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☆ Alibaba's Hong Kong shares surge 16% on split-up plans
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

March 29 (Reuters) - Hong Kong shares of Alibaba Group (9988.HK) soared on Wednesday, marking a vote of confidence from investors after the company announced a major restructuring plan. Shares of Alibaba's e-commerce rival JD.com Inc (9618.HK) were up 7%, and gaming giant Tencent Holdings Ltd (0700.HK) jumped 5% on Wednesday morning. That compared with a 2.3% jump in benchmark Hang Seng Index (.HSI) and a 3.2% gain for the Hang Seng Tech Index (.HSTECH). One day before the re-organization was announced, Alibaba founder Jack Ma, who had been out of mainland China since late 2021, was spotted visiting a primary school in Hangzhou, the city where Alibaba is headquartered. Reporting by Josh Horwitz in Shanghai and Donny Kwok in Hong Kong; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman and Sam HolmesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Morning Bid: Bank calm, rates firm, Alibaba steals show
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

A semblance of calm has returned to world markets in the final week of the first quarter as the banking storm abates and the spotlight switched to a share-boosting six-way revamp of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba. Investors cheered the surprise move from Alibaba (9988.HK) as a sign Beijing's corporate crackdown may be nearing an end, sending shares of the Jack Ma-founded firm and peers soaring. The surprise move seeks to take advantage of Ermotti's experience rebuilding the bank after the global financial crisis 15 years ago. Broader stock markets were higher across the board, with Wall St futures up almost 1% ahead of the open. Futures markets now show a 50-50 chance of one more Fed rate hike in this cycle in May and half a point of easing by yearend.

☆ Asian shares surge, dollar slips after Fed hints at rate pause
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Ankur Banerjee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

SINGAPORE, March 23 (Reuters) - Asian shares spiked on Thursday and the dollar slid after the U.S. Federal Reserve hinted it could pause interest rate rises following turmoil in the banking sector, though it also reiterated its commitment to fighting sticky inflation. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) rose 1% to touch a two-week high of 515.62. Wall Street ended sharply lower overnight as investors digested the Fed's policy statement and comments from Fed Chair Jerome Powell's press conference. In the currency market, the dollar index , which measures the dollar against other major currencies, fell nearly 0.5% to fresh seven week low of 101.92. The two-year U.S. Treasury yield, which typically moves in step with interest rate expectations, was down 10 basis points at 3.881%.

☆ Asian shares subdued after Fed hints at rate pause
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Ankur Banerjee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SINGAPORE, March 23 (Reuters) - Asian shares inched higher on Thursday after the Federal Reserve hinted it could pause interest rate hikes following turmoil in the banking sector, though it also reiterated its commitment to fighting sticky inflation. In a widely expected move, the Fed raised interest rates by 25 basis points but recast its outlook to a more cautious stance as a result of the banking stress. In the currency market, the dollar index fell 0.137%, with the euro up 0.25% at $1.0882. The yield on 10-year Treasury notes was down 3.2 basis points at 3.468%, while the 30-year Treasury bond was down 1.5 basis points to 3.682%. The two-year U.S. Treasury yield, which typically moves in step with interest rate expectations, was down 1.1 basis points at 3.970%.

☆ Most Asian shares reverse early losses after US Fed raises rates by a quarter point
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Juliana Liu | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Hong Kong CNN —Most Asia Pacific shares pared early losses on Thursday, after the US Federal Reserve reaffirmed its dedication to bring down inflation. The broader Topix index was 0.3% lower, reversing some of its early morning losses. South Korea’s Kospi was 0.2% higher, while Australia’s S&P ASX 200 advanced by half a percentage point. Asian shares had opened broadly lower, tracking losses on Wall Street. The Fed raised rates by a quarter point at the conclusion of its two-day meeting, even though its historic rate hiking campaign was a contributing factor in the banking crisis.

Its offshore debt restructuring, the country's biggest such exercise, is aimed at saving it from a disorderly collapse. The developer has $22.7 billion of offshore debt, all of which is deemed to be in default. A dollar bondholder, who was not authorised to speak to media, likened the debt restructuring plan to lending a bucket of rice to someone and being repaid with two grains a year. Evergrande said on Wednesday that additional financing of 250 billion yuan ($36.65 billion) to 300 billion yuan would be required as it resumes operations over the next three years. If Evergrande fails to push ahead with restructuring plan, the developer may have to face liquidation proceedings filed by an investor in one of its units in a Hong Kong court.

