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☆ Hong Kong's new dual counter scheme 'solidifies' city's role as yuan trading hub, HKEX CEO says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-19 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

HONG KONG, CHINA - JUNE 05: A pedestrian walks by an electronic screen displaying the numbers for the Hang Seng Index on June 5, 2023 in Hong Kong, China. The dual counter model covers securities listed in both Hong Kong dollar and renminbi counters only. The Hong Kong Exchange said all shares of the same securities in the two different trading counters will be "fully interchangeable between counters." The HKEX CEO noted that the initial batch of 24 companies make up about 40% of the average daily trading volume in the Hong Kong. Not the first tryThis is not the first time that such a scheme is being introduced in Hong Kong.

Persons: Chen Yongnuo, Nicolas Aguzin, Aguzin Organizations: China News Service, Getty Images, Getty, Hong Kong, Companies, Baidu, Hong Kong Exchange, Hong Kong Exchanges, Investments, Connect, Stock, Stock Connect, Reuters, Bloomberg Locations: HONG KONG, CHINA, Hong Kong, China, renminbi

Asia-Pacific markets are set to trade higher on Monday, with Japan's markets set to continue reaching 33-year highs. The Nikkei 225 has posted weekly gains for the last 10 weeks, and is set to extend this with a strong open. The futures contract in Chicago stood at 33,810, and its counterpart in Osaka was at 33,700 against its last close at 33,706.08. In contrast, Hong Kong's Hang Seng index looks to start the week lower, after the index saw a strong rally last week. HSI futures stood at 19,988 compared to the HSI's close of 20,040.37.

Persons: Antony Blinken Organizations: Nikkei, U.S Locations: Asia, Pacific, Chicago, Osaka, Australia, Beijing, China

☆ ‘Like something out of Black Mirror’: Police robots go on patrol at Singapore airport
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-18 | by ( Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

These are the two robots the Singapore Police Force has introduced to patrol Changi Airport following more than five years of trials. The Singapore Police Force said Friday that more robots would be “progressively deployed” across the city-state. The Singapore Police Force has plans to roll out patrol robots island-wide to augment its operations. Ryan Quek/Singapore Police ForceThey are just the latest robots to be employed on civic duties in this tech-savvy nation of more than 5 million people. “ChatCPT… AI music… robots… Soon machines will take over the world and these security robots definitely look like they mean business,” he said.

Persons: ”, Lim Ke Wei, Ryan Quek, Samwell Swant, ” Swant, “ Organizations: CNN, Singapore Police Force, The Singapore Police Force Locations: Vietnam

☆ Asia markets headed for mixed open ahead of Bank of Japan rate decision
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Kazuo Ueda, governor of the Bank of Japan (BOJ), far right, speaks during an event at the central bank's headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, on Wednesday, May 31, 2023. Ueda said central banks need to be more careful about how they communicate with increase in their toolkits and advancements in monetary policy making. Photographer: Noriaki Sasaki/The Yomiuri Shimbun/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesAsia-Pacific markets are set for a mixed open Friday after the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite posted a sixth-straight day of gains and investors in the region look to the Bank of Japan's rate decision. In Australia, futures for the S&P/ASX 200 were at 7,167, slightly lower than the index's last close of 7,175. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index is set to extend its rally after gaining over 2% on Thursday, with futures at 19,951 compared with the HSI's close of 19,828.92.

Persons: Kazuo Ueda, Ueda, Noriaki Sasaki Organizations: Bank of Japan, Yomiuri Shimbun, Bloomberg, Getty Images, Nasdaq, Bank of, Bank of America, Nikkei Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Getty Images Asia, Pacific, Chicago, Osaka, Australia

Asia-Pacific markets are set to rise after the U.S. Federal Reserve held off on a rate hike while projecting that another two quarter percentage point moves are on the way before the end of the year. The latest decision left the Fed's key borrowing rate in a target range of 5%-5.25%.The central bank forecast it will raise interest rates as high as 5.6% before 2023 is over. In Asia, New Zealand fell into a technical recession after its first quarter gross domestic product fell 0.1% year on year, after reporting a revised 0.7% decline in the final quarter of 2022. Japan's May trade balance will be released later today as the Bank of Japan kicks off its two-day monetary policy meeting. China will release a slew of economic data, including industrial output, retail sales and house prices for May.

