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☆ Hong Kong stocks off to best start since 2018 on China recovery hopes
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( Jihye Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Shoppers walk through a street market in Hong Kong, China, on Sunday, Jan. 30, 2022. Photographer: Chan Long Hei/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesHong Kong stocks kicked off 2023 with the most gains they've seen in the first trading session of a year since 2018. The Hang Seng index on Tuesday gained 1.84%, or 363.88 points — its biggest first-day gain since January 2018, when the index rose nearly 2%. That signaled an improved outlook as China continues to reopen despite a nationwide surge in Covid infections. "In addition to the reopening, China has intensified its effort to support the distressed property sector and given property developers access to credits and equity financing which had been denied to them for the most part of 2022," Wong wrote.

☆ Reaction to China relaxing COVID restrictions in major policy shift
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

REDMOND WONG, GREATER CHINA MARKET STRATEGIST, SAXO MARKETS, HONG KONG"The 10 new measures are underwhelming, given the high expectations. GARY NG, ECONOMIST, NATIXIS, HONG KONG"The latest announcements show China is determined to speed up its reopening due to economic pressure. It is likely to see upswings cyclically in business sentiment from suppressed demand, especially in sectors heavily affected by the covid restrictions. "The next checkpoint will be Chinese New Year; I think markets are looking for further relaxation to facilitate return to their hometowns by Chinese New Year." SAKTIANDI SUPAAT, REGIONAL HEAD OF FX RESEARCH & STRATEGY, MAYBANK, SINGAPORE"I think markets have, in some ways, priced in that element (of further easing).

Billionaire money manager Bill Ackman went public last week with his wager that the days of the Hong Kong dollar's 39-year-old peg to the U.S. dollar are numbered. "For me, the Hong Kong dollar peg is like a delayed, or lagging bet against China," said Diego Parrilla, who runs Quadriga Igneo, a $240 million fund designed to profit from market turmoil. The Hong Kong dollar has been pegged in a tight band between 7.75 and 7.85 per greenback for nearly four decades. In the short-term, the market is moving against this style of trade as local interest rates and the Hong Kong dollar go up. "The far forwards market still prices in higher U.S. rates than Hong Kong rates," said Mukesh Dave, founder and CIO at Aravali Asset Management in Singapore, which in theory ought to contain gains in the Hong Kong dollar.

☆ World stocks in upbeat spirits, Fed's Powell in the spotlight
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Dhara Ranasinghe | Foo Yun Chee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/2] The German share price index DAX graph is pictured at the stock exchange in Frankfurt, Germany, November 29, 2022. REUTERS/StaffLONDON, Nov 30 (Reuters) - World equity markets rallied on Wednesday and focus turned to Jerome Powell, who speaks later in the day in what will be the U.S. Federal Reserve chief's last opportunity to steer sentiment ahead of the Fed's December meeting. European stock markets rallied (.STOXX) and U.S. equity futures pointed to a firm start for Wall Street , . MSCI's broadest gauge of Asia Pacific stocks outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) rallied more than 1% to its highest since September. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index rallied more than 2% (.HSI), although Japan's blue-chip Nikkei fell 0.2% (.N225).

☆ Asia stocks rebound despite disappointing China data
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Kane Wu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

MSCI's broadest gauge of Asia Pacific stocks outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) reversed morning losses to gain 0.67%. "Despite the surge in cases and recent protests, China has not hardened its COVID approach and is continuing to fine-tune its policy, which is encouraging to investors." "Headlines from China regarding COVID restrictions and protests are causing jitters among investors. A series of U.S. data concerning manufacturing, inflation and jobs will also be released this week. Oil prices posted gains of more than 1% in Asian trade on Wednesday on falling U.S. crude inventories and a lower greenback, but concerns OPEC+ will leave output unchanged at its upcoming meeting and weak China data limited gains.

☆ Asia stocks choppy as investors cautious after disappointing China data
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Kane Wu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

HONG KONG, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Asian shares wobbled on Wednesday as investors remain cautious about China's path to reopening its economy after it released disappointing manufacturing data, with China and Hong Kong stocks wiping out strong gains from the previous day. MSCI's gauge of Asia Pacific stocks outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) was up 0.02% at 0201 GMT, paring earlier losses. The losses in Hong Kong and China reversed positive sentiment from Tuesday, when Chinese officials said the country would speed up COVID-19 vaccinations for elderly people. "Headlines from China regarding COVID restrictions and protests are causing jitters among investors. A series of U.S. data concerning manufacturing, inflation and jobs will also be released this week.