☆ Morgan Stanley turns 'outright bullish' on stocks in Asia, emerging markets
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( Jihye Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Morgan Stanley strategists say it's "time to turn bullish" on Asia and emerging markets' growth stocks. Growth stocks will benefit from such easing financial conditions, they said. Morgan Stanley said the latest economic data from the region also point toward strong momentum ahead. "From quant perspectives, we believe liquidity is now on our side," the strategists wrote. Asia may be better placed Morgan Stanley said in a separate note that Asia markets are likely to still outperform their global peers in developed markets amid the latest banking sector turmoil.

☆ Asia stocks bounce gingerly but bank fears lurk
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-21 | by ( Tom Westbrook | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

U.S. futures rose 0.2% in early Asia trade. A Swiss government-backed buyout of Credit Suisse by UBS has cauterized the immediate concern over European financial stability. But the wipeout of some Credit Suisse bondholders has sent a shockwave through bank debt, and persistent signs of stress at U.S. regional lenders has investors on high alert. Bond markets whipsawed overnight as traders seek to figure out what the bank stress means for rates policy. U.S. interest rate futures have priced in just one more 25 basis point hike before a series of cuts beginning as soon as June.

☆ Asia Pacific shares join US gains as investors await key Fed decision
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-21 | by ( Juliana Liu | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Hong Kong CNN —Asia Pacific shares opened higher on Wednesday, tracking US gains, as investors awaited the US Federal Reserve’s next monetary policy decision later in the day. Hong Kong’s benchmark Hang Seng (HSI) index was trading 2.3% higher, leading gains in the region. The MSCI Asia Pacific index, which excludes Japanese companies, was broadly higher, rising 0.8%. On Tuesday, US stocks closed higher as shares of regional banks rebounded from record-breaking losses earlier in the month. The SPDR Regional Banking ETF (KRE), which tracks a number of small and mid-sized bank stocks, gained 5.8% for the day.

☆ Morning Bid: Europe, US reverse bank jitter sell-offs: will Asia follow?
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( Stephen Culp | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Global market skittishness over whether contagion is afoot within the banking sector appears to be waning. In fact, if European and U.S. markets on Monday are a prologue to Asian markets on Tuesday, investors can look forward to a rebound. The S&P Banking index (.SPXBK) ended the session up 0.6%, but even with Monday's advance, the index has plunged 21.3% this month. Reuters GraphicsEuropean Central Bank president Christine Lagarde insisted on Monday that the ECB has the tools to contend with financial market turbulence while fighting inflation, just days after announcing a hawkish a 50 basis point policy rate hike. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

☆ Asia Pacific stocks rise as banking concerns ease, recession fears continue ahead of Fed meeting
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Hong Kong CNN —Stocks in the Asia Pacific region rose Tuesday as concerns about the global banking sector eased in response to a whirlwind of intervention by policymakers and industry players. The S&P/ASX 200 in Australia jumped 1.3%, boosted by its AXFJ index, a measure of banking stocks, which surged 1.7%. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index (HSI) opened up 0.8%. US stock futures were flat in Asian trade Tuesday, with Dow futures, S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq futures little changed. Still, recession fears continue to dog investors ahead of the US Federal Reserve’s meeting, which is set to conclude Wednesday.

☆ Asia Pacific markets dip after UBS rescue of Credit Suisse
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-19 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Hong Kong CNN —Asia Pacific markets edged slightly lower on Monday morning as investors reacted to news of a Credit Suisse bailout by its bigger rival UBS. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index (HSI) tumbled 1.5% at its opening. On Sunday, Switzerland’s biggest bank, UBS (UBS), agreed to buy Credit Suisse (CS) in an emergency rescue deal aimed at stemming financial market panic unleashed by the failure of two American banks earlier this month. “Volatility in Australian financial markets has picked up,” he told a conference Monday. Dow futures and S&P futures each rose 0.6%, while Nasdaq futures ticked up 0.4%.

