hogue, Shri Navaratnam, Sam Holmes Organizations: People's Bank of China, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Mizuho Bank, MUFG Bank, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Rights SHANGHAI, SINGAPORE, United States

☆ China to cut banks' FX reserve ratio to rein in yuan weakness
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The headquarters of the People's Bank of China, the central bank, is pictured in Beijing, China, February 3, 2020. The People's Bank of China (PBOC) said it would cut the foreign exchange reserve requirement ratio (RRR) by 200 basis points (bps) to 4% from 6% beginning Sept. 15, according to an online statement. That would effectively free up $16.4 billion worth of foreign exchange with China's FX deposits standing at $821.8 billion at end-July. The PBOC said its move was to "improve financial institutions' ability to use foreign exchange funds". Cheung added that Friday's announcement reinforced the central bank's stance to defend a weakening yuan but was "unlikely to reverse the bearish picture of the yuan."

Persons: Jason Lee, Ken Cheung, Cheung, Winni Zhou, Tom Westbrook, Christian Schmollinger, Sam Holmes Organizations: People's Bank of China, REUTERS, Rights, Mizuho Bank, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Rights SHANGHAI, SINGAPORE, United States

☆ Chinese stocks get brief uplift from first share dealing tax cut since 2008
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN —China has made a series of moves to restore investor confidence in the world’s second largest economy, including cutting a tax on stock trading for the first time since 2008. Foreign investors dumped billions of dollars worth of Chinese stocks over the past few weeks as the prospects for the economy dimmed. The announcements boosted Chinese stocks on Monday. Separately on Sunday, the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) the country’s top securities watchdog, also unveiled several measures to “boost investor confidence” in the sagging stock market. Chinese stock markets have declined sharply in recent weeks, as investors fretted about a worsening slowdown in the world’s second largest economy and its real estate crisis.

Persons: ”, Chris Liu, ” Liu, Ken Cheung, Seng Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Ministry of Finance, State Administration of Taxation, China Securities Regulatory Commission, Hong Kong’s Stock Connect, China’s, Mizuho Bank, Shanghai Locations: Hong Kong, China, Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, China’s Shanghai

☆ Exclusive: China asks banks to limit some Connect bond outflows
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Coins and banknotes of China's yuan are seen in this illustration picture taken February 24, 2022. "And it could also drive offshore yuan yields higher to support the renminbi." The southbound leg of the two-year-old Bond Connect scheme allows mainland institutional investors to purchase bonds traded in Hong Kong. Several measures have been aimed at raising the cost of shorting the yuan offshore. China's state-owned banks have taken steps to squeeze yuan this week by mopping up cash from the market, other sources told Reuters earlier this week.

Persons: Florence Lo, Ken Cheung, Vidya Ranganathan, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: REUTERS, Bond, People's Bank of China, Mizuho Bank, Reuters, Shanghai, Thomson Locations: SHANGHAI, BEIJING, Hong Kong, China, outflows, Beijing

☆ China surprises with modest rate cut amid growing yuan risks
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The one-year loan prime rate (LPR) was lowered by 10 basis points to 3.45% from 3.55% previously, while the five-year LPR was left at 4.20%. The 10 bp cut in the one-year rate was smaller than the 15 bp cut expected by most poll respondents. Most new and outstanding loans in China are based on the one-year LPR, while the five-year rate influences the pricing of mortgages. The reduction in the one-year LPR came after the People's Bank of China (PBOC) unexpectedly lowered its medium-term policy rate last week. Cheung added that the unexpected rate outcome should be "negative to China growth outlook and the yuan exchange rate".

