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What next for Evergrande’s creditors? A Hong Kong court on Monday ordered the liquidation of Evergrande, the heavily indebted Chinese property giant. The company’s dissolution raises questions about fairness for overseas creditors — which could have wider implications for foreign businesses operating in China. But as the economy slowed, property sales plummeted, and Chinese regulators began clamping down on excessive leverage and speculation. The judge presiding over Evergrande’s bankruptcy case has now called time after two years of talks.

Persons: Evergrande Organizations: Hong, Monday Locations: Hong Kong, Evergrande, China

☆ European stocks set to slip after notching two-year high; Fed and BoE meetings ahead
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

European stock markets are heading for a lower start to the week as investors prepare for a slew of earnings, data and central bank announcements. The regional Stoxx 600 climbed 3.1% last week, closing at its highest level since January 2022, according to LSEG data. Gains came amid some positive fourth-quarter company results, and as the market ramped up bets that the European Central Bank will begin cutting interest rates in April. It is a big week for earnings, with Big Tech's Microsoft, Apple, Meta, Amazon and Alphabet all set to report. In Asia-Pacific, markets traded mixed with all attention on Hong Kong's High Court ordering the liquidation of Chinese property developer Evergrande.

Organizations: European Central Bank, ECB, U.S . Federal, Bank of England, Big, Microsoft, Apple, Philips, Ryanair, Hong Locations: Europe, Asia, Pacific, Hong Kong's

HONG KONG (AP) — Asian markets opened the week on a positive note, with Chinese regulators announcing measures to support the country’s teetering stock markets while heavily indebted property developer China Evergrande was ordered to undergo liquidation. China's securities regulator announced on Sunday that beginning Monday, China will suspend the lending of specific shares for short selling, a move to support the country’s declining stock markets. The Federal Reserve’s meeting this week will likely end with no change to interest rates, but traders are split on whether it could begin cutting rates in March. It's trying to slow the economy and hurt investment prices enough through high interest rates to get inflation fully under control. Traders are betting the Fed will cut interest rates as many as six times this year, according to data from CME Group.

Persons: China Evergrande, Evergrande, Australia’s, It's Organizations: China Evergrande, Hong, Hong Kong High Court, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Intel, Fed, Treasury, Traders, CME Group, New York Mercantile Exchange, Brent, U.S Locations: HONG KONG, China, Hong Kong, Shanghai, South Korea, Bangkok

☆ Evergrande Will Be Dismantled, a ‘Big Bang’ End to Years of Stumbles
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( Alexandra Stevenson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Months after China Evergrande ran out of cash and defaulted in 2021, investors around the world scooped up the property developer’s discounted I.O.U.’s, betting that the Chinese government would eventually step in to bail it out. The order is also likely to send shock waves through financial markets that are already skittish about China’s economy. Evergrande is a real estate developer with more than $300 billion in debt, sitting in the middle of the world’s biggest housing crisis. There isn’t much left in its sprawling empire that is worth much. And even those assets may be off limits because property in China has become intertwined with politics.

Persons: China Evergrande, Evergrande Locations: China, Hong Kong

HONG KONG (AP) — A Hong Kong court on Monday ordered property developer China Evergrande Group to liquidate after it was unable to reach a restructuring deal with creditors. The liquidation order is likely to impact China’s financial system, even as authorities try to prevent a selloff in the Chinese stock market. The company first defaulted on its financial obligations in 2021, just over a year after Beijing clamped down on lending to property developers in an effort to cool a property bubble. Real estate drove China’s economic boom, but developers borrowed heavily as they turned cities into forests of apartment and office towers. Others developers including Country Garden, China’s largest real estate developer, have also run into trouble, their predicaments rippling through financial systems in and outside China.

Persons: Linda Chan, Evergrande, Fergus Saurin, ”, Saurin Organizations: China Evergrande Group, Country, Zhongzhi Enterprise Locations: HONG KONG, Hong Kong, Beijing, China

BANGKOK (AP) — China’s leaders launched a barrage of new policies this week to prop up languishing financial markets and rekindle growth in the world’s second-largest economy. The moves to support lending and spending with billions of dollars of fresh cash gathered pace when the central bank cut bank reserve requirements and issued new rules to encourage banks to lend more to property companies. HOW IS THE CHINESE ECONOMY DOING? The Chinese economy grew at a 5.2% annual pace in 2023, exceeding the government's target, and many indicators including factory output and retail sales show signs of improvement. The moves to put more money into the economy and encourage bank lending might not go far enough, many analysts said.

