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☆ Morning Bid: Range-bound markets awaits Powell - again
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Federal Reserve Board Chair Jerome Powell answers a question during a press conference following a two-day meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee on interest rate policy in Washington, U.S., November 1, 2023. At a separate event on Wednesday, European Central Bank chief economist Philip Lane said his bank needs to see further progress in dampening inflationary pressure, and companies along with governments need to chip in to prevent more policy tightening. "A decrease in the policy rate is not something that is likely to happen in the short term," he said. The approval paves the way for a powerful rival to blockbuster drug Wegovy in addressing record obesity rates. Ping An subsequently said in a statement to Reuters it had "not been asked by (the) Government to take over Country Garden".

Persons: Jerome Powell, Kevin Lamarque, Ankur Banerjee, Powell, Philip Lane, Patrick Harker, Huw Pill, Eli Lilly's, Ping, Merck KGaA, BOE, Christopher Cushing Organizations: Federal, Committee, REUTERS, Ankur, U.S, European Central Bank, . Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, Bank of England, Investors, Novo Nordisk, Reuters, Ping An Insurance, Government, HK, AstraZeneca, Merck, Deutsche Telekom Speakers, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Asia, Guangdong, Ping, Singapore

☆ Insurers can underwrite dirty energy with impunity
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Nov 9 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Insurers used to get heat for underwriting fossil fuels. Membership of bodies like the Net-Zero Insurance Alliance (NZIA) was supposed to mean financial groups would cease supporting oil, gas and coal, speeding the pace of decarbonisation. Similarly, five of the Lloyd’s insurance market’s managing agents – RiverStone, Chaucer, RenaissanceRe, Ascot and Aegis – have not implemented any restrictions on fossil fuels. Insurers have even fewer qualms about supporting oil and gas. Governments have made energy security a key priority since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and can reasonably argue that abrupt halts to backing fossil fuels will just mean higher energy prices.

Persons: Warren, Berkshire Hathaway, Starr don’t, – RiverStone, Chaucer, Insuramore, Pamela Barbaglia, George Hay, Oliver Taslic Organizations: Reuters, Zero Insurance, Axa, Everest, Aegis, Reuters Graphics, X, Bayer, SEC, Paramount, Thomson Locations: Zurich, PICC, RenaissanceRe, Ascot, Ukraine

China's foreign ministry said on Friday the lender is striving to minimise risk impact and losses after the attack. "We don't often see a bank this large get hit with this disruptive of a ransomware attack," said Allan Liska, a ransomware expert at the cybersecurity firm Recorded Future. TRADES CLEAREDICBC said it had successfully cleared Treasury trades executed on Wednesday and repurchase agreements (repo) financing trades done on Thursday. Some market participants said trades going through ICBC were not settled due to the attack and affected market liquidity. The Treasury market appeared to be functioning normally on Thursday, according to LSEG data.

Persons: Kim Kyung, ICBC, Wang Wenbin, Wang, Lockbit, Allan Liska, Scott Skrym, Michael Gladchun, Loomis Sayles, SIFMA, Urvi, Pete Schroder, Gertrude Chavez, Davide Barbuscia, Carolina Mandl, Paritosh Bansal, Joe Cash, Stephen Coates, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: Commercial Bank of China Ltd, REUTERS, Industrial, Commercial Bank of China, Commercial Bank of China's, U.S . Treasury, ICBC Financial Services, Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Security Agency, Boeing, U.S . Treasury Department, Treasury, Securities, Financial Times, U.S . Securities Industry, Financial Markets Association, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, U.S, Bengaluru, Washington, Carolina

☆ China's LONGi jumps on probe into Hillhouse unit's stake transfer
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Shares of the solar energy firm rose nearly 5% in morning trade after it said HHLR Management Pte. Ltd was being investigated by the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) for violating share transfer rules. Singapore-based HHLR Management is part of Chinese investment giant Hillhouse's public investment arm HHLR. HHLR Management was notified by the CSRC of the investigation on suspected rule violations on Wednesday, LONGi said, without giving details. HHLR Management held a 4.98% stake in LONGi at the end of September, compared with 5.85% at the end of 2022, according to filings.