Persons: Tingshu Wang, LPR, Masayuki Kichikawa, Ken Cheung, Cheung, Winni Zhou, Tom Westbrook, Kevin Buckland, Sam Holmes Organizations: People's Bank of China, REUTERS, Rights, Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management, Mizuho Bank, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Rights SHANGHAI, SINGAPORE, Shanghai

☆ China central bank cuts rates for second time in three months to support economy
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

A citizen walks past the Hangzhou Central branch of the People's Bank of China in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang province, June 13, 2023. China's central bank unexpectedly cut key policy rates for the second time in three months on Tuesday, in a fresh sign that the authorities are ramping up monetary easing efforts to boost a sputtering economic recovery. Analysts said the move opened the door to a potential cut in China's lending benchmark loan prime rate (LPR) next week. In a Reuters poll of 26 market watchers conducted this week, 20 participants, or 77%, predicted that the central bank would leave the MLF rate unchanged. The PBOC lowered key policy rates in June to prop up the broad economy, but data has been increasingly weak since.

Persons: Tommy Wu, Ken Cheung Organizations: People's Bank of China, Mizuho Bank Locations: Hangzhou Central, Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, China's, China, United States

☆ China central bank unexpectedly cuts rates to support sputtering economy
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Paramilitary police officers stand guard in front of the headquarters of the People's Bank of China, the central bank (PBOC), in Beijing, China September 30, 2022. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/File PhotoSHANGHAI/SINGAPORE, Aug 15 (Reuters) - China's central bank unexpectedly cut key policy rates for the second time in three months on Tuesday, in a fresh sign that the authorities are ramping up monetary easing efforts to boost a sputtering economic recovery. Analysts said the move opened the door to a potential cut in China's lending benchmark loan prime rate (LPR) next week. In a Reuters poll of 26 market watchers conducted this week, 20 participants, or 77%, predicted that the central bank would leave the MLF rate unchanged. The PBOC lowered key policy rates in June to prop up the broad economy, but data has been increasingly weak since.

Persons: Tingshu Wang, Tommy Wu, Ken Cheung, Winni Zhou, Rae Wee, Kim Coghill, Jamie Freed Organizations: People's Bank of China, REUTERS, Mizuho Bank, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, SHANGHAI, SINGAPORE, United States

☆ Global trade: China's economy suffers new blow as exports drop 14% in July
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN —China’s exports suffered their biggest drop in more than three years in July as global demand slowed, adding further pressure on Beijing to find ways to reinvigorate the world’s second largest economy. For the first seven months of the year, China’s exports decreased 5% from a year earlier. But since last October, those shipments have shrunk as surging inflation and rising interest rates dampen global demand. Weakening exports deal a fresh blow to the Chinese economy, which lost momentum recently after a strong start to the year. The weak trade figures and lower yuan fixing triggered a drop in the Chinese currency in foreign exchange markets.

Persons: ”, Justin Sullivan, Ken Cheung Organizations: Hong Kong CNN —, Capital Economics, Port, Getty, Exports, Analysts, People’s Bank of China, Mizuho Bank, “ Locations: Hong Kong, Beijing, United States, Port of Oakland, Oakland , California, China

☆ Exclusive: China asks some banks to reduce or delay dollar buying -sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

One source said regulators were emphatic banks should hold off dollar purchases under their proprietary trading accounts due to the "recent yuan depreciation". "The yuan exchange rate expectations are stable, and the foreign exchange market has the foundation to meet authentic and compliant FX needs," SAFE said in response to a Reuters query. Keeping non-urgent dollar demand at bay could relieve some of the immediate pressure on the yuan, the sources said. But that excitement soon faded, as domestic and foreign investors said they would wait for substantive action before putting more money into China. There was also a seasonal factor too, as overseas-listed Chinese companies usually need more foreign exchange in the summer to pay dividends to shareholders.

