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☆ China reaffirms zero-COVID stance, city of Guangzhou on edge
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( Tony Munroe | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/3] A boy gets tested for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at a nucleic acid testing site, following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Shanghai, China, November 9, 2022. "As things stand, it is hard to tell whether Guangzhou will repeat the experience of Shanghai in spring this year. If Guangzhou repeats what Shanghai did in spring, it will lead to a new round of pessimism on China," Nomura analysts wrote in a Thursday note. Mason Long, who works for a Guangzhou gaming company, said some residents were bracing for a lockdown, with many leaving the city or planning to. BE MORE TARGETEDIn Beijing, residents of some areas have been asked to get COVID tests every day this week.

☆ Chinese property stocks soar on fresh regulatory support
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-09 | by ( Xie Yu | Clare Jim | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

HONG KONG (Reuters) -Chinese property developers’ share prices surged on Wednesday after regulators expanded a financing programme aimed at supporting bond issuance in the crisis-ridden sector. REUTERS/Aly SongCIFI Holdings (Group) Co Ltd soared 40% while Country Garden Holdings Co Ltd surged 23%. The National Association of Financial Market Institutional Investors late on Tuesday said it will widen a programme to support about 250 billion yuan ($34.5 billion) worth of debt sales by private firms, including property developers. The move comes as cash-strapped property developers struggle to tap sources of funding to finish projects and pay suppliers. Still, there will likely be more defaults given weak recovery in property sales, Chen said.

The comments marked the first time the two nations have been lumped into the list of major emitters that island states say should be held to account for damage already being wrought by global warming. "We all know that the People's Republic of China, India - they're major polluters, and the polluter must pay," Browne said. To date, climate vulnerable countries have called on historical emitters like the United States, United Kingdom and the EU to pay climate reparations. China itself has previously supported the creation of a loss and damage fund but has not said it should pay into it. The EU and United States have said that China, the world's biggest greenhouse gas emitter, should pay.

☆ Bosch agrees to pay $25 mln to settle California diesel emissions probe
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] A Bosch company sign is seen at the Appliance and Electronics World Expo (AWE) in Shanghai, China March 23, 2021. REUTERS/Aly SongNov 7 (Reuters) - German auto supplier Bosch (BOSH.NS) has agreed pay $25 million to resolve California's probe into the company's role in the diesel emissions scandals at Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) and Fiat Chrysler (STLA.MI), state Attorney General Rob Bonta said on Monday. The settlement, which is subject to court approval, resolves allegations Bosch participated in misconduct by "providing hardware, software, and software programming or calibration services to Volkswagen and Fiat Chrysler when it knew or should have known that these auto manufacturers were violating environmental and consumer protection laws," Bonta said. Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Leslie AdlerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

REUTERS/Aly SongBEIJING/TOKYO, Nov 7 (Reuters) - Nissan Motor Co's (7201.T) concerns about technology transfers have complicated its partner Renault's (RENA.PA) plans to sell a large stake in its gasoline-engine business to China's Geely (0175.HK), three people familiar with the talks said. Nissan's concerns about technology rights have also been one reason why it has yet to reach a preliminary agreement to invest in Ampere. Renault has a 43% stake in Nissan while the Japanese automaker has a 15% non-voting stake in Renault. People with knowledge of the talks have said the two sides have been discussing a reduction in Renault's stake in Nissan, potentially to 15%. Uchida also said Nissan wanted to see a “fair treatment” of its interests in any new partnership Renault strikes with Geely.

☆ Long Covid: Paxlovid reduces risk of long Covid, Veterans Affairs study finds
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-06 | by ( Jamie Gumbrecht | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Paxlovid, the antiviral pill that reduces the risk of hospitalization and death from Covid-19, also reduces the risk of long Covid, according to a new study by researchers at the US Department of Veterans Affairs. That corresponded to 2.3 fewer cases of long Covid conditions per 100 people three months after their diagnosis. In the analysis, there wasn’t a statistically significant link between taking Paxlovid and risk of two long Covid conditions: cough and new diabetes diagnosis. The analysis captured Paxlovid use only through the VA system and considered only 12 long Covid conditions, although many people with long Covid describe a wide variety of symptoms. The National Institutes of Health said last month it would launch a study of Paxlovid as a treatment for patients already experiencing long Covid.