Persons: —, Premier Li Qiang, ”, It's, Pan Gongsheng, ” Stephen Innes Organizations: State Council, Economic, People's Bank of China Gov, Management Locations: BANGKOK, United States, China, Premier, Davos, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Beijing

TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares were mostly higher on Thursday, with Chinese stocks extending gains after Beijing announced a raft of policies to support sagging markets. Late Wednesday, the Chinese central bank announced a set of rules to govern lending to property developers. Earlier, it said it would cut bank reserve requirements to put about 1 trillion yuan ($141 billion) into the economy. The Chinese economy has slowed, with growth forecast below 5% this year, its lowest level since 1990 excluding the years of the COVID-19 pandemic. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.17% from 4.14% late Tuesday.

Persons: Sydney's, Brent Organizations: TOKYO, Beijing, Shanghai, China Evergrande Holdings, Nikkei, Bank of Japan, Nasdaq, Dow Jones, Federal Reserve, Treasury, Fed, Global, U.S Locations: Hong Kong, Tokyo, Seoul . U.S, Shanghai, U.S

☆ China's population keeps falling — and that's more bad news for the world's 2nd-largest economy
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( George Glover | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewChina's population fell again last year – and that's a worrying sign for Beijing policymakers already grappling with deflation, a property crisis, and anemic economic growth. It's the second consecutive year that China's population has shrunk after six decades of rapid growth. Here's why dropping population numbers pose a threat to the world's second-largest economy. Worrying dataChina's population fell in 2022 for the first time since the 1960s – and Wednesday's statistics showed that the same thing happened again last year. A declining population is also bad news for real estate, which accounts for a quarter of China's economy and 70% of household wealth.

Persons: —, lockdowns, They've, they'll Organizations: Service, Business, National Bureau, Statistics, World Health Organization, Apple Locations: Beijing, China, —, Japan

☆ China's property 'inventory overhang' could take more than 10 years to correct, economist says
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-04 | by ( Clement Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The site of a real estate building under construction in Huai 'an city, Jiangsu province, China, December 26, 2023. "If you look at the inventory overhang situation — at this sales rate — it will take about two years to clear all the inventory that is outstanding in the market," Hong told CNBC Street Signs Asia on Thursday. At the same time, one has to find new growth spots for the economy to go forward, instead of just relying on just the property sector and property investment for economic growth," Hong said. One has to find new growth spots for the economy to go forward, instead of just relying on just the property sector and property investment for economic growth. "This time around, it seems to us that the property sector has peaked and the long cycle is coming down.

Persons: Huai, Hao Hong, Hong, China's Organizations: Getty, Investment, CNBC, Beijing, Economic Work Locations: Jiangsu province, China

☆ Asia’s year in review: Who had it good — and who had it bad — in 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-22 | by ( Curtis Chin | Jose B. Collazo | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

As 2023 comes to a close, we take a look at the year that was in Asia and the Pacific region. But who had it good and who had it bad in 2023? Bad year: China's property marketWith millions of Chinese citizens still waiting for homes they put down payments on — but might never be built — 2023 was a particularly bad year for China's property market. A newly built property is seen from the air in Hangzhou city, Zhejiang province, China, Dec 15, 2023. Chinese families and individuals who once saw homes as more than somewhere to live but also as investments have reason to fear 2023 won't be the last bad year they face.

Persons: Curtis, Chin, Jose B, —, Vikram, Amit Dave, Narendra Modi, Taylor Swift, Kim Ji, Jennie, Kim Jennie, Roseanne Chae, Lisa, Lalisa, King Charles, Rose, Roseanne Park, Jisoo Kim, Jennie Kim, King Charles III, Yoon Suk Yeol, Kim Keon Hee, Victoria Jones, Blackpink, Michelle Yeoh, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, San Francisco —, China Evergrande, Moody's, Asia's Organizations: Asian Development Bank, RiverPeak Group, ISRO —, Indian Space Research, Orbiter, ISRO, Buckingham, Sustainable, COP26, Getty, YG Entertainment, APEC, U.S, International Monetary Fund Locations: U.S, Asia, Turkey, Syria, Maui, Hawaii, Lahaina, Pacific, India, Gujarat Science City, Ahmedabad, Korea, British, LONDON, ENGLAND, Glasgow, London, England, South Korea, Malaysian, New Zealand, Thailand, China, San Francisco, United States, Taiwan, South China, Country, Hangzhou city, Zhejiang province

☆ GMT Research says Evergrande's bad assets were building up before the pandemic
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | 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 EmailGMT Research says Evergrande's bad assets were building up before the pandemicNigel Stevenson, analyst at the accounting research firm, discusses what's behind its report alleging that Evergrande artificially inflated revenue.

