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☆ EU strongly recommends travelers from China to take Covid test before entering Europe
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( Silvia Amaro | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

European nations are looking at new travel requirements from China after Beijing lifted Covid restrictions. European nations on Wednesday recommended imposing new restrictions on travelers from China amid fears of an increase in Covid cases. Passengers departing from China will likely have to present a negative Covid test before leaving the country if heading toward one of the 27 EU countries. Several EU nations have already stepped up their protection measures against potential new cases from China. Correction: This story was updated to reflect that European officials on Wednesday recommended pre-flight testing of travelers from China.

China reported one new COVID-19 death in the mainland for Wednesday, compared with five a day earlier, bringing its official death toll to 5,259. Chinese health officials have said only deaths caused by pneumonia and respiratory failure in patients who had the virus are classified as COVID deaths. The methods for counting COVID deaths have varied across countries since the pandemic first erupted in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019. British-based health data firm Airfinity has estimated about 9,000 people in China are probably dying each day from COVID. TESTING WASTEWhile countries try to get more information on the extent and severity of China's outbreak, several have imposed requirements on travellers from China to be tested for COVID.

☆ UBS: Here's how to invest in China in 2023 as the dramatic end to zero-COVID policies upends markets and boosts the domestic economy
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( Marley Jay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

In 2022, experts said that the global economy would get a boost after China lifted its strict zero-COVID restrictions. He added that later in the year the tide could turn, and he expects China's economy to grow 5% by the end of 2023. "China's reopening is also a positive for Asian IG and HY bonds, in particular Chinese property developers," he said. That's had a significant effect on the global economy because China has been the largest single source of global economic growth for many years. That means the fate of China's economy this year will have a major effect on the performance of the global economy.

That might ease some concerns about the outbreak since Beijing abruptly reversed its "zero COVID" policy last month. But many Chinese funeral homes and hospitals say they are overwhelmed, and international health experts predict at least 1 million COVID-related deaths in China this year without urgent action. But the WHO said there is "no inevitability" in terms of predictions of large numbers of deaths. "It really does depend on the measures that are in place," said the WHO's COVID-19 technical lead Maria van Kerkhove. She said the WHO was working with China to improve access to life-saving tools and cope with health workforce issues in badly-hit areas.

☆ New Covid variant XBB.1.5 is the most transmissible subvariant that has been detected yet, says WHO
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-04 | 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 EmailNew Covid variant XBB.1.5 is the most transmissible subvariant that has been detected yet, says WHOCNBC's Meg Tirrell joins 'The Exchange' to repot on China's covid cases, the omicron variant currently spreading and what it could mean for both China and global markets.

☆ Biden says he was concerned at how China was handling COVID
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

HEBRON, Ky., Jan 4 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden said on Wednesday he was concerned by how China was handling the COVID-19 pandemic. China's COVID-19 data is not giving an accurate picture of the situation there and under represents the number of hospitalizations and deaths from the disease, a senior official at the World Health Organization said earlier in the day. Reporting by Steve Holland, writing by Kanishka Singh, editing by Chris ReeseOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Funds had already increased their combined position by 44 million barrels over the seven days ending on Dec. 20, according to data from regulators and exchanges. The late surge of purchasing reverses some of the 236 million barrels of sales reported over the previous five weeks. Crude positions had risen to 331 million barrels (14th percentile) up from a low of 253 million (5th percentile) on Dec. 13. The difference between bullish and bearish investors is essentially about timing of the oil market cycle. Related columns:- Hedge fund oil sales slow as balance of risks shifts (Reuters, Dec. 19)- Investors abandon bullish oil positions as recession nears (Reuters, Dec. 12)- Oil prices slump as receding price-cap threat unmasks worsening demand (Reuters, Dec. 8)John Kemp is a Reuters market analyst.

☆ Five Chinese startups that survived a tough year of Covid lockdowns
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-03 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Qilai Shen | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesBEIJING — In a year of Covid lockdowns and travel restrictions, some Chinese startups that survived found growth online and overseas. The startup avoided significant impact from China's Covid lockdowns since it could deliver its products virtually, Jiang said. The company aggressively pushed overseas in 2022 – launching subsidiaries in Tokyo, Seoul, Germany, Dubai, Los Angeles and Hong Kong, Wan said. Previously, Wan said that Keenon had seen revenue at least double or more every year from a lower base, when the China market was growing. The company has a staff of 100 people in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong and Los Angeles, Lin said.