Persons: Hong Organizations: U.S . Federal Reserve, Nikkei, Bank of Japan Locations: Asia, Pacific, New Zealand, Japan, Chicago, Osaka, China

This gives room for the Federal Reserve to pause and skip a rate hike when they meet later this week. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 popped 1.05% on its open, inching closer to the Nikkei's all time high is just under 39,000 points in December 1989. In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 climbed 0.32%, while South Korea's Kospi slipped 0.22% and the Kosdaq traded close to the flatline. South Korea's unemployment rate came in at 2.5% for May, falling for the second straight month and lower than the 2.6% recorded in April. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index is also set for a strong open, with futures at 19,535 compared to the HSI's close of 19,521.42.

Persons: Ed JONES, ED JONES, Kospi, Hong Organizations: Getty Images, Federal Reserve, Nikkei Locations: Seoul, AFP, Asia, Pacific, U.S, Japan, Australia, South

☆ Toyota shares surge 5% after announcing plans for next-gen battery EVs
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

In this article 7203.T-JP Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNTA display of Toyota electrified vehicles at the 2022 New York Auto Show, April 13, 2022. Toyota has a goal of achieving sales of 1.5 million all-electric vehicles per year by 2026, and selling 3.5 million all-electric vehicles annually by 2030. Separately, the company is also developing a method for mass producing all-solid-state batteries for battery electric vehicles, and aims to commercialize this in 2027 to 2028. Toyota said it will be looking at a 20% improvement in cruising range for its all-solid-state batteries, compared to the current batteries. HEVs refer to hybrid electric vehicles, which are vehicles that are powered by a conventional internal combustion engine in combination with one or more electric motors.

Persons: Scott Mlyn, Koji Sato, Sato, Akio Toyoda Organizations: Toyota, York Auto Show, CNBC, Tesla, Nikkei

Asia-Pacific markets are set to largely rise on Tuesday ahead of the U.S. inflation report and Federal Reserve's two-day meeting later in the day – the central bank is widely expected to hold rates for the first time in 15 months while inflation's annual outlook marked a two-year low in the latest New York Fed survey. Japan's Nikkei 225 is set to reach new 2023-highs – its futures contract in Chicago is at 32,795, and its counterpart in Osaka at 32,644 against its last close at 32,434. Australian markets come back from a public holiday with futures for the S&P/ASX 200 at 7,123, just slightly higher than the index's last close of 7,122. However, Hong Kong's Hang Seng index is set to snap a four day winning streak, with futures at 19,358 compared to the HSI's close of 19,404.31.

Persons: Hong Organizations: Fed, Nikkei Locations: Asia, Pacific, Chicago, Osaka

Global central bank meetings will be under the spotlight this week, including the U.S. Federal Reserve, the Bank of Japan as well as the European Central Bank. Indonesia's consumer confidence, Malaysia's retail sales and India's industrial production and inflation rates will be published as well. Tuesday will be a market holiday in South Korea and Indonesia will publish its retail sales for the month of April. South Korea's import and export prices for May will be out on Wednesday alongside its unemployment rate. On Friday, Singapore's non-oil domestic exports for May will be published and the Bank of Japan will conclude its central bank meeting.

Persons: Singapore's, — Jihye Lee Organizations: U.S . Federal Reserve, Bank of Japan, European Central Bank, Federal, Market, Central Bank Locations: South Korea, Indonesia, U.S, China, New Zealand

A vegetables stall in the Haizhu area of Guangzhou, China, on Tuesday, May 9, 2023. China's consumer inflation slowed to the weakest pace in two years in April while producer prices fell deeper into deflation, reflecting muted domestic demand and softer commodity costs. Source: BloombergAsia-Pacific markets are set to rise after the S&P 500 hit a new high for 2023 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average saw a third straight day of gains. Asia investors will be watching for China's consumer price index for May, after the country saw its inflation rate sink to just 0.1% in April, it lowest point since November 2020. Producer prices, meanwhile, are expected to fall by 4.3% in May, according to a Reuters survey, which would mark the lowest since mid-2016.