Persons: Hillhouse, LONGi, Zhang Lei, didn't, Samuel Shen, Varun Organizations: Green Energy Technology, Management, China Securities Regulatory Commission, HHLR Management, Reuters, Pionner Driving, Thomson Locations: SHANGHAI, HONG KONG, Singapore, Nanjing, LONGi, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Summer, Hong Kong

Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Ltd (ICBC)'s logo is seen at its branch in Beijing, China, March 30, 2016. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Ltd FollowNov 9 (Reuters) - A ransomware attack on Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) disrupted some trades in the U.S. Treasury market on Thursday, the Treasury Department said. In ransomware attacks, hackers encrypt an organization's systems and demand ransom payments in exchange for unlocking them. The Financial Times reported earlier on Thursday that the U.S. Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) told members that ICBC (601398.SS) had been hit by ransomware that disrupted the U.S. Treasury market by preventing it from settling trades on behalf of other market players. We continue to monitor the situation," a Treasury spokesperson said in a response to a question about the FT report.

Persons: Kim Kyung, Urvi, Pete Schroder, Zeba Siddiqui, Alexander Smith, Michelle Price, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: Commercial Bank of China Ltd, REUTERS, Industrial, Commercial Bank of China, U.S . Treasury, Treasury Department, Financial Times, U.S . Securities Industry, Financial Markets Association, Treasury, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, U.S, Bengaluru, Washington

☆ US Treasury Dept aware of cybersecurity issue at ICBC affecting Treasury market -spokesperson
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

The logo of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) is seen at its branch at its headquarters in Beijing, China, March 30, 2016. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Ltd FollowWASHINGTON, Nov 9 (Reuters) - The U.S. Treasury Department is aware of a cybersecurity issue at Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (601398.SS) that has affected the Treasury market, and is in regular contact with key financial sector participants and regulators, a spokesperson said on Thursday. The Treasury issued the statement following a Financial Times report that a ransomware attack at ICBC had "disrupted" the US Treasury market by preventing the bank from settling Treasury trades on behalf of other market participants. Reporting by Pete Schroeder Editing by Chris ReeseOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Kim Kyung, Pete Schroeder, Chris Reese Organizations: Industrial, Commercial Bank of China, REUTERS, Commercial Bank of China Ltd, WASHINGTON, U.S . Treasury, Treasury, Times, US Treasury, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, ICBC

☆ Exclusive: China authorities ask Ping An to take controlling stake in Country Garden, sources say
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Ping An has "not been asked by (the) Government to takeover Country Garden. Country Garden declined to comment. Country Garden shares were up 4% in afternoon trade. The insurer had as of Aug. 11 a 4.99% stake in Country Garden, according to Hong Kong stock exchange data. Country Garden had total liabilities of 1.4 trillion yuan ($190 billion) at the end of June.

Persons: Damir Sagolj, Ping, Li Qiang, Ping An, Ma Mingzhe, Ma, Peter, Yang Huiyan, Yang, Anne Marie Roantree, Antoni Slodkowski, Don Durfee, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: Ping An Insurance, Global Mobile Internet Conference, National Convention Center, REUTERS, Ping An Insurance Group, HK, Council, Ping An, Reuters, Government, China, Information, Country Garden, People's Bank of China, Financial Regulatory Administration, Shenzhen Metro, Peking University Founder, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, China's, Guangdong province, Guangdong, Hong Kong, GUANGDONG, Shenzhen, Ping An

☆ China property rescue? Who are Ping An Insurance Group and Country Garden?
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Julie Zhu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Ping An, based in the southern tech hub of Shenzhen, vies with China Life (601628.SS) for the title of the country's biggest insurance group by market value. Country Garden has said repeatedly that "home delivery" is its top priority. WHY HAS BEIJING PICKED PING AN TO RESCUE COUNTRY GARDEN? Ping An was a natural choice because it is based in Guangdong and has been a major Country Garden shareholder, said the sources. Ping An said after the Reuters report that it no longer holds Country Garden shares.