☆ Belgium to test wastewater on airliners from COVID-hit China
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Jan 2 (Reuters) - Belgium will test wastewater from planes arriving from China for new COVID variants as part of new steps against the spread of the coronavirus as infections in China surge, the government announced on Monday. "This will be an additional monitoring objective to verify that the data we receive from China is accurate," Steven Van Gucht of the Sciensano national public health institute told Reuters. Belgium is also asking travellers from China to test themselves for COVID-19 if they show symptoms seven days after arriving, but will not enforce this measure. Authorities around the world are imposing or considering curbs on travellers from China, including mandatory testing for COVID, as infections there spread following Beijing's relaxation of "zero-COVID" rules. Reporting by Charlotte Van Campenhout Editing by Mark HeinrichOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

REUTERS/Tingshu WangBEIJING/WUHAN, Jan 2 (Reuters) - Some people in China's key cities of Beijing, Shanghai and Wuhan braved the cold and a spike in COVID-19 infections to return to regular activity on Monday, confident of a boost to the economy as more recover from infections. But Monday's one new COVID death - flat with the previous day - among China's population of 1.4 billion does not match the experience of other countries after they re-opened. Cumulative deaths in China since Dec. 1 have probably reached 100,000, with infections at 18.6 million, it said. Airfinity expects China's COVID infections to reach their first peak on Jan. 13, with 3.7 million daily infections. China has said it only counts deaths of COVID patients caused by pneumonia and respiratory failure as COVID-related.

☆ Inflation struggles, China's Covid: What to watch for in the economy in 2023
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-31 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Shannon-Pettypiece-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Shannon Pettypiece | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +8 min

But economists and CEOs warn the economy will remain on shaky ground in 2023, which could mean another turbulent year for consumers. After months of strict lockdowns that caused rolling disruptions to supply chains and greatly stifled demand from Chinese consumers, China began lifting its Covid restrictions in recent weeks. “The most important thing for 2023 is by far China’s Covid policy,” Dan Klein, the head of energy pathways at S&P Global Commodity Insights. Covid infections have continued to shut down factories around the world, aggravated by China’s loosening of Covid restrictions. In the meantime, with demand outstripping supply, car prices are up by nearly 24% over the past two years.

[1/6] People release balloons as they gather to celebrate New Year's Eve, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Wuhan, Hubei province, China January 1, 2023. “I was still afraid when I came out tonight, but I just wanted to come out, because everyone has come out." In late November hundreds of people took part in lockdown demonstrations on the streets of cities across the country including Wuhan. “Those restrictions were in place for too long, so perhaps people were pretty unhappy," said 24-year-old Wuhan resident surnamed Chen, who works in e-commerce. “People have been afraid to come out since the COVID policy was loosened,” he said.

☆ COVID travel curbs against Chinese visitors 'discriminatory' -state media
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-30 | by ( Bernard Orr | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Global spending by Chinese visitors was worth more than $250 billion a year before the pandemic. China's official death toll of 5,247 since the pandemic began compares with more than 1 million deaths in the United States. UK-based health data firm Airfinity said on Thursday around 9,000 people in China are probably dying each day from COVID. Airfinity expects China's COVID infections to reach their first peak on Jan. 13, with 3.7 million cases a day. China has said it only counts deaths of COVID patients caused by pneumonia and respiratory failure as COVID-related.

☆ No need for French border controls over China COVID surge - health official
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

PARIS, Dec 29 (Reuters) - There is no need for France to impose border controls in reaction to a surge of COVID infections in China, the head of France's health risks committee said on Thursday. "From a scientific point of view, there is no reason to bring back controls at the border ... but that could change any day," Brigitte Autran, head of the French health risk assessment committee COVARS, said on French Radio Classique. Autran - who advises the government on epidemiological risks - said that for now "the situation is under control" and that there are no signs of worrying new COVID variants in China. Health officials from the European Union's 27 countries will talk later on Thursday about how to coordinate the European response to China's COVID surge. read moreReporting by Myrian Rivet and Geert De Clercq; Editing by Andrew HeavensOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Wall Street names these 20 Club stocks as top picks for 2023. Here's the list and our takes
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-29 | by ( Paulina Likos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +16 min

Club take: We've pared back our position in AMD this year as the semicondcutor company worked through its inventory correction. The company has to do more in terms of managing its costs, but it will likely be a priority in 2023. Analysts described growth outlooks in these segments as "robust" and expect them to drive revenue growth and margin expansion. BofA calls the Club stock a "top tier operator" and expects the company to grow revenue in the coming year despite fears of an economic downturn. Analysts expect to see strong data center growth next year, a business they said could reach $20 billion by 2023.

"More fundamental, and more subtle and more important is the social contract and social trust in China. COVID CZAROver the past three years, Vice Premier Sun, 72, has been the face of China's COVID fight, a mother-like figure who has executed Xi's zero-COVID policy with a firm hand. In April this year, Sun rushed to Shanghai as the city went under lockdown, according to state media reports. During the Shanghai lockdown, while also on an inspection tour, Sun was bombarded by pleas from residents shouting from their windows: "No more rice! How the current infections are tackled remain a key near-term challenge to COVID czars.