Organizations: Bloomberg, Dow Jones Locations: Haizhu, Guangzhou, China, Bloomberg Asia, Pacific, U.S . Federal, Asia

☆ Tech leaders are calling for an A.I. pause because they have no product ready, Palantir CEO says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Palantir's boss Alex Karp opposes the idea of a pause in artificial intelligence research, in contrast to an open letter from the Future of Life Institute signed by some of the biggest names in the tech industry. The letter, which has garnered over 31,000 signatures including names like Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, called for a pause on AI research on models larger than GPT-4, which powers tools such as ChatGPT. The letter also said that if "such a pause cannot be enacted quickly, governments should step in and institute a moratorium." Speaking to BBC Radio in an interview broadcast Thursday, Karp said he is of the view that "many of the people asking for a pause, are asking for a pause because they have no product." To him, "studying this and allowing other people to win both on commercial areas and on the battlefield" is a really bad strategy.

Persons: Alex Karp, Elon Musk, Steve Wozniak, Karp Organizations: Life, Apple, BBC Radio

Cranes unload shipping containers from a vessel at the Port of Fremantle in Perth, Australia, on Monday, Aug. 26, 2013. Asia-Pacific markets are set to fall as Wall Street saw a pause in its market rally and the broad market index fluctuated near its highest closing levels since August 2022. China's exports fell further than than expected and Australia's central bank defied market expectations by delivering a 25 basis-point hike. South Korea's Kospi inched down 0.23% in early trade, while the Kosdaq saw a larger loss at 0.43%. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index is also set to fall after a brief rally on Wednesday, with futures at 19,116 compared to the HSI's close of 19,252.

Organizations: Port, Nikkei, Reuters, Bank of Locations: Fremantle, Perth, Australia, Asia, Pacific, Japan, Bank of India

Cargo ships stop at their berths to load and unload containers at the container terminal in Lianyungang Port, East China's Jiangsu province, June 5, 2023. In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.25%, ahead of Australia's first quarter GDP numbers. The country's economy is expected to expand 2.4% year-on-year, slightly slower than the 2.7% recorded in the fourth quarter of 2022. Japan stocks were higher, with the Nikkei 225 inching closer to the 33,000 level and rising 0.47%. South Korea's markets came back from a public holiday with a positive start, with the Kospi climbing 0.28% and the Kosdaq up by 0.6%.

Persons: Philip Lowe Organizations: Reserve Bank of Australia, Nikkei Locations: Lianyungang Port, East China's Jiangsu, Asia, Pacific, Australia, Australia's, Japan, South

☆ Australia's economy expands 2.3% in the first quarter, slowest growth in 1½ years
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Loop Images | Universal Images Group | Getty ImagesAustralia's first-quarter gross domestic product expanded by 2.3% year-on-year, just slightly below analyst expectations. "Private and public gross fixed capital formation were the main drivers of GDP growth this quarter," Keenan said. The GDP readings are key to the Reserve Bank of Australia's decision making process for its monetary policy. In this "narrow path" that Lowe envisions, Australia's inflation returns to its 2% to 3% target range, the economy continues to grow, and gains in the labor market are preserved. But it is a narrow path and likely to be a bumpy one, with risks on both sides," Lowe said.

Persons: Katherine Keenan, Keenan, Philip Lowe, Lowe, " Lowe Organizations: Getty, Reuters, Australia's Bureau, Statistics, lockdowns, Reserve Bank, Reserve Bank of Australia, Morgan Stanley Australia Summit Locations: Melbourne, Australia

A pedestrian and jogger pass the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) building, during a partial lockdown imposed due to the coronavirus, in Sydney, Australia, on Monday, May 18, 2020. Markets are "catching their breath after Friday's broad-based rally," said Ryan Detrick, chief market strategist at the Carson Group. "It's a very lackluster news day, which isn't a bad thing as we consolidate some of those big recent gains we've had." Australia's S&P/ASX 200 opened 0.35% down ahead of the country's central bank rate decision. The Reserve Bank of Australia is expected to hold rates at 3.85%, according to a Reuters poll.