Persons: Ping, Ma Mingzhe, Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, Yang Huiyan, Alex Ren, Julie Zhu, Kim Coghill Organizations: Ping An Insurance Group, HK, Reuters, WHO, China, Lufax, Ping An Healthcare, Technology, HSBC, Shenzhen Investment Holdings Co, Central Huijin Investment, Charoen Pokphand, CP, China Evergrande, Evergrande, Regulators, BEIJING, Authorities, Garden, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, China, Shenzhen, vies, New York, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Guangdong

☆ Ping An loses $2.1 billion in market value, China property rallies on Country Garden rescue report
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Company logo of Ping An Insurance Group is shown at a news conference following the company's announcement of its annual results in Hong Kong, China March 16, 2016. Ping An's Hong Kong-listed shares tumbled 5.4%, their sharpest daily fall in more than a year, wiping out almost $2.1 billion in market capitalisation. "Such a move should mitigate or control the risks in the market," said Lu Wenxi, analyst at property agency Centaline. "This move is a big boost to market confidence, because now the whole real estate market, especially some major real estate enterprises are under pretty big pressure, and their bankruptcy risks triggering a chain reaction." Reporting by Anne Marie Roantree in Hong Kong.

Persons: Bobby Yip, Ping, Lu Wenxi, Anne Marie Roantree, Tom Westbrook, Edmund Klamann, Kim Coghill Organizations: Ping An Insurance, REUTERS, Ping, Ping An Insurance Group, Reuters, HK, Ping An, China, Sunac China Holdings, Wanda, Thomson Locations: Hong Kong, China, HONG KONG, Singapore

☆ UBS says these software stocks can maximize AI, have 30% upside
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( Lisa Kailai Han | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The price target on three of those names implies upside of 30% or more. "Rate-fueled multiple compression offers investors opportunistic entry into high-quality, mission critical software businesses with TAMs [total addressable markets] growing low double-digits," analyst Kevin McVeigh wrote. Cloud-based software provider Intapp could also have more than 30% upside despite rallying 43% year to date, according to McVeigh. "We see a well-positioned, predictable model, coupled with constructive fundamentals positioned for core consistent 4-7% organic revenue growth," the analyst wrote. McVeigh also included Thomson Reuters on his list of buy-rated names, although he only sees 18% upside for the stock.

Persons: Kevin McVeigh, McVeigh, — CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: UBS, Clearwater Analytics, C Technologies, Thomson Reuters, Nvidia

☆ Exclusive: China's clashing priorities behind rare money market distress
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

"Banks were grudging in lending, leaving non-banks asking each other for money in afternoon trade," he said. The reasons for the spike in interest rates and the ensuing market chaos are detailed here for the first time. They affect foreign exchange movements since the markets are the major avenue for the supply of money. The money market operator CFETS told traders to keep a 5% ceiling on repo transactions and said anyone involved in high-rate deals closed on Oct. 31 would need to explain themselves to regulators, according to sources who received the notice. "If the pattern of money supply and liquidity provision remains unchanged, the whole system remains fragile.

Persons: Xia Chun, Banks, outflows, CFETS, Tom Westbrook, Vidya Ranganathan, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: People's Bank of China, China Foreign Exchange Trade, Yintech Investment Holdings, Reuters, China Everbright Bank, Co, China Central Depository, Shanghai Clearing House, Shanghai, Thomson Locations: SHANGHAI, SINGAPORE, Beijing, Shanghai, China

☆ Global funds dumped another $3 bln in China stocks in Oct -Morgan Stanley
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Summer Zhen | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

HONG KONG, Nov 6 (Reuters) - Global fund managers sold China equities sharply in October despite further steps from authorities aimed at boosting the world's second-largest economy, according to a report from Morgan Stanley that cited data from fund flow tracker EPFR. "The outflows (are) mostly due to regional funds' rebalancing out of China, in which European-domiciled funds led," Morgan Stanley analysts led by Gilbert Wong said. According to Morgan Stanley, persistent outflows have resulted in foreign long-only managers being their most underweight on China since 2018. Stocks sold off include JD.com (9618.HK), Xiaomi (1810.HK) and China Construction Bank (601939.SS). Separately, Goldman Sachs prime services data showed hedge fund net allocation to China increased to 8.5% as of end-October, up from 8.1% at end-September.

