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☆ China steps up support for private sector to boost Covid-hit economy
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-19 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Hong Kong CNN —Beijing has vowed to go all out next year to save its Covid-hit economy by boosting consumption and loosening control over private industry, including the struggling tech and property sectors. Covid infections are surging in China after leaders unexpectedly eased its restrictive Covid policy earlier this month. Stabilizing economic growth is the top priority for 2023, according to an official readout following the conclusion of the Central Economic Work Conference (CEWC), a key annual meeting of top leaders, which ended Friday. “We need to encourage and support the private sector economy and private enterprise in terms of policy and public opinion,” the statement said. A shopping mall is decorated with rabbit stickers to welcome the Lunar New Year, the Year of the Rabbit, on December 10, 2022 in Beijing, China.

☆ Intrepid bankers will find Boutique Blvd jam-packed
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-19 | by ( Jeffrey Goldfarb | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The situation complicates things for rainmakers considering their next steps in a weaker environment for mergers and acquisitions. Making the well-trod move from Wall Street to Boutique Boulevard will be much harder in 2023. The entrepreneurial spirit often hits investment bankers when times get tough, and their mega-bank employers start cutting staff or restricting access to the balance sheet. It's easy to see how the likes of Blair Effron’s Centerview, Robey Warshaw and Ken Moelis’ eponymous firm established themselves. Absent those kinds of industry-specific or geographic relationships, idle investment bankers may find themselves just spending more time with their families.

HONG KONG, Nov 28 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Protests across China underscore a rising fear among people that President Xi Jinping’s stringent pandemic restrictions may be here to stay. Still, new daily cases hit over 40,000 on Nov. 27. Cities accounting for 65% of the country's GDP are under some sort of lockdown as of Friday, per Goldman Sachs analysts. Any end to the near-daily mandatory Covid tests and strict quarantine rules will be bumpy due to a huge unvaccinated population. As of November, about 27 million citizens aged 60 and above have not been jabbed against Covid, Breakingviews calculated from official data, and another 36 million elderly people have yet to receive their second dose.

☆ China’s sudden ‘reopening’ reveals new challenges as infections soar
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-16 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Yuxuan Zhang | Afp | Getty ImagesBEIJING — Mainland China's swift rollback of many Covid-related restrictions has been unexpectedly sudden, revealing a new set of economic challenges. “Surging Covid infections may offset the positive impact of the easing in the near term." "The rapid surge of infections in big cities might be only the beginning of a massive wave of Covid infections," the analysts said. Get through winter firstSocial activity remains subdued amid the surge of infections and below-freezing weather in northern cities. Management at Chinese travel booking site Trip.com were also reserved in how soon domestic travel would rebound.

☆ Thailand will be a stand-out country in 2023, says economist
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-16 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailThailand will be a stand-out country in 2023, says economistEuben Paracuelles of Nomura says Thailand's current account deficit is going to "turn around very sharply" next year, as China's reopening will eventually bring back tourists to the Southeast Asian nation.

☆ China's November new home prices fall for fourth month
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SummarySummary Companies China's new home prices slump 1.6% y/y in NovChina's new home prices fall 0.2% m/m in NovBEIJING, Dec 15 (Reuters) - China's new home prices fell for a fourth month in November in monthly terms, weighed by a sluggish economy and a still-ailing property sector, official data showed on Thursday, but recent favourable policies and a relaxation in COVID curbs have burnished the outlook. New home prices in November fell 0.2% month-on-month after a 0.3% slide in October, according to Reuters calculations based on National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) data. Prices dropped 1.6% year-on-year, falling for the seventh straight month. Prices slid 1.6% year-on-year in October. China has rolled out a flurry of measures to support its embattled property sector, which has been squeezed by a liquidity crunch.

☆ To make cheap EVs work, automakers are replacing decades of know-how with a move from Tesla's playbook
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Alexa St. John | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Auto companies need EV battery supply more than ever, but the costs are adding up. Prices and a push to use local materials have carmakers investing in in-house battery supply. That means car companies are seeking an alternative and racing to secure their battery supply in the US. But the pandemic — and other disruptions, like natural disasters — shed a light on just how vulnerable that can also make auto companies. It's complicated and time-consuming, but may ultimately be the best way car companies can get closer to lowering the cost of new EVs.

☆ China's reopening from Covid won't be a straight path forward
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Hector Retamal | Afp | Getty ImagesBEIJING — As mainland China relaxes many of its stringent Covid controls, analysts point out the country is far from a quick return to a pre-pandemic situation. Mainland China's daily Covid infections, mostly asymptomatic, surged to a record high above 40,000 in late November. Looking ahead, it's pretty clear that China's Covid policy is about to cross a turning point, said Bruce Pang, chief economist and head of research for Greater China at JLL. That means there may be a surge in Covid infections, and China's policy will never go back, Pang said. Goldman Sachs analysts expect China's reopening — defined as a shift away from lockdowns — to come in the second quarter of 2023, according to a separate report on Wednesday.