Persons: Ryan Detrick, we've Organizations: Reserve Bank of Australia, Carson Group, Nikkei Locations: Sydney, Australia, Asia, Pacific, Japan, South

Asia-Pacific markets are set to rise after U.S. President Joe Biden signed into law a debt ceiling bill that allowed the U.S. to avert defaulting on its financial obligations over the weekend. The compromise debt ceiling bill passed the Senate by a 63-36 margin Thursday evening, winning enough support from both parties to overcome the chamber's 60-vote threshold to avoid a filibuster. The next level to watch for investors will be the 32,644 mark which would breach its highest since July 1990. Oil futures also surged as the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) kingpin Saudi Arabia's decision to cut oil production by another million barrels per day. Prices of Brent crude were 2.35% up at 77.94, while West Texas Intermediates was up 2.43% at 72.48.

Persons: Joe Biden, Brent Organizations: Nikkei, of, Petroleum, Saudi Locations: Asia, Pacific, Japan, Chicago, Osaka, West Texas

People are reflected in an electronic quotation board displaying the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average (top) as they cross a street in Tokyo on May 17, 2023. (Photo by Kazuhiro NOGI / AFP) (Photo by KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP via Getty Images)Asia-Pacific markets were mostly higher on Thursday ahead of a final vote on the bill to raise the U.S. debt ceiling after it passed a key procedural hurdle in the House overnight. Private surveys for factory activity data for China, Japan, South Korea as well as several Asean countries will be released later today. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 saw a 0.18% gain after it retreated from the 31,000 mark on Wednesday, with the Topix also up by 0.22%. HSI futures stood at the lowest the index has been since Nov 28, 2022.

Persons: Kazuhiro NOGI, KAZUHIRO NOGI, Australia's Organizations: Nikkei, Getty Images, Asean Locations: Tokyo, AFP, Asia, Pacific, China, Japan, South Korea

☆ Elon Musk’s visit underscores China's importance to global EV market, analysts say
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Xiaolu Chu | Getty Images News | Getty ImagesFrom handshakes with Chinese officials to visits to China's top ministries, Elon Musk's visit to Beijing is putting the spotlight on China's place in the global electric vehicle market. The Tesla CEO's visit to China is a "very important one" for him, said Anthony Sassine, senior investment strategist at investment manager Kraneshares. Price warsTesla slashed prices for its EV sales in China last October and January, but subsequently raised prices again in May. "It signals how important the China market is to defend and how important it is to your global system, you need the scale of China working for you," he said on CNBC's "Squawk Box Asia." He noted that China the most competitive market for EVs, with Tesla competing with multiple local companies for supremacy.

Persons: Xiaolu Chu, Elon Musk's, Tesla, Anthony Sassine, Sassine, CNBC's, Musk, Jamie Dimon, Bill Russo, Russo Organizations: Getty, Kraneshares, Communist Party, Musk, JPMorgan, U.S, EVs Locations: Shanghai, China, Beijing, U.S

Asia-Pacific markets are set to fall as Wall Street considered the likelihood of Congress passing a tentative deal on raising the U.S. debt ceiling amid growing opposition within the GOP on the tentative deal that House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and U.S. President Joe Biden agreed over the weekend. Australia will publish its seasonally adjusted April inflation figures, and a rate decision from Thailand's central bank, among others. In Australia, futures for the S&P/ASX 200 were at 7,187, lower than the index's last close of 7,209.3, ahead of its unemployment figures for April. Economists polled by Reuters expect the country's weighted inflation rate in April to slow slightly to 6.4%. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index is set to fall further despite a late rally in Tuesday session, with futures at 18,260 compared to the HSI's close of 18,595.78.