Persons: China's, Ken Cheung, Alvin Tan, Tan, Goldman Sachs, Vidya Ranganathan, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: U.S ., People's Bank of China, State Administration of Foreign Exchange, Reuters, Mizuho Bank, Asia FX, RBC Capital Markets, Goldman, Overseas, Thomson Locations: SHANGHAI, BEIJING, Hong Kong, Asia, China, Shanghai, Beijing

☆ 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

☆ Aussie surges after strong jobs data; China's yuan jumps
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Rae Wee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"Ultimately, it's another strong set of employment figures which keeps the pressure on a data-dependant (Reserve Bank of Australia) to potentially hike rates in August." The offshore yuan last bought 7.1901 per dollar, while the onshore yuan strengthened past 7.18 per dollar to a session-high of 7.1620. RATES OUTLOOKIn the broader currency market, sterling was nursing deep losses after a sharp fall in the previous session following Britain's inflation data, which undershot market expectations. "The market I think is a bit more reasonable now with its expectations for rate hikes by the BoE. "We thought (the fall) was too strong, so it looks like the dollar has regained some of those losses," said CBA's Capurso.

Persons: David Gray, Matt Simpson, it's, Ken Cheung, BoE, Joseph Capurso, Yannis Stournaras, CBA's Capurso, Rae Wee, Sam Holmes, Jamie Freed Organizations: REUTERS, Australian, New Zealand, Bank of Australia, prudential, U.S ., People's Bank of, Mizuho Bank, Bank of England, Traders, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Central Bank, U.S, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia, SINGAPORE, China, Asia

☆ Instant View: China's Q2 GDP growth slows to 0.8% q/q, raises stimulus expectations
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +11 min

"Consumers are not spending, mainly driven by the bleak outlook for the property market. Disappointing retail numbers and property market sales show it doesn't seem that the boost from rate cuts is sufficient. ..the property market is beginning another slowdown - the government will have to come up with more stimulus for property." "Nonetheless, we think more stimulus is required to stabilise and restore confidence in the property market." ZHIWEI ZHANG, CHIEF ECONOMIST, PINPOINT ASSET MANAGEMENT, HONG KONG"Nominal GDP growth turns out to be lower than real GDP growth in Q2, the first time since comparable data are available in Q4 2016.

Persons: CHRISTOPHER WONG, LOUIS KUIJS, CAROL KONG, XING ZHAOPENG, KEN CHEUNG, ALVIN TAN, VISHNU VARATHAN, MARCO SUN, CHEN, TONY SYCAMORE, ZHIWEI ZHANG, JING LIU Organizations: Gross, National Bureau, Statistics, Shanghai, NBS, BANK OF, ANZ, MIZUHO BANK, OF, OF ASIA FX, RBC, MUFG BANK, IG, SYDNEY, Friday's, BANK OF SINGAPORE, HSBC, stoke, Authorities, Reuters, U.S, Thomson Locations: U.S, SINGAPORE, ASIA, HONG KONG, SYDNEY, CHINA, SHANGHAI, OF ASIA, China

The People's Bank of China, which typically issues guidance on dollar deposit rates to state banks, did not immediately comment on the matter. The lenders - Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (601398.SS), , Bank of China (601988.SS), , Agricultural Bank of China (601288.SS), , China Construction Bank (601939.SS), and Bank of Communications (601328.SS), - did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The lower rates could both discourage households from putting savings into higher-yielding dollar deposits and nudge Chinese firms, especially exporters, to settle foreign exchange receipts in yuan. The latest cut in dollar deposit rates was the second in barely a month. Some currency traders also said the cuts in dollar deposit rates would ease pressure on commercial lenders' net interest margin, as banks' dollar deposit rates had risen above lending rates before the recent adjustments.

Persons: Ken Cheung, Banks, PBOC, Winni Zhou, Samuel Shen, Jindong Zhang, Rong Ma, Ryan Woo, John Geddie, Edmund Klamann Organizations: People's Bank of China, Industrial, Commercial Bank of China, Bank of China, Agricultural Bank of China, China Construction Bank, Bank of Communications, Traders, U.S, Mizuho Bank, Reuters, Thomson Locations: SHANGHAI, BEIJING, China, United States, China's, Shanghai, Beijing, Tokyo

☆ Asian markets slide as investors fear more rate hikes by major central banks
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Hong Kong CNN —Asian stock markets tumbled Friday as investors fretted that more interest rate hikes by major central banks would drag on global economic growth. Mainland Chinese stock markets were closed for a public holiday. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said Wednesday that more interest rate increases might be needed this year to bring down US inflation to the central bank’s 2% target. “The re-acceleration of global monetary policy tightening dampened markets’ sentiment across regions,” said Ken Cheung, chief foreign exchange strategist for Asia at Mizuho Bank. “The increasing inflation momentum will pave the way for the Bank of Japan’s inflation upgrade and the possible monetary policy tweak in the medium term.”