☆ PineBridge, Man Group bet on China as reopening hopes fuel markets
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-04 | by ( Joice Alves | Karin Strohecker | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

LONDON (Reuters) -Asset manager PineBridge Investments’ multi asset team has sharply raised its China equity exposure and rival Man Group expects to expand its presence in the country with expectations that strict COVID rules will be eased. “Europe is going into recession now, the U.S., maybe, sometime next year, but China’s already had a recession ... The next leg is up for Chinese equities, it’s a question of when, and the main driver would be the reopening,” Redha said. China’s economy rebounded faster than anticipated in the third quarter though the revival was challenged by COVID-19 curbs, a prolonged property slump and global recession risks. However, a foreign ministry spokesman later said he was not aware of the report, calling China’s COVID policies consistent and clear.

☆ China vows commitment to growth as investors bet on easier COVID policy
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Even though case numbers are rising and disruptive lockdowns continue with no clear exit strategy in sight, investors latched on to hope that China may ease its strict COVID policy in the coming months. Renewed COVID lockdowns are weighing heavily on China's business activity and consumer confidence. read moreOPEN-DOOR POLICYYi Gang, governor of the People's Bank of China (PBOC), said China will continue to deregulate its markets. While other countries have been tightening policy to battle rising prices, China has implemented an accommodative monetary policy to shore up sputtering growth, raising concerns about capital flight. With China's zero-COVID policy expected to remain in place through at least the winter, or longer, its near-term growth outlook is bleak.

☆ China vows commitment to growth as pressure on economy mounts
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Renewed COVID lockdowns are weighing heavily on China's business activity, consumer confidence and financial markets, adding to a sharp downdraft on the global economy from surging inflation and rising interest rates. OPEN-DOOR POLICYYi Gang, governor of the People's Bank of China (PBOC), said China will continue to deregulate its markets. With China's zero-COVID policy expected to remain in place through at least the winter, or longer, its near-term growth outlook is bleak. After surprisingly high gross domestic product growth of 3.9% in the third quarter, Nomura expects growth to drop again, with zero or even negative sequential growth from the previous quarter. "We maintain our GDP growth forecast of 2.8% year-on-year for the fourth quarter with a corresponding sequential growth forecast at 0.0%."

☆ Geely's Zeekr plans electric vehicle sales in Europe in 2023
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A Zeekr 001 electric vehicle (EV) by Geely is seen displayed at the Zeekr booth during a media day for the Auto Shanghai show in Shanghai, China April 19, 2021. REUTERS/Aly Song/File PhotoSHANGHAI, Nov 2 (Reuters) - Zhejiang Geely Holding Group's (GEELY.UL) premium electric car business plans to sell the first electric vehicle produced under the Zeekr brand in Europe next year, Zeekr's CEO said. Zeekr joins a growing list of Chinese automakers looking to launch or expand sales of electric vehicles in Europe next year, including BYD (002594.SZ), Xpeng (9868.HK) and Great Wall Motors (601633.SS). An said Geely would market its 001 electric crossover in Europe next year. The base model Zeekr 001 sells for the equivalent of $41,000 in China compared with $40,000 for the Tesla (TSLA.O) Model Y after a recent price cut.

☆ Prosus & Naspers deny report they are in talks to sell Tencent stake
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Aly SongAMSTERDAM, Nov 1 (Reuters) - Technology investment firm Prosus NV (PRX.AS) and its South African parent Naspers (NPNJn.J) on Tuesday rejected as "untrue" a report that they are in talks to sell their large stake in Chinese software and gaming giant Tencent (0700.HK). In a pre-market statement, Amsterdam-based Prosus said an article in Asian Tech Press citing unnamed sources saying that Naspers was in talks with a group of investors led by CITIC of China to sell its entire Tencent stake was "speculative and untrue". Prosus holds a 28% stake in Tencent worth $70 billion at current prices. It has said it intends to sell the stake down gradually to fund a share repurchase program. "The Naspers Board and Prosus Board reiterate their continued confidence in Tencent's long term prospects and continue to believe that the share repurchase programme is in the best interests of Prosus, Naspers and their respective shareholders," they said in a statement.

☆ IMF cuts Asia's economic forecasts as China's slowdown bites
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( Leika Kihara | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"Asia's strong economic rebound early this year is losing momentum, with a weaker-than expected second quarter," said Krishna Srinivasan, director of the IMF's Asia and Pacific Department. "Further tightening of monetary policy will be required to ensure that inflation returns to target and inflation expectations remain well anchored." The IMF cut Asia's growth forecast to 4.0% this year and 4.3% next year, down 0.9% point and 0.8 point from April, respectively. Among the biggest headwinds is China's rapid and broad-based economic slowdown blamed on strict COVID-19 lockdowns and its worsening property woes, the IMF said. The IMF expects China's growth to slow to 3.2% this year, a 1.2-point downgrade from its April projection, after an 8.1% rise in 2021.