Persons: Nigel Stevenson

☆ AI Davids ride coattails of industry Goliaths
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

New York, Dec 5 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Artificial intelligence Goliaths like OpenAI continue to open the door for what might become the industry’s Davids. With a low-cost approach and data privacy focus, it may be able to eventually carve out a solid European business. Mistral has whiffs of what OpenAI, eyeing a mooted $86 billion valuation and eight years old, once was, but with tweaks. Mistral has also focused on “open sourcing” its models, which means they can be downloaded and used for free. As a Paris-based company, Mistral could build out its business with a specific focus on complying with AI rules being finalized by the European Union.

Persons: industry’s Davids, eyeing, Anita Ramaswamy, Neiman Marcus, Lauren Silva Laughlin, Aditya Sriwatsav Organizations: Reuters, Mistral, Bloomberg, European Union, X, Saks, Thomson Locations: York, Paris, Kuwait, Hong Kong

☆ China Evergrande’s Crash Was Accelerated by Questionable Accounting
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Alexandra Stevenson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Its longtime auditor had just resigned, and a nation of home buyers had directed its ire at Evergrande. Police on watch for protesters stood guard outside the building, and the new team of auditors were issued permits to get in. After six months of work, the auditors reported that Evergrande had lost $81 billion over the prior two years, vastly more than expected. China’s housing boom was the biggest the world has seen, and Evergrande’s rise was powered by rapacious expansion, the system that stoked it and foreign investors who threw money at it. When China’s housing bubble burst, no other company imploded in as spectacular a fashion.

Persons: Evergrande, — Organizations: China Evergrande Group, Evergrande . Police, Evergrande Locations: Guangzhou, China, Evergrande .

☆ Kuwait rings up small bill in tower merger
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A three-way partnership deal will enable Qatar’s Ooredoo (ORDS.QA) to offload capital-intensive infrastructure but only by offering Kuwait’s Zain (ZAIN.KW) favourable deal terms. Ooredoo and Zain are creating a regional powerhouse with an estimated enterprise value of $2.2 billion to be managed by Zain-backed TASC Towers Holding. The $8.9 billion Ooredoo and $6.9 billion Zain will own 49.3% each, with the rest going to TASC. But Zain is paying an average price of $73,000 per tower, 9.5% less than the average price per tower in previous deals, according to JPMorgan analysts. The Kuwaiti group will also call the shots as the founders of Dubai’s TASC Towers Holding – which Zain controls with an 83.47% stake – will manage the new entity.

Persons: Qatar’s, Kuwait’s Zain, Zain, Ooredoo, Dubai’s, Pamela Barbaglia, Neiman Marcus, Francesco Guerrera, Oliver Taslic Organizations: Reuters, TASC, Bloomberg, JPMorgan, X, Saks, Thomson Locations: Algeria, Tunisia, Iraq, Jordan, Saudi, Kuwaiti, Hong Kong

☆ China's battered economy suffers another blow as Moody's slashes its credit outlook
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( George Glover | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Moody's Investors Service slashed its outlook for Chinese government bonds to negative on Tuesday. Beijing has rolled out stimulus packages and ramped up borrowing in a bid to support the embattled Chinese economy in 2023. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementMoody's Investors Service slashed its outlook for China's credit rating on Tuesday, dealing a fresh blow to the world's second-largest economy. Moody's cited stagnant growth and a seemingly never-ending property crisis as factors that could hamper Beijing's ability to repay its debts.

Persons: —, Moody's, that's, –, Read, It's Organizations: Moody's, Service, China's Ministry, Finance, Bloomberg, CSI Locations: Beijing, China, Moody's

☆ China Evergrande Avoids a Debt Disaster—for Now
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Rebecca Feng | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

An Evergrande residential project in Nanjing, China. The company’s default in late 2021 was a watershed moment for China’s real-estate sector. Photo: Cfoto/Zuma PressChina Evergrande Group, the giant property developer whose default two years ago fueled a crisis in the country’s real-estate market, got some unexpected good news on Monday. The company, once China’s largest property developer by sales, was given until late January 2024 to reach a debt restructuring deal, after Hong Kong’s High Court postponed a hearing that could have pushed Evergrande into liquidation.