"I know COVID is not so 'horrifying' now, but it is still contagious and will hurt," said one post on the Weibo platform. But, while announcing the implementation of the new measures late on Wednesday, some cities urged residents to remain vigilant. It urged residents to wear masks, maintain social distancing, seek medical attention for fever and other COVID symptoms and, especially for the elderly, to get vaccinated. "It (China) may have to pay for its procrastination on embracing a 'living with Covid' approach," Nomura analysts said in a note on Thursday. Infection rates in China are only around 0.13%, "far from the level needed for herd immunity", Nomura said.

☆ INDIA RUPEE Rupee eyes stronger opening on subdued dollar, oil prices
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( Anushka Trivedi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MUMBAI, Dec 8 (Reuters) - The Indian rupee was expected to open slightly stronger against the U.S. currency on Thursday, amid weaker oil prices and as the dollar dropped overnight on growth concerns in the world's top economy. The partially convertible rupee was seen around 82.30-82.35 per dollar in the opening trades, compared to its previous close of 82.47. Monitoring debt and equity inflows will be key, but the rupee could head towards 82.50-levels, the trader added. Several executives at top U.S. banks this week have warned about this possibility. Meanwhile, the Reserve Bank of India hiked the key repo rate by 35 basis points (bps) to 6.25% on Wednesday but sounded more hawkish than market expectations about fighting inflation.

[1/2] Banknotes of Chinese yuan and U.S. dollar are seen in this illustration picture taken September 29, 2022. Yet the euro was flat against the dollar at $1.048, after falling 0.2% in the previous session. In Asia, China's yuan firmed as the government announced measures that marked a sharp change to its tough, three-year-old zero-COVID policy that has battered its economy and sparked historic protests. "Anticipation of further easing of measures in China should continue to favour RMB (and) RMB-linked assets." "China's reopening will be bumpy in coming months and economic data will likely get worse before it gets better."

☆ India cenbank hikes key policy rate by 35 basis points
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

However, the pace of rate hikes is reducing from 50 bps to 35 bps, in line with expected global hikes." The market needs to keep a close watch on global rate hikes and sticky core inflation." "We expect RBI to go for another 25 bps hike in its next policy, with the terminal rate at 6.5%. ANUJ PURI, CHAIRMAN, ANAROCK GROUP, MUMBAI"The 35 bps rate hike by the RBI - the fifth consecutive rate hike this year - comes as no surprise. We see a possibility of another 25 bps rate hike before a prolonged pause."

☆ Reaction to China loosening COVID restrictions
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Here's what people are saying about the latest moves to ease China's COVID curbs;FRANK BENZIMRA, HEAD OF ASIA EQUITY STRATEGY, SOCIETE GENERALE, HONG KONG"MSCI China has rebounded nicely, valuations have risen and can very gradually normalise. "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." MITUL KOTECHA, HEAD OF EMERGING MARKETS STRATEGY, TD SECURITIES, SINGAPORE"These are significant steps, and the reality is the current policy had become very difficult to administer given how widespread COVID is in the country. SAKTIANDI SUPAAT, REGIONAL HEAD OF FX RESEARCH & STRATEGY, MAYBANK, SINGAPORE"I think markets have, in some ways, priced in that element (of further easing). I mean, it's better for China to deregulate its COVID restrictions but even if it's a booster for the Chinese economy and commodity prices, that will work negatively for a Fed pause because it tightens monetary conditions."

☆ Automakers like Ford and GM are scrambling to make EVs cheaper as battery prices rise for the first time in years
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Alexa St. John | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Battery prices have risen this year for the first time in a decade, according to BloombergNEF. A few potential solutionsFirst, auto manufacturers are working to establish battery supply in the US, as most American players have long relied on foreign supply chains. Establishing an EV battery supply chain can't be done overnight. And, any new EV battery mix comes with trade-offs. Because of the many challenges riddling the EV battery space, prospective car-buyers shouldn't expect automaker ideas to come to light in the form of lower EV prices quickly.

☆ 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).

REUTERS/Thomas PeterDec 6 (Reuters) - China's capital Beijing dropped the need for people to show negative COVID tests to enter supermarkets and offices on Tuesday, the latest in an easing of curbs across the country following last month's historic protests. "Beijing readies itself for life again" read a headline in the government-owned China Daily newspaper, adding that people were "gradually embracing" the slow return to normality. That has sparked optimism among investors for a broader reopening of the world's second biggest economy that could boost global growth. This marks the first decline in Nomura's closely-watched China COVID lockdown index since the start of October, nearly two months ago. Reporting by Ryan Woo and Bernard Orr in Beijing; Writing by John Geddie; Editing by Simon Cameron-MooreOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ China's Covid lockdowns are having a lessening impact on its economy
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

BEIJING — China's Covid lockdowns are having a lessening impact on the economy for the first time since early October, according to Nomura. Evelyn's lead: The negative impact of China's Covid controls on GDP has dropped for the first time since early October, according to a Nomura model. As of Monday, the negative impact of China's Covid controls on its economy fell to 19.3% of China's total GDP — down from 25.1% a week ago, Nomura's Chief China Economist Ting Lu and a team said in a report. Last week's 25.1% figure was higher than that seen during the two-month Shanghai lockdown in the spring, according to Nomura's model. In the last several days, local governments have relaxed some virus testing requirements, allowing people in cities such as Beijing and Zhengzhou to take public transportation without having to show proof of a negative test result.