☆ China equity selloff not on fundamentals, creates opportunity - JPM
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A men wearing a mask walk at the Shanghai Stock Exchange building at the Pudong financial district in Shanghai, China, as the country is hit by an outbreak of a new coronavirus, February 3, 2020. REUTERS/Aly SongOct 24 (Reuters) - Monday's selloff in Chinese equities does not correspond with fundamentals and creates an opportunity for investors, analysts at JPMorgan said on Monday. "We believe this is a good opportunity to add given an expected growth recovery, gradual COVID reopening, and monetary and fiscal stimulus," wrote the bank's analysts in a strategy note, adding that growth data in China was a positive surprise over the weekend. Hong Kong stocks (.HSI) fell 6.4% on Monday while a Shanghai index (.SSEC) dropped 2% after Xi Jinping's newly unveiled leadership team heightened fears that economic growth will be sacrificed for ideology-driven policies. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Rodrigo CamposOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

On a quarterly basis, GDP rose 3.9% versus a revised drop of 2.7% in April-June and an expected 3.5% rise. 1/9 Workers work at a construction site, following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Shanghai, China, October 14, 2022. A Reuters poll forecast China's growth to slow to 3.2% in 2022, far below the official target of around 5.5%, marking one of the worst performances in almost half a century. Retail sales grew 2.5%, missing forecasts for a 3.3% increase and easing from August's 5.4% pace, underlining still fragile domestic demand. "On the policy front, the overall policy will remain supportive," said Hao Zhou, chief economist at Guotai Junan International.

Workers work at a construction site, following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Shanghai, China, October 14, 2022. On a quarterly basis, GDP rose 3.9% in the third quarter, versus a revised drop of 2.7% in April-June and an expected 3.5% rise. The data was originally scheduled for release on Oct. 18 but was delayed amid the key Communist Party Congress last week. New bank lending in China nearly doubled in September from the previous month and far exceeded expectations, helped by central bank efforts to revive the economy. "On the policy front, the overall policy will remain supportive," said Hao Zhou, chief economist at Guotai Junan International.

An advertisement promoting Alibaba's Singles' Day shopping festival is pictured, following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Shanghai, China, October 22, 2022. Sweaty Betty China Vice President Lexie Morris told Reuters the active-wear brand would use only "one or two" livestream hosts this Singles Day season and that it was starting to work with much smaller and more sports-focused livestreamers. Analysts expect to see another year of slowing sales overall this Singles Day, dampened by a slowing economy and China's zero-COVID-19 policy. In June, Alibaba rival JD.com Inc (9618.HK) also recorded its slowest-ever sales growth for 618, China's second-largest shopping festival after Singles Day. "Instead of a traffic-driven model, Taobao Live helps merchants grow their businesses sustainably," it said.

☆ China Q3 GDP growth rebounds at faster pace but risks loom
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

People walk by office towers in the Lujiazui financial district of Shanghai, China October 17, 2022. Gross domestic product (GDP) in the world's second-biggest economy rose 3.9% in the July-September quarter year-on-year, official data showed on Monday, above the 3.4% pace forecast in a Reuters poll of analysts, and quickening from the 0.4% pace in the second quarter. A Reuters poll forecast China's growth to slow to 3.2% in 2022, far below the official target of around 5.5%, marking one of the worst performances in almost half a century. On a quarterly basis, GDP rose 3.9% in the third quarter, versus a forecast 3.5% gain and a 2.6% decline in the previous quarter. But retail sales remained weak, rising 2.5%, worse than expectations for 3.3% rise and 5.4% growth in August.

☆ China property stocks rise after easing of share financing rules
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Aly SongSHANGHAI, Oct 21 (Reuters) - China's property shares jumped on Friday after state media said authorities will ease share financing rules for certain real estate-related firms, fuelling hopes of more measures to aid the struggling sector. The China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) will allow certain companies with small property interests to raise money by selling A-shares, but the proceeds cannot be invested in the real estate business, China Securities Journal reported. For eligible companies, real estate must not be their core business, and should not contribute more than 10% of their profit, according to the article. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterChina has barred its property firms or property-related firms from financing via the domestic A-share market since end-2018, including both IPOs and additional or follow-up share sales. "The move aims to better support real financing for firms and stabilise the broader economy," said Liu Shui, an analyst at China Index Academy.