Persons: Morgan Stanley, Gilbert Wong, Stocks, Goldman Sachs, Summer Zhen, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: Global, Reuters, Investors, CSI, HK, China Construction Bank, Baidu, AIA, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, China, Hong Kong, U.S

☆ Ex-VP of China's ICBC being probed by anti-graft body
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Senior Executive Vice President of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) Zhang Hongli attends a meeting of Group of 20 leading economies' finance ministers and central bankers in Mexico City February 24, 2012. REUTERS/Tomas Bravo/ File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSHANGHAI, Nov 4 (Reuters) - The former vice president of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) (601398.SS), Zhang Hongli, is being probed by the anti-graft body, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection said on Saturday. Reporting by Shanghai Newsroom; Editing by William MallardOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Zhang Hongli, Tomas Bravo, William Mallard Organizations: Industrial, Commercial Bank of China, REUTERS, Rights, Central Commission, Shanghai, Thomson Locations: Mexico City

☆ Sinopec says signs new 27-year LNG supply deal with QatarEnergy
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The logo of China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation, or Sinopec, is displayed during the LNG 2023 energy trade show in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, July 12, 2023. Under the agreement, the two firms will cooperate on the second phase of the North Field gas project, which will supply 3 million metric tons of LNG per year to Sinopec. The deal, signed at the China International Import Expo in Shanghai, is the third long-term supply deal between Sinopec and Qatar Energy, the world's top LNG supplier. The two parties signed a 10-year LNG purchase and sales agreement in 2021, followed by a 27-year deal last year. The North Field is part of the world's largest gas field which Qatar shares with Iran, which calls its share South Pars.

Persons: Chris Helgren, Jason Xue, Dominique Patton, Jason Neely Organizations: China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation, REUTERS, Rights, China Petroleum & Chemical Corp, BEIJING, Qatar Energy, China, Qatar, Pars, Thomson Locations: Vancouver , British Columbia, Canada, Shanghai, Sinopec, Iran

☆ The US economy added 150,000 jobs last month. Here’s what that means
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( Alicia Wallace | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Minneapolis CNN —For several months now, the US labor market has been on a cooling trajectory, and Friday’s jobs report made that even more apparent. The US economy added 150,000 jobs last month, falling below expectations but still notching a solid month of employment growth, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data released Friday. October’s job growth came in below September’s stronger-than expected but downwardly revised total of 297,000 jobs. Including the estimated 150,000 jobs added last month and the downward revisions to August and September that totaled 101,000 jobs, the United States is averaging 239,000 jobs gained per month so far this year. Where the jobs were — and weren’tBecause of the timing of the striking actions and how the BLS tracks such activity, October is the first jobs report that reflects the massive strike.

Persons: ”, Sung Won Sohn, Nancy Vanden Houten, Jerome Powell, Gus Faucher, Dante DeAntonio, ” DeAntonio, “ It’s, ” Ger Doyle, ManpowerGroup, Amy Glaser, we’ve, “ We’re Organizations: Minneapolis CNN —, of Labor Statistics, SS Economics, Loyola Marymount University, United Auto Workers, Ford, General Motors, UAW, Big, Federal Reserve, Fed, Oxford Economics, BLS, PNC Financial Services, Government, Moody’s, ”, CNN, “ Locations: Minneapolis, United States, Southern California

☆ Piyush Gupta: Asia’s most disrupted digital banker
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Anshuman Daga | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Piyush Gupta, CEO of DBS Group (DBSM.SI) is often lauded as Asia’s top financier and has been tipped as a candidate to lead global rivals. Yet following repeated serious failures in its digital banking services, the Monetary Authority of Singapore has banned DBS from non-essential activities including M&A. It puts dividends at risk and will attract the eye of watchdogs overseas where the lender is busy expanding. On the back of record profits, Gupta earned $11.4 million last year, making him one of Asia’s highest remunerated bank CEOs. MAS will retain a multiplier of 1.8 times to DBS’ risk weighted assets for operational risk, an increase from a multiplier of 1.5 times MAS applied in February 2022.