Also last week, Sun Chunlan, China's top pandemic official, suggested the central government was rowing back on the zero-COVID policy. This is putting a fire under Chinese assets, and prompting many analysts to look on 2023 in a more positive light. Chinese stocks jumped 2% and Hong Kong stocks surged 4.5% on Monday, and the yuan rallied through the closely watched 7-per-dollar level. It has only posted three bigger daily rises since 2005, and two of them were in the last two months. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

☆ China's trade likely shrank further in Nov as external, local demand weakened
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SummarySummary Companies Trade data due on Wednesday, Dec 7BEIJING, Dec 5 (Reuters) - China's exports and imports likely contracted further in November due to weakening global demand, production disruptions and waning demand at home amid widespread pandemic controls, a Reuters poll showed on Monday. COVID outbreaks in November in manufacturing hubs, such as Zhengzhou and Guangzhou, likely also disrupted production and weighed on exports. Due to a high year-earlier base for comparison and sluggish domestic demand, economists estimated November imports had been down 6.0%. The median estimate in the poll indicated a narrower trade surplus of $78.1 billion, compared with $85.15 billion in October. Beijing has introduced a vaccination campaign for the elderly, and some local governments are relaxing lockdowns, quarantine rules and testing requirements.

☆ China services activity shrinks to 6-month lows - Caixin PMI
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The Caixin/S&P Global services purchasing managers' index (PMI) fell to 46.7 from 48.4, marking the third monthly contraction in a row. The figure echoed weak data in a larger official survey on Wednesday, which showed services activity fell to seven-month lows. "The market is in urgent need of policies to promote employment and stabilize domestic demand. Beijing should further coordinate fiscal and monetary policies to expand domestic demand and boost incomes of the poorer parts of the population," Wang added. The Caixin PMI is compiled by S&P Global from responses to questions sent to purchasing managers in China.

☆ Oil prices surge as OPEC maintains production cut targets and China's thawing Covid-zero stance sparks hope of demand recovery
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Crude oil futures jumped on Monday after OPEC said its oil policy will remain unchanged from October. Prices were also boosted by hopes that China's eyeing an exit from its Covid-zero stance. The production cut is equivalent to about 2% of the world's demand, and is the largest reduction since the outbreak of COVID-19. Back in October, OPEC+ had said that the decision was made "in light of the uncertainty that surrounds the global economic and oil market outlooks." OPEC's decision came two days after the European Union and the G7 agreed on a $60 a barrel price cap for Russian crude oil — a move that creates uncertainty in the oil markets.

☆ Morgan Stanley upgrades China stocks as global investors cheer on Covid reopening hopes
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Hong Kong CNN Business —Global traders are increasingly feeling more bullish on China, as they bet the country will gradually unwind Covid restrictions following widespread protests. Starting Monday, Shanghai residents will no longer require a negative Covid test result to enter outdoor venues including parks and scenic attractions. “Multiple positive developments alongside a clear path set towards reopening warrant an upgrade and index target increases for China,” its analysts said in a research note on Monday. MSCI China, an index tracking major Chinese stocks available to global investors, will hit the 70 level by the end of 2023, according to Morgan Stanley. The offshore yuan, a key gauge of how international investors think about China, strengthened sharply against the US dollar on Monday.

☆ Global investors cheer on China reopening hopes
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

☆ Archegos' Bill Hwang says prosecutor misconduct justifies indictment's dismissal
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-03 | by ( Jonathan Stempel | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NEW YORK, Dec 3 (Reuters) - Bill Hwang is seeking the dismissal of his U.S. fraud indictment over the collapse of his once-$36 billion Archegos Capital Management LP, saying prosecutors committed misconduct by sandbagging him when building their case. In a separate filing, Hwang and co-defendant Patrick Halligan, Archegos' former chief financial officer, said their indictment should be dismissed because Archegos' trading activity was "entirely lawful," using methods that are "clearly permitted by the existing regulatory structure." These discussions, the last occurring two days before Hwang's April 27 arrest, "revealed what has now become (as prosecutors doubtless knew it would) his defense strategy," Hwang's lawyers said. Hwang also wants U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein, who oversees the case, to hold a hearing to determine the extent of any taint. The case is U.S. v. Hwang et al, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No.

☆ We're expecting India's economic growth to slow next year, says Nomura economist
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWe're expecting India's economic growth to slow next year, says Nomura economistSonal Varma of Nomura says the country will probably be able to hit a growth rate of 7% this financial year but slow to around 4.7% in the next.

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