☆ China delays release of key economic data amid party congress
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The highly unusual delay comes amid the week-long congress of the ruling Communist Party, a twice-a-decade event that is an especially sensitive time in China. He said the delay was unlikely to affect market sentiment as most preliminary economic data pointed to a pick-up in recovery in the third quarter. The delays followed the unexplained delay in the release of September's trade data by the General Administration of Customs, which had been due out on Friday. The trade data was not released on Monday and calls to the customs administration seeking comment went unanswered. At the last party congress, in 2017, third quarter GDP data was released as usual.

☆ China delays release of economic indicators including Q3 GDP
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Aly SongBEIJING, Oct 17 (Reuters) - China will delay the release of economic indicators originally scheduled for publication this week, including the country's third-quarter gross domestic product due on Tuesday, according to an updated calendar on the statistics bureau's website. The data for third-quarter GDP - originally scheduled for release at 10:00 a.m. local time (0200 GMT) on Tuesday - had been highly anticipated after the world's second-largest economy grew just 0.4% in the second quarter from a year earlier. The delays announced on Monday followed an unexplained move by the General Administration of Customs on Friday to skip its previously scheduled release of September's trade data. The trade statistics had been expected to show China's export growth weakened further from August, dragged down by soft global demand, while its imports remained tepid. The trade data was still not released on Monday and calls to the customs administration seeking comment went unanswered.

Passengers help a baby wear a mask at the Shanghai railway station in China, as the country is hit by an outbreak of the novel coronavirus, February 9, 2020. REUTERS/Aly SongBEIJING, Oct 16 (Reuters) - China will enact policies to boost its birth rate, President Xi Jinping said on Sunday, as policymakers worry that an imminent decline in China's population could hurt the world's second-biggest economy. "We will establish a policy system to boost birth rates and pursue a proactive national strategy in response to population ageing," Xi told some 2,300 delegates in a speech opening the once-in-five-year Communist Party Congress in Beijing. Its fertility rate of 1.16 in 2021 was below the 2.1 OECD standard for a stable population and among the lowest in the world. Still, the desire among Chinese women to have children is the lowest in the world, a survey published in February by think-tank YuWa Population Research showed.

LOS ANGELES — A man was killed and 12 other people were injured after a car crashed into a food stand Friday night, officials said. Aerial helicopter footage from NBC Los Angeles showed the sedan crashed into what appeared to be a cooking stove on the sidewalk. In addition to the person who died, 12 other people were injured, three of whom were in critical condition, Los Angeles County Fire Department spokesman Craig Little said. The crash happened near the intersection of West Holt Ave and Dudley Street. The driver was going east and went into opposite lanes of traffic before crashing into the food stand, Mejia said.

Then came the pandemic and a property crisis, and with them, clear evidence of the limits of the debt-fuelled, investment-driven model that had propelled China's economy and businesses like Shores'. "If there is no investment, consumption will be like a tree without roots," said Jia, who previously led a finance ministry think tank. Many uncertainties hang over China's economy: the zero-COVID policy, a crackdown on tech and other industries, geopolitical tensions and rising borrowing costs in export markets. China is widely expected to miss this year's 5.5% GDP growth target and Natixis estimates growth may not even top 3% a year into Xi's next mandate. Oxford Economics expects average annual GDP growth this decade to halve from the 1999-2019 average to 4.5% and slow to 3% in the decade after.

☆ China reports 1,456 new COVID cases for Oct 13 vs 1,624 a day earlier
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Aly SongSHANGHAI, Oct 14 (Reuters) - China reported 1,456 new COVID-19 infections for Oct. 13, of which 313 were symptomatic and 1,143 were asymptomatic, the National Health Commission said on Friday. That compared with 1,624 new cases a day earlier - 372 symptomatic and 1,252 asymptomatic, which China counts separately. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterAs of Oct. 13, mainland China had confirmed 255,168 cases with symptoms. Capital city Beijing reported 16 symptomatic cases and eight asymptomatic cases, compared with 12 symptomatic and six asymptomatic the previous day. Financial hub Shanghai reported 47 asymptomatic cases and two symptomatic cases, compared with 44 asymptomatic and three symptomatic a day before.

But she said the current priorities for global economic officials were controlling inflation, improving fiscal policy after massive spending early in the pandemic, and finding ways to buffer developing countries against the global rise in interest rates. How do we build fiscal space given that we've used up so much" fighting the initial shock of the pandemic? Studies have begun documenting a potentially permanent blow to labor supply from the pandemic. In the United Kingdom, long-term illness has sidelined more than 377,000 people since the start of the pandemic, about 1% of the labor force. It may be only the beginning of understanding what the pandemic has meant and how the world may need to prepare for the next shock.

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