Persons: Kevin McCarthy, Joe Biden Organizations: GOP, Nikkei, Reuters Locations: Asia, Pacific, Australia, Thailand's, Japan, Chicago, Osaka, 31,328.160

☆ 'Everyone is a programmer' with generative A.I., says Nvidia chief
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-30 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

TAIPEI, TAIWAN - 2023/05/29: Nvidia president and CEO Jensen Huang speaks at a keynote presentation while holding the Grace Hopper superchip at COMPUTEX. He says anyone can be a programmer, just by speaking to the computer, and the desired functions will come forth. By generative artificial intelligence, Huang said during his keynote speech at the Computex forum in Taiwan on Monday. At his first public keynote since the pandemic, Huang introduced a new AI supercomputer platform called DGX GH200, aimed at building generative AI models. Generative AI is a type of artificial intelligence technology that can produce various types of content, including text, imagery, audio and synthetic data.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - A person jogging passes the Sydney Opera House as the rising sun reflects off buildings in the central business district (CBD) on September 28, 2021 in Sydney, Australia. The U.S. Congress is set to vote on the legislation as early as Wednesday. Lawmakers have not signaled that they intended to return to Capitol Hill early to work on the deal. In Australia, futures for the S&P/ASX 200 were at 7,224, higher than the index's last close of 7,217.4. Hong Kong stocks meanwhile are set to touch new lows for the year, with Hang Seng index futures at 18,522, headed to mark a fifth straight session of losses.

☆ Traders turn optimistic on debt ceiling deal — and one strategist says it's a 'market opportunity'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Speaker McCarthy discussed the latest development of the debt ceiling negotiations with the White House. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) Win Mcnamee | Getty Images News | Getty ImagesAnalysts are broadly optimistic that the deal to raise the U.S. debt ceiling will pass a divided Congress. The compromise also sees the debt ceiling suspended until Jan. 1, 2025, pushing it past the 2024 presidential election. watch nowDavid Roche, president and global strategist for Independent Strategy saw this as a "Democratic win." He expects the deal will pass the House with Democratic support, although, like Pavlick, he said right-wing Republicans will likely vote against it.

☆ Singapore's Temasek cuts compensation for staff responsible for FTX investment
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Singapore state investor Temasek Holdings said on Monday it had cut compensation for the team that recommended its investment in the now-bankrupt FTX cryptocurrency exchange, as well as for its senior management team. The move comes around six months after Temasek initiated an internal review of its investment in FTX, which resulted in a writedown of $275 million. "Although there was no misconduct by the investment team in reaching their investment recommendation, the investment team and senior management, who are ultimately responsible for investment decisions made, took collective accountability and had their compensation reduced," Temasek Chairman Lim Boon Heng said in a statement posted on Temasek's website on Monday. Temasek did not detail the amount of compensation cut. Temasek also said last year it had conducted "extensive due diligence" on FTX, with its audited financial statement then "showed it to be profitable."

U.S. President Joe Biden hosts debt limit talks with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, U.S., May 22, 2023. Asia-Pacific markets are largely set to rise ahead after U.S President Joe Biden and congressional leaders reached a tentative deal to raise the debt ceiling over the weekend. The Nikkei previously reached 33-year highs last week, marking an intra-day high of 31,331.62 on May 23. In Australia, futures for the S&P/ASX 200 were at 7,245, higher than the index's last close of 7,154.8. Stocks in Hong Kong are set to buck the trend despite the overall optimism, with Hang Seng index futures at 18,536 compared to the HSI's close of 18,746.92.

May 29 (Reuters) - Singapore state investor Temasek Holdings (TEM.UL) said on Monday it had cut compensation for the team and senior management that recommended its investment in the now-bankrupt FTX cryptocurrency exchange. "Although there was no misconduct by the investment team in reaching their investment recommendation, the investment team and senior management, who are ultimately responsible for investment decisions made, took collective accountability and had their compensation reduced," Temasek Chairman Lim Boon Heng said in a statement posted on Temasek's website on Monday. The move comes around six months after Temasek initiated an internal review of its investment in FTX, which resulted in a writedown of $275 million. Temasek also said last year it had conducted "extensive due diligence" on FTX, with its audited financial statement then "showed it to be profitable". "With FTX, as alleged by prosecutors and as admitted by key executives at FTX and its affiliates, there was fraudulent conduct intentionally hidden from investors, including Temasek," Lim said in the statement on Monday.

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