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☆ 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."

☆ Market watchers' comments on COVID-19 protests in China
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Here's what market watchers are saying about the unrest:ALLAN VON MEHREN, CHIEF ANALYST, DANSKE BANK, COPENHAGEN:"Normally protests in China are aimed at local governments but a crowd in Shanghai directed their protest against the Communist Party and Xi Jinping." "The protests come as the recent tweaks in the zero-Covid policy seem to have backfired as they led to rising cases across the country that subsequently triggered new restrictions being implemented. MARK HAEFELE, GLOBAL WEALTH MANAGEMENT CIO, UBS, ZURICH:"We do not expect economic or market headwinds in China to abate significantly over the coming months. KEN CHEUNG, CHIEF ASIA FX STRATEGIST, MIZUHO, HONG KONG:"The China economy is heading to the direction of reopening but the road to the reopening could be a bumpy one. GARY NG, ECONOMIST, NATIXIS, HONG KONG:"The market does not like uncertainties that are difficult to price and the China protests clearly fall into this category.

☆ Comments from market watchers on the COVID-19 protests in China
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

ALVIN TAN, ASIA FX STRATEGIST, RBC CAPITAL MARKETS, SINGAPORE:"The scale of the protests will necessarily elicit a response from Beijing. KEN CHEUNG, CHIEF ASIA FX STRATEGIST, MIZUHO, HONG KONG:"The China economy is heading to the direction of reopening but the road to the reopening could be a bumpy one. "Overall, the China Q4 growth outlook should remain grim given the COVID resurgence and the related mobility tightening. GARY NG, ECONOMIST, NATIXIS, HONG KONG:"The market does not like uncertainties that are difficult to price and the China protests clearly fall into this category. MARTIN PETCH, VICE PRESIDENT, MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE:"We expect the protests ... to dissipate relatively quickly and without resulting in serious political violence.

☆ US-China meeting in Bali lays groundwork for stronger economic ties
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

That helps explain why expectations for Monday’s meeting between President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the G20 summit were set so low. But to the surprise of many, the meeting featured televised images of smiling officials, handshakes, and a commitment to reopening lines of communication on urgent global issues. Analysts said the meeting could lay the groundwork for stronger ties between the world’s top economic powerhouses. Speaking after the three-hour meeting, Biden described it as an “open and candid” discussion, saying he planned to manage the China relationship “responsibly.”“We’re going to compete vigorously, but I’m not looking for conflict,” Biden told reporters. “The meeting met or exceeded the low expectations set by the Biden administration and was a mild positive for global stability,” he said.

☆ No easy fix for China as economy slows more than expected
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-11 | by ( Kevin Yao | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

China is on track to miss its annual growth target of around 5.5% - the latest Reuters poll forecast 2022 growth at 3.2%. Data on Thursday showed new bank lending in China fell more than expected in October from the previous month while broad credit growth slowed. Underscoring the weakness in domestic demand, factory gate prices for October dropped for the first time since December 2020. But the main near-term headwind remains China's zero-COVID policy, while the longer term drag remains domestic demand. read more"COVID curbs have greatly affected consumption and investment," said Wang Jun, director at China Chief Economist Forum.

☆ China's yuan tumbles to a new record low amid fears about Xi's third term
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

It then pared losses, trading at 7.33 by 1 pm Hong Kong time. On Monday, Chinese stocks plummeted in Hong Kong and New York, wiping out billions of dollars in their market value. International investors spooked by the outcome of the Communist Party’s leadership reshuffle dumped Chinese assets despite the release of stronger-than-expected GDP data. “Foreign investors took action to cut their exposure on Chinese assets,” he said, adding that the Chinese currency was faced with mounting capital outflow pressure. The Chinese yuan, together with other major global currencies, has weakened rapidly against the dollar in recent months.

☆ Exclusive: China FX regulator surveys banks about positioning as yuan plunges
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"The FX regulator asked (us) about our market views and our positioning," said one of the sources. Two of the sources said the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) made it clear the survey was urgent. "Foreign exchange reserves are at a critical level, and some market participants are betting that the authorities will eventually intervene." China's foreign exchange reserves now stand at just above the closely watched $3 trillion level. "China is likely to protect the reserves this time round as the Congress emphasizes that foreign exchange reserves are an indicator of comprehensive national strength," said ANZ's Xing.