Persons: Australia’s, Kospi, Jerome Powell, ”, “, Ken Cheung Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Nikkei, US, Bank of England, Bank of Japan, Mizuho Bank, Bank of Locations: Hong Kong, South, Japan, Asia

☆ China cuts loan prime rate as economic recovery fizzles out
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The rate cuts come as Wall Street banks, including Goldman Sachs, slash their forecasts for China’s economy. The People’s Bank of China on Tuesday trimmed its one-year loan prime rate (LPR) by 10 basis points from 3.65% to 3.55%, and reduced the five-year rate by the same margin to 4.2%. This is the first time the PBOC has cut both LPR rates since August 2022, when renewed Covid lockdowns and a deepening property downturn were pummeling the economy. “The 10 bps rate cut[s] are unlikely to stimulate business confidence and housing demand,” said Ken Cheung, chief Asian foreign exchange strategist at Mizuho Bank. Hong Kong and mainland Chinese stocks slid after Tuesday’s rate cuts.

Persons: Goldman Sachs, Goldman, Covid, ”, Ken Cheung, “, ” Goldman Sachs, Fu Linghui Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, People’s Bank of China, Mizuho Bank, Shanghai, National Bureau, Statistics, NBS Locations: Hong Kong, Beijing

"The central bank's rate cut decision was not a complete surprise to the market," said Ken Cheung, chief Asian FX strategist at Mizuho Bank. Further interest rate cuts in China would only widen the yield gap with the United States, even if the Fed pauses this week, sending the yuan lower and accelerating capital outflows. Tuesday's rate cut suggests policymakers are increasingly worried about the health of China's recovery, traders and analysts said. Bloomberg reported on Tuesday, citing unnamed sources, that China was considering at least a dozen stimulus measures including cuts to interest rates to support areas such as real estate and domestic demand. "There could be another RRR or policy interest rate cut in Q4, depending on the economic outcome over the next several months."

Persons: Ken Cheung, Yi Gang, Cheung, Marco Sun, Frances Cheung, Goldman Sachs, Winni Zhou, Tom Westbrook, Sam Holmes, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: People's Bank of China, Mizuho Bank, MUFG Bank, Bloomberg, OCBC Bank, Thomson Locations: SHANGHAI, SINGAPORE, China, United States, outflows

☆ China cuts short-term borrowing costs as economy slows
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

SummarySummary Companies PBOC lowers 7-day reverse repo to 1.9% vs. 2.0% prev. The People's Bank of China (PBOC) cut its seven-day reverse repo rate by 10 basis points to 1.90% from 2.00% on Tuesday, when it injected 2 billion yuan ($279.97 million) through the short-term bond instrument. "The central bank's rate cut decision was not a complete surprise to the market," said Ken Cheung, chief Asian FX strategist at Mizuho Bank. Tuesday's rate cut suggests policymakers are increasingly worried about the health of China's recovery, traders and analysts said. "However, the market is expecting the PBOC to cut the policy rate further.

Persons: 10bp, Ken Cheung, Yi Gang, Cheung, Marco Sun, Frances Cheung, Julian Evans, Pritchard, Winni Zhou, Tom Westbrook, Kim Coghill, Sam Holmes Organizations: People's Bank of China, Mizuho Bank, MUFG Bank, OCBC Bank, Capital Economics, Thomson Locations: SHANGHAI, SINGAPORE, China, United States, outflows

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