☆ Bank rescues ease crisis fears, investors still wary
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

COMMENTS:KERRY CRAIG, SENIOR STRATEGIST, JPMORGAN ASSET MANAGEMENT"It has been a week of ups and downs for the equity market this week. Then they will take it away gradually and the bank will play out a slow death." ZHIKAI CHEN, HEAD OF ASIA EQUTIES, BNP PARIBAS ASSET MANAGEMENT"The $30 billion deposit injection into First Republic overnight was novel and creative. Its new facility taking eligible securities at par removes the mark to market spiral risk to meet deposits. That said, markets are now suggesting rates hikes may be nearing an end, while inflation continues to rollover."

LONDON, March 17 (Reuters) - Hedge funds are watching growing U.S.-Chinese geopolitical tensions and have spotted ways to trade them. Taking a short position on investment grade bonds would make up for losses on long positions elsewhere, he said. If tensions were resolved, being caught with a negative view on Chinese stocks would not be beneficial, and therefore she would not short Chinese AI firms but invest in U.S. ones instead. "The most sensitive commodity to a break down in trade between China and Russia and the West is graphite," he added. "Supply chains are already shifting to Penang, and they are receiving investment from both China and the U.S.

☆ Asian markets take breather from banking turmoil, capping tumultuous week
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( Stella Qiu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) rose 0.9% on Friday, erasing earlier losses this week. S&P 500 futures eased 0.1% and Nasdaq futures were flat after major U.S. stock indices rallied hard on easing fear of a global banking crisis. This is a theme other central banks are likely to echo," said James Rossiter, head of global macro strategy at TD Securities. Yields were, however, headed for the steepest weekly decline since February 2020 when markets were thrown into chaos by COVID-19 fear. "The past week has provided an unwelcome reminder of the inherent fragility of banking systems," said analysts at Capital Economics in a note to client.

☆ Baidu stock rebounds after falling sharply in wake of demo of ERNIE chatbot, its ChatGPT-style service
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Hong Kong CNN —Shares in Chinese search giant Baidu rebounded sharply a day after it unveiled ERNIE Bot, its answer to the ChatGPT craze. Its Hong Kong shares fell 6.4% after a public demonstration of its bot failed to impress investors. The reversal came after the company said more than 30,000 businesses had signed up to test out its chatbot service within two hours of its demonstration. Baidu Chairman and CEO Robin Li presenting the company's AI chatbot, ERNIE Bot, in Beijing on March 16. But its stock slumped on Thursday because the demo was “pre-recorded, and not live, which makes investors skeptical about the robustness of the ERNIE Bot,” according to Pau.

☆ Asian markets rebound after First Republic Bank gets rescued by US lenders
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN —Asian markets rebounded Friday after First Republic Bank was rescued by a group of major US lenders, which eased worries about the current banking turmoil. First Republic Bank (FRC) is set to receive a $30 billion lifeline from a group of America’s largest banks, including JPMorgan Chase (JPM), Bank of America (BAC), Wells Fargo (CBEAX), Citigroup (C) and Truist (TFC). “Following the recent global financial instabilities, First Republic Bank was expected to be the next domino to fall,” said Yeap Jun Rong, a market analyst at IG. Worries deepened on Wednesday after shares of Credit Suisse plummeted in Europe. Regulators on both sides of the Atlantic have taken emergency measures to shore up confidence, including protecting deposits at Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank and giving a $54 billion lifeline to Credit Suisse.

☆ Asian shares rise as fears about rapid Fed hikes, bank crisis fade
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-15 | by ( Ankur Banerjee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The rally is unlikely to continue in Europe with European stock futures indicating a lower open. Eurostoxx 50 futures were down 0.07%, German DAX futures up 0.01% and FTSE futures down 0.04%. "It's clearly dominated by a relief rally rather than any inflation angst," said Robert Carnell, regional head of research, Asia Pacific at ING. There were worries that stronger-than-expected data might lead the Fed to go for jumbo-sized hikes to battle inflation. Chinese shares gained with Shanghai Composite Index (.SSEC) 0.46% higher, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng index (.HSI) up 1.75%1.4%.