☆ China COVID deaths accelerate to 9,000 a day - UK research firm Airfinity
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Cumulative deaths in China since Dec. 1 likely reached 100,000 with infections totalling 18.6 million, Airfinity said in a statement. Airfinity expects China's COVID infections to reach their first peak on Jan. 13 with 3.7 million cases a day. Airfinity expects deaths to peak on Jan. 23 around 25,000 a day, with cumulative deaths reaching 584,000 since December. Since Dec. 7 when China made its abrupt policy U-turn, authorities have reported 10 COVID deaths. Airfinity expects 1.7 million deaths across China by the end of April, according to its statement.

☆ China's Covid reopening may not produce a strong rebound in energy demand, says Kpler's Matt Smith
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-29 | 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 EmailChina's Covid reopening may not produce a strong rebound in energy demand, says Kpler's Matt SmithKpler's Lead Oil Analyst Matt Smith, lead oil analyst at the Americas at Kepler, joins CNBC's 'Squawk Box' to break down his expectations for global energy prices in 2023 and more.

☆ Watch CNBC’s post-market discussion with Trivariate's Adam Parker, Odyssey's Jason Snipe and OptionsPlay's Jessica Inskip
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-28 | 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 EmailWatch CNBC’s post-market discussion with Trivariate's Adam Parker, Odyssey's Jason Snipe and OptionsPlay's Jessica InskipTrivariate's Adam Parker, Odyssey's Jason Snipe and OptionsPlay's Jessica Inskip join 'Closing Bell: Overtime' to discuss the last days of the 2022 market and China's Covid issues' impact on the markets.

☆ Futures edge higher as investors assess China reopening
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SummarySummary Companies Futures up: Dow 0.25%, S&P 0.19%, Nasdaq 0.14%Dec 28 (Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures edged higher on Wednesday as investors weighed the unwinding of pandemic restrictions by China against surging COVID cases in the world's second largest economy. "If the Chinese reopening story is positive for oil and commodity prices, it's bad news for global inflation," said Ipek Ozkardeskaya, senior analyst at Swissquote Bank. "The surge in Chinese demand will certainly boost inflation through higher energy and commodity prices and in response to higher inflation, the central banks will continue hiking rates." ET, Dow e-minis were up 84 points, or 0.25%, S&P 500 e-minis were up 7.25 points, or 0.19%, and Nasdaq 100 e-minis were up 15.75 points, or 0.14%. They hit their lowest level in more than two years in the previous session over demand worries in China.

☆ Focus on businesses that can do well without China exposure, says Trivariate's Adam Parker
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-28 | 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 EmailFocus on businesses that can do well without China exposure, says Trivariate's Adam ParkerAdam Parker, Trivariate Research, joins 'Closing Bell: Overtime' to discuss the last days of the 2022 market and China's Covid issues' impact on the markets.

☆ WSJ China Bureau Chief Jonathan Cheng on China's Covid whiplash
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-28 | 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 EmailWSJ China Bureau Chief Jonathan Cheng on China's Covid whiplashJonathan Cheng, The Wall Street Journal's China bureau chief, joins CNBC's 'Squawk Box' to discuss China's decision to unravel its stringent Covid restrictions and what it means for the country's economy.

☆ The range of outcomes from China's Covid outbreak is 'wide open'
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-28 | by ( Ted Kemp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailThe range of outcomes from China's Covid outbreak is 'wide open'Beijing's health authorities are taking steps that make it difficult to gauge the severity of the outbreak is in China, CNBC's Ted Kemp reports.

☆ Japan Nov factory output falls on weakening global demand
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-28 | by ( Kantaro Komiya | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"The impacts of overseas rate hikes, slower growth and weak capital expenditure demand are gradually reaching Japan," said Masato Koike, economist at Sompo Institute Plus. "Production inevitably remains weak for October-December and highly likely stalls furthermore as the global economy hasn't hit its worst." That marked the third monthly decrease in Japanese production and followed a revised 3.2% fall in October and 1.7% contraction in September. Output of general machinery slipped 7.9%, while that of production machinery decreased 5.7%, driving down the overall index in November. METI cut its assessment of industrial output for a second straight month, saying "production is weakening".

☆ Dollar hits one-week high vs yen, drops against pound
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-28 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The dollar touched a one-week high against the yen on Wednesday, boosted by a jump in Treasury yields and investor expectations for a rebound in Chinese growth as COVID-19 curbs loosen. Meanwhile, the pound headed towards its largest one-day rise against the dollar in two weeks as Britain's markets reopened after a long weekend. That day, the yen staged its biggest one-day rally against the dollar in 24 years, closing 3.8% higher, as traders speculated about an eventual unwinding of stimulus. The dollar was up 0.2% against the Japanese yen at 133.785. The Australian dollar rose 1% against its U.S. namesake to $0.680, while the New Zealand dollar strengthened by 1.1% to $0.634.

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