Organizations: Zuma Press China Evergrande Group, Hong Locations: Nanjing, China

[1/4] The company logo is seen on the headquarters of China Evergrande Group in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China September 26, 2021. REUTERS/Aly Song/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsHONG KONG, Dec 4 (Reuters) - A court hearing into a liquidation petition filed against China Evergrande Group (3333.HK) was adjourned in a Hong Kong court to next month, allowing more time to finalise a debt restructuring proposal in a major relief for the embattled developer. On Oct. 29, when adjourning the hearing to Monday, Hong Kong High Court Justice Linda Chan had said the next hearing would be the last before a decision was made on liquidating Evergrande. Evergrande last week scrambled to put together a revised restructuring plan to avoid a possible liquidation order. The creditors were opposed to the latest restructuring plan and will seek liquidation if the terms do not change, said the advisor.

Persons: Aly, Jan, Linda Chan, Evergrande, Hui Ka Yan, Clare Jim, Sumeet Chatterjee, Kim Coghill, Christopher Cushing Organizations: China Evergrande Group, REUTERS, China Evergrande, HK, Hong, Hong Kong High, Moelis, Authorities, Thomson Locations: China, Shenzhen, Guangdong province, HONG KONG, Hong Kong, Evergrande, destabilised

☆ Evergrande’s Hong Kong court ruling is big reprieve
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

HONG KONG, Dec 4 (Reuters Breakingviews) - A Hong Kong court on Monday adjourned to next month a hearing over a petition for the liquidation of China Evergrande (3333.HK). It lobs the ball back to Beijing: the judge told Evergrande to hold direct discussion with “relevant authorities” on the revamped terms. Options are limited following the detention of the company’s Chair Hui Ka Yan in September on suspicion of unspecified crimes. It also defers a high-profile test on whether Hong Kong liquidation rulings over mainland companies would be implemented across the border more efficiently following the introduction of a limited mutual recognition pact in 2021. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Evergrande, Hui Ka Yan, Chan Ka, Neiman Marcus, Una Galani, Thomas Shum Organizations: Reuters, Hong, HK, X, Saks, Barclays, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, Hong Kong, China, Beijing

☆ CNBC Daily Open: Too early to be betting on rate cuts?
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Shreyashi Sanyal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

This report is from today's CNBC Daily Open, our new, international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. Fed Chair Powell says too 'premature' to cut ratesFederal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said Friday it was too early to declare victory over inflation and beat back on market views for interest rate cuts next year. Evergrande liquidation court hearing pushedBeleaguered Chinese property firm Evergrande 's court hearing over its possible liquidation was postponed to Jan. 29, sending its shares up over 9%. A Hong Kong court hearing was initially set for Monday over a petition from a creditor seeking to wind up the company.

Persons: Powell, Jerome Powell, Bitcoin, Evergrande Organizations: CNBC, Federal, Treasury, Nasdaq, Dow Jones, Japan's Nikkei, Hong Locations: Asia, Pacific, FTX, Hong Kong

☆ Brookfield’s energy M&A loss is teachable moment
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MELBOURNE, Dec 4 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Brookfield Asset Management (BAM.TO), has some wounds to lick. On Monday the Canadian investment firm’s joint $13 billion offer with MidOcean Energy for Australian power generator and retailer Origin Energy (ORG.AX)failed after the bidders secured backing from 69% of voted shares, below the required 75% threshold. It could target smaller local energy firms, like Alinta Energy and EnergyAustralia, owned by Hong Kong-based Chow Tai Fook Enterprises and CLP (0002.HK) respectively. Brookfield has made other investments from its $15 billion global transition fund, including to co-buy Westinghouse Electric. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Bruce Flatt, Chow, Brookfield, Antony Currie, Neiman Marcus, Una Galani, Thomas Shum Organizations: MELBOURNE, Reuters, Brookfield Asset Management, MidOcean Energy, Origin Energy, Alinta, Chow Tai Fook Enterprises, CLP, HK, Westinghouse, X, Saks, Thomson Locations: Brookfield, Hong Kong

☆ Morning Bid: Buoyant markets hold near year's highs
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The Wall Street sign is pictured at the New York Stock exchange (NYSE) in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., March 9, 2020. Fed futures markets think a first cut may come as soon as March - with a quarter-point easing by then already two-thirds priced. Two-year Treasury yields hit their lowest since June on Friday and 10-year yields their lowest in three months, although they edged higher on Monday. U.S. crude hit its lowest in two weeks and is tracking year-on-year losses of almost 10%. But that is widening into yearend as peak rate hopes encourage some rotation to smaller cap stocks.