☆ EXCLUSIVE China FX regulator surveys banks about positioning as yuan plunges - sources
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Monthly debt market data shows foreign investors have been net sellers for seven straight months to August as what had been a lucrative yield premium in China vanished as U.S. interest rates soared. GIMME SHELTERAmid foreign investors' exodus, there are signs of locals following as fast as allowable under capital controls that were tightened after the previous season of heavy outflows in 2016. Moving money is also very difficult as COVID-19 curbs on travel add another layer to capital controls. Data from consultancy Education International Cooperation showed a 41.5% jump in queries about study in Hong Kong between January and July, compared with the same period a year earlier. They expect a rush to Hong Kong products when the border between Hong Kong and the mainland reopens.

☆ Xi set to open party congress at challenging time for China
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-14 | by ( Tony Munroe | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

China's President Xi Jinping attends a wreath laying ceremony on Tiananmen Square to mark Martyrs' Day on the eve of the National Day in Beijing, China September 30, 2022. Still, diplomats, economists and analysts spoken to by Reuters say Xi is set to consolidate his grip on power. In securing a third term Xi breaks with the two-term precedent of recent decades. Also breaking with norms: no successor to Xi, 69, is expected to be identified, analysts say, which would indicate he plans to remain in power even longer. Still, analysts say, the views of any individual matter less nowadays as Xi has sidelined those seen as "reformers" in favour of his more state-driven and nationalistic economic policies.

☆ World stocks head back towards 2-year lows as mood sours
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-11 | by ( Dhara Ranasinghe | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

There was a modest respite for Britain's battered bond market after the Bank of England said it would start purchasing inflation-linked debt. And MSCI's world stock index was down 0.5% -- moving back towards roughly two-year lows hit last week (.MIWD00000PUS). Emerging market stocks hit their lowest level since April 2020 and are on track for a near-30% tumble year-to-date, its worst year since the 2008 global financial crisis. GILT RESPITEBritish government bond or gilt yields edged lower, having soared on Monday, following the BoE's latest efforts to shore up the battered bond market. The Aussie dollar fell to a 2-1/2-year low of around $0.6248 and the kiwi dollar hit a low of $0.5536.

☆ War and prospect of rate hikes hoist dollar, gilt wipeout hits Treasuries
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-11 | by ( Selena Li | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"Sentiment has also not been helped by a big core global bond sell off led by UK gilts, notwithstanding a flurry of announcements designed to calm UK debt markets," he added. Treasury yields jumped when trading resumed after Monday's U.S. holiday, with 30-year yields up 11 basis points to an almost nine-year high of 3.956%. That outlook is giving dollar bulls another run and has the greenback drifting toward the milestone highs it scaled last month. The Aussie made a 2-1/2 year low of $0.6260 in the Asia session and the kiwi a low of $0.5541. The Japanese yen , at 145.75 per dollar, was within a few pips of the level that prompted official support a couple of weeks ago.

☆ China's Golden Week spending plunges to seven-year low as zero-Covid batters economy
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-10 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

The National Day break is one of China’s longest public holidays and usually a peak season for travel and spending. But this year, people were deterred from traveling by a resurgence of the virus and stringent Covid restrictions. All the weak data point to the heavy damage of Beijing’s zero-Covid policy on consumer spending and the economy, said analysts. China’s service sector is a key source of employment, accounting for 48% of total jobs created, according to government data. “Entrepreneurs’ concerns continued to stem from recurring Covid outbreaks and the impact of related controls on the market,” Wang said.

Hong Kong/Tokyo CNN Business —A quarter of a century ago, a major financial crisis ripped through Asia, shaking its economies to the core. “I do not expect a repeat of the [1997] Asian Financial Crisis this time,” said Khoon Goh, head of Asia research at ANZ Research. “Importantly, there is not the same build up of foreign denominated debt in recent years, which was one of the triggers of the Asian Financial Crisis,” Goh added. China and Japan have the world’s two biggest foreign exchange reserves, holding $3 trillion and $1.3 trillion respectively. “Asia’s resilience in the face of the current global storm is partly the result of reform that the Asian Financial Crisis prompted,” Neumann from HSBC said.

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