☆ Asian shares gain as fears about rapid Fed hikes, bank crisis fade
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-15 | by ( Ankur Banerjee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Investors piled back into stocks in U.S. markets overnight as fears about contagion in the banking sector following the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) last week eased. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 index (.AXJO) rose 0.33% in early trading, while Japan's Nikkei (.N225) was mostly flat. Chinese shares (.SSEC) were 0.46% higher, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng index (.HSI) rose 1.4%. U.S. Treasury yields extended gains into Asian hours after sharp declines at the start of the week. U.S. crude rose 1.07% to $72.09 per barrel and Brent was at $78.16, up 0.92% on the day.

☆ Asian bank stocks sink as Credit Suisse fear roils markets
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-15 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN —Banking stocks in Asia fell on Thursday, dragging the broader markets lower, as troubles at Credit Suisse sparked fears that banking turmoil is spreading around the world. The lender said it would borrow up to 50 billion Swiss Francs ($53.7 billion) from the Swiss National Bank. In Hong Kong, Standard Chartered (SCBFF) sank nearly 4%. Local bank BOC Hong Kong was down 3.1%. The bank failures had already forced US regulators to take emergency measures on Sunday to protect deposits at both lenders: Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank.

☆ Asian markets tumble as SVB fears rattle banking sector
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Investors are now on edge over whether the demise of SVB could spark a broader banking sector meltdown. On Monday, US stocks were mixed, with banking shares taking a hit. In Hong Kong, shares in Bank of China (Hong Kong) and Hang Seng Bank fell 3.7% and 1.3% respectively. Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group and Mizuho Financial Group both dropped more than 7%. In Seoul, KB Financial Group and Shinhan Financial Group fell 3.6% and 2.5% respectively.

☆ US futures and Asia Pacific stocks react to SVB recovery efforts
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-13 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

On Sunday, the Biden administration promised that customers of the failed Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and Signature Bank would have access to all their money starting Monday. In a joint statement, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Chairman Martin J. Gruenberg said the FDIC will make SVB and Signature Bank’s customers whole. In a related action, the government shut down Signature Bank, a regional bank that was teetering on the brink of collapse in recent days. “Cross-asset traders of all stripes are heaving a sigh of relief as bank runs have a tendency to catch on globally,” he told CNN. Bank shares in Asia were under pressure Monday, following a heavy rout for their US and European counterparts late last week.

☆ SVB collapse could add to China stock investors' anxiety
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-12 | by ( Summer Zhen | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

SHANGHAI, March 12 (Reuters) - China stock investors, already disillusioned by Beijing's lower-than-expected economic growth target for the year, will be further disheartened by the shock collapse of U.S. lender SVB Financial Group, market participants said. The market mood could be damped further following Friday's sudden collapse of start-up focused lender SVB (SIVB.O), which stirred heated discussion over the weekend in China about its fallout. But many Chinese tech start-ups, especially those with dollar funding, have opened U.S. accounts at SVB. He is cautious about tech stocks that could be impacted by US-China frictions. Still, domestic A-shares will likely outperform offshore China stocks, which are more vulnerable to potential spillover from the SVB collapse, analysts say.

☆ Chip equipment maker ASMPT draws takeover interest - Bloomberg News
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

March 10 (Reuters) - Semiconductor and electronics equipment maker ASMPT Ltd (0522.HK) is attracting takeover interest from private-equity companies, Bloomberg News reported on Friday, citing people with knowledge of the matter. ASMPT did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment, while PAG declined to comment. Shares of the equipment maker rose as much as 5.2%, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng benchmark (.HSI) dropped 3.2%. The market capitalization of ASMPT stood at nearly 30.5 billion Hong Kong dollars ($3.89 billion), as of Friday. ($1 = 7.8496 Hong Kong dollars)Reporting by Anirudh Saligrama in Bengaluru; Editing by Sherry Jacob-PhillipsOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Asian shares stutter, dollar buoyant as data supports hawkish Powell
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( Stella Qiu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) eased 0.2% on Thursday, extending a drop of 1.4% the previous session. S&P 500 futures eased 0.1% and Nasdaq futures were off 0.3%Inflation data out of China showed on Thursday that domestic demand still remained tepid. The U.S. dollar index, measuring the greenback's value against a basket of major peers, hovered close to a three-month top at 105.6. The central bank on Wednesday left its key overnight interest rate on hold, becoming the first major central bank to suspend its monetary tightening campaign. On Thursday, the two-year Treasury yields held close to its 15 year highs at 5.0553%, while the benchmark 10-year yields were steady at 3.9775%.

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