Persons: Piyush Gupta, Ping, aren’t, OCBC’s, Peter Seah, Gupta, Breakingviews, he’s, Una Galani, Thomas Shum Organizations: Reuters, DBS Group, HK, HSBC, Monetary Authority of, DBS, MAS, Lakshmi, Bank, Monetary Authority of Singapore, Thomson Locations: SINGAPORE, Monetary Authority of Singapore, India, Taiwan, Singapore

☆ Morgan Stanley’s new CEO inherits rich pickings
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( John Foley | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

A good place to start is outside Morgan Stanley’s home market. Morgan Stanley’s two last big acquisitions were chunky, at a combined $20 billion, but also filled niches. E*Trade, an online brokerage, brought millions of households and company employees that Morgan Stanley hadn’t previously served. Eaton Vance, a U.S. asset manager, peddles investment products that Morgan Stanley now funnels through sales teams in far-flung markets. CEO Jane Fraser shows no inclination to sell private banking, which for now sits within the group’s $756 billion global wealth management bucket.

Persons: Ted Pick’s, Morgan Stanley, Pick, James Gorman, Morgan, Gorman, Germany’s, Britain’s, Morgan Stanley’s, Morgan Stanley hadn’t, Eaton Vance, Smith Barney, watchdogs, Jane Fraser, It’s, Noel Quinn’s, Ping, Colm Kelleher, Ted Pick, Peter Thal Larsen, Thomas Shum Organizations: Reuters, Credit Suisse, McKinsey ., Morgan, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Infrastructure, Citi, U.S, HSBC, HK, UBS, Thomson Locations: U.S, American, Asia, Pacific, Japan, India, China, French, Europe, Switzerland, HK, Swiss

But areas of the market dominated by small stocks and frequented by the country's retail investors have done surprisingly well. Scores of retail investors are dabbling in micro-cap stocks - stocks whose market capitalisation is tiny - operating under the radar of big funds and investors and their massive market-moving flows. Strategies such as Cui's stand out this year in a stock market depressed by China's wobbly economy, heightened geopolitical risks and surging overseas interest rates. Some brokerages are starting to recommend micro stocks to clients. GF Securities said in an October strategy report that buying micro stocks is part of a new investment paradigm in a stock market suffering from anaemic growth, and global decoupling risks.

Persons: Aly, horribilis, Joseph Cui, Cui, Yuan Yuwei, Helen Wu, Wu, Yi Huiman, Lu Deyong, Seres, Lu, Huang Yan, Jason Xue, Samuel Shen, Summer Zhen, Vidya Ranganathan, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Huawei Technologies, Regulators, Wisdom Asset, China Securities Regulatory Commission, Huawei, Security Technology, TRS Information Technology, Automotive, Seres, Securities, Shanghai QiuYang, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, Rights SHANGHAI, HONG KONG, United States, ChatGPT, Ningbo, Summer, Hong Kong

☆ Thailand approves new, scaled down EV subsidy package - industry official
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

An electric car is seen while being charged during the opening of a PTT Pcl energy firm's commercial EV (Electric Vehicle) charging station, in Bangkok, Thailand, August 15, 2016. REUTERS/Jorge Silva/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBANGKOK, Nov 1 (Reuters) - Thailand on Wednesday approved a new subsidy package for electric vehicles, an industry official said, in a move to support EV sales in a top regional auto hub where battery-powered cars are steadily gaining traction. The new package approved by the National Electric Vehicle Policy Committee includes a lower subsidy than the current scheme ending this year, chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries, Kriengkrai Theinnukul, told reporters. EVs have enjoyed strong sales in Thailand this year, accounting for about half of all EV sales in Southeast Asia in the second quarter. Thailand currently offers a government subsidy of up to 150,000 baht ($4,100) per vehicle, but the amount could be brought down to 100,000 baht, a government official said last month.