Persons: Carlo Allegri, Mike Dolan, Jerome Powell, Powell, Goldman Sachs, Jan, Fitch, Bitcoin, Christine Lagarde, Joann, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: New York Stock, REUTERS, Federal Reserve, Spelman College, Fed, Tech, HK, Central Bank, Treasury, PMI Reuters Graphics Reuters, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Manhattan, New York City , New York, U.S, Atlanta, Europe, Gaza, China, Hong Kong, WuXi, Evergrande, RGC Resources

☆ Roche’s late obesity punt offers wider market cure
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Dec 4 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Roche’s (ROG.S) foray into the prospective $100 billion obesity market can bring wider benefits. On Monday, the $224 billion Swiss pharma group said it had agreed to take over weight-loss drug developer Carmot Therapeutics for $2.7 billion. Market leader Novo Nordisk (NOVOb.CO) is already selling obesity drugs in the U.S. and parts of Europe. Still, Schinecker’s obesity bet could turn successful if it ends up undercutting obesity pioneers on prices. With over 1 billion people globally classed as seriously overweight, other drugmakers will follow Roche on the obesity bandwagon.

Persons: drugmaker Roche, Arnd, Eli Lilly’s, Thomas Schinecker, Eli Lilly, Eccogene, Roche, Aimee Donnellan, Neiman Marcus, Lisa Jucca, Oliver Taslic Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, Swiss pharma, Carmot Therapeutics, Novo Nordisk, U.S . Food, Drug Administration, AstraZeneca, Novo, X, Saks, Thomson Locations: Basel, Switzerland, U.S, Europe, Hong Kong

☆ Evergrande shares rise over 9% as court hearing to wind up property firm is postponed again
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

NANJING, CHINA - AUGUST 18, 2023 - Aerial photo shows a residential area of Evergrande in Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu province, Aug 18, 2023. The firm was originally scheduled to face a Hong Kong court hearing on Monday over a petition from a creditor seeking to wind up the company. Shares of Evergrande Group rose over 9% as the beleaguered Chinese property firm's court hearing over its possible liquidation was postponed to Jan. 29, 2024. Top Shine, an investor in Evergrande unit Fangchebao, had filed a petition in June 2022 seeking to wind up the property firm. The agency, however, reported that creditors were unlikely to accept Evergrande's new proposal, given low recovery prospects and growing concerns about its future.

Persons: Linda Chan Organizations: Getty, Hong, Bloomberg, Reuters, Hong Kong, Evergrande, New Energy Vehicle Group Locations: NANJING, CHINA, Evergrande, Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu, Hong Kong, Hong Kong's

HONG KONG (AP) — A Hong Kong court will convene a hearing Monday on troubled Chinese property developer Evergrande’s plans for restructuring its more than $300 billion in debts and staving off liquidation. The company, the world’s most indebted property developer, ran into trouble when Chinese regulators cracked down on excessive borrowing in the real estate sector. The Hong Kong High Court has postponed the hearing over Evergrande’s potential liquidation several times. But others including Country Garden, China's largest real estate developer, have also run into trouble, their predicaments rippling through financial systems in and outside China. Police are investigating Zhongzhi Enterprise Group, a major shadow bank in China that has lent billions in yuan (dollars) to property developers, after it said it was insolvent with up to $64 billion in liabilities.

Persons: Hui Ka Yan, Linda Chan, Evergrande Organizations: Hong, Hong Kong High Court, Police, Zhongzhi Enterprise Group Locations: HONG KONG, Hong Kong, Beijing, China

Once China’s most prolific property developer, China Evergrande has narrowly averted liquidation. A Hong Kong bankruptcy judge on Monday gave Evergrande another two months to work out a deal with foreign investors who lost money when the company defaulted two years ago with hundreds of billions of dollars in debt. It was an unexpected development in a bankruptcy lawsuit filed 18 months ago by one investor trying to get paid by forcing the dismantling of Evergrande. It was one of the country’s most successful companies and at the heart of the real estate industry, which drove one third of the nation’s economic growth. But years of overexpansion left it financially precarious, and when it defaulted, it had more than $300 billion of overdue bills.

Persons: China Evergrande, Evergrande, Jan, Linda Chan, ”, Neil McDonald, Kirkland, “, overexpansion Organizations: Hong, Ellis Locations: China, Hong Kong

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