☆ Asian shares recover but concerns over China may resume strict COVID curbs linger
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( Selena Li | Kirsty Needham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

HONG KONG, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Asian stock markets mostly recouped early losses on Tuesday, supported by improved sentiment for China shares, but concerns lingered that Beijing may reimpose strict COVID curbs that could cause supply chain disruptions. The biggest driver for the recovery was China, with its benchmark up 0.43%. Losses on Hong Kong's benchmark index (.HSI) narrowed to 0.7%. Gains in China were capped by worsening COVID-19 situation in the country, however. Japan's benchmark Nikkei average (.N225) rose 0.69%, as the yen's weakness against the dollar raised prospects for domestic manufacturers.

☆ Asian shares mostly down on concerns China may resume strict COVID curbs
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( Selena Li | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Thomas PeterHONG KONG, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Asian shares were on the defensive on Tuesday as a COVID-19 resurgence in China increased concerns that Beijing may reimpose strict pandemic curbs and that further restrictions could cause supply chain disruptions. The dollar pulled back from strong overnight gains on Tuesday while oil took a pause from Monday's retreat. Japan's benchmark Nikkei average (.N225) opened up 0.78%, while Australian shares (.AXJO) rose 0.55%. "China's Covid situation is really in the front row for Asia trading," said Redmond Wong, market strategist for Greater China at Saxo Markets in Hong Kong. Beijing warned on Monday that it was facing its most severe test of the pandemic, fuelling investor concerns that China may be forced to resume strict mobility curbs and give stay and home orders across cities.

HONG KONG, Nov 8 (Reuters) - Asian shares rose on Tuesday as U.S. stocks increased overnight before midterm elections and investors clung on to hopes that China would eventually relax its strict pandemic curbs even after the government reaffirmed its commitment to the zero-COVID policy. Wall Street ended sharply higher Monday as investors focused on Tuesday's midterm elections that will determine control of Congress, while shares of Meta Platforms jumped on a report of job cuts at the Facebook parent. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index (.HSI) and China's benchmark CSI300 Index (.CSI300) were up 0.3% and 0.14%, respectively. Investors are hoping China will gradually ease its zero-COVID policy and reopen to the world, even after health officials reiterated their commitment to the policy on Saturday at a press conference. Analysts said U.S. mid-term elections on Tuesday could impact markets.

☆ Asian stocks mixed as caution reigns ahead of U.S. midterms
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( Kane Wu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

MSCI's gauge of Asia Pacific stocks outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) narrowed gains to rise 0.12% at 0517 GMT. "The thing to watch ... will be the U.S. midterms today and the CPI data tomorrow," said Redmond Wong, Saxo Markets' market strategist for Greater China, in a note on Tuesday. Japan's Nikkei 225 (.N225) gained as much as 1.44%, hitting an eight-week high, as investors scooped up chips and other technology stocks. Analysts said U.S. mid-term elections on Tuesday could impact markets. Brent crude fell 0.32% to $97.61 a barrel by 0526 GMT, while U.S. crude fell 0.38% to $91.44 a barrel.

☆ China's Xi to open 20th Communist Party Congress
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Visitors walk past a screen showing Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Museum of the Communist Party of China in Beijing, China October 13, 2022. REUTERS/Florence LoBEIJING, Oct 16 (Reuters) - Chinese President Xi Jinping is to open the 20th Communist Party Congress on Sunday, a week-long event where he is widely expected to win a third leadership term and cement his place as the country's most powerful ruler since Mao Zedong. REVOLUTIONARY'S SONThe son of a Communist Party revolutionary, Xi has reinvigorated a party that had grown deeply corrupt and increasingly irrelevant, expanding its presence across all aspects of China, with Xi officially its "core". The twice-a-decade congress is expected to reconfirm Xi as party general secretary, China's most powerful post, as well as chairman of the Central Military Commission. The day after the congress ends on Saturday, Xi is expected to introduce his new Politburo Standing Committee, a seven-person leadership team.

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