Persons: Jorge Silva, Kriengkrai Theinnukul, EVs, Kitiphong Thaichareon, Orathai Sriring, Martin Petty Organizations: PTT, REUTERS, Rights, National Electric Vehicle, Federation of Thai Industries, Thomson Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, Rights BANGKOK, Southeast Asia, BYD

☆ The Federal Reserve leaves rates unchanged. Here's what that means for your wallet
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

watch nowThe Federal Reserve left its target federal funds rate unchanged for the second consecutive time Wednesday. What the federal funds rate means for youThe federal funds rate, which is set by the central bank, is the interest rate at which banks borrow and lend to one another overnight. To a certain extent, many households have been shielded from the brunt of the Fed's rate hikes so far, House said. As the federal funds rate rose, the prime rate did as well, and credit card rates followed suit. If the 10-year yield stays near 5%, federal student loan interest rates could increase again when they reset in the spring, costing student borrowers even more in interest.

Persons: Brett House, that's, Sung Won Sohn, Sohn, bode, Greg McBride, Sam Khater, Freddie Mac's, Tiffany Hagler, Bankrate, Jacob Channel Organizations: Federal Reserve, Fed, Columbia Business School, Loyola Marymount University, SS Economics, Treasury, Geard, Bloomberg, Getty, Auto Locations: Larchmont , New York

☆ China firm launches stock indices to tap into rush for safe-haven gold
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A man cuts open the bag after he bought 50 gram gold bars as an investment in Beijing, China, August 5, 2019. The new indexes (.CSI931493), (.CSI931413), launched by the China Securities Index Co, include shares of global gold miners such as Newmont Corporation (NEM.N) and Barrick Gold . "Gold is the brightest asset at the moment... promising much better returns than Chinese property or the broad stock market," said Shihua Duan, general manager of Shanghai Changer Invest. China Asset Management Co and Maxwealth Fund Management Co last month launched China's first exchange-traded funds (ETFs) (517520.SS) that invest in gold stocks. "Buying the gold bar is the safest among so many investment choices," said gold investor Jack Liu, who spent 230,000 yuan ($31,425) on a gold bar in September.

Persons: Jason Lee, Shihua Duan, Jack Liu, Jason Xue, Samuel Shen, Miral Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, China Securities Index, Newmont Corporation, Barrick, Miners, Invest, China Asset Management, Maxwealth Fund Management Co, Beijing, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Shanghai, Ukraine, Summer, Hong Kong

SINGAPORE, Oct 31 (Reuters) - At least three Chinese companies including state giant China National Offshore Oil Company (CNOOC) are evaluating Shell's Singapore assets and considering non-binding bids in coming weeks for the city-state's oldest refinery, according to several sources familiar with the matter. CNOOC, the parent of offshore oil and gas major CNOOC Ltd , operates a joint refining-petrochemical complex with Shell in southern China. However, Sinopec Corp's president said in late August it was not interested in the Shell assets. Two of the sources said Shell had set a preliminary Nov. 5 deadline for proposals, although that could be extended. A Wanhua spokesperson said he was not aware of the company's potential interest in the Shell assets.

Persons: Shell, Goldman Sachs, CNOOC, Sinopec, Rongsheng, Eversun, Salmon Lee, Chen Aizhu, Trixie Yap, Tony Munroe, Florence Tan, Kim Coghill Organizations: Offshore Oil Company, Singapore, Reuters, Eversun Holdings, Wanhua, Shell, Hengli Petrochemical, China National Petroleum Corp, Privately, Thomson Locations: SINGAPORE, China, state's, Singapore, Bukom, Jurong, PetroChina, Huizhou, Guangdong, Fujian province, Putian, Shandong province, Asia, Southeast Asia

☆ CIMB, J Trust among suitors for Indonesia's Bank Commonwealth -sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Yantoultra Ngui | Thomson Reuters | Yantoultra Ngui Is A Southeast Asia Deals Correspondent With Reuters In Singapore | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Bazuki Muhammad/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSINGAPORE, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Malaysian bank CIMB (CIMB.KL) and Japanese finance company J Trust (8508.T) are among firms vying to buy Indonesia's PT Bank Commonwealth, a deal that could value the lender at $400-$500 million, two sources with knowledge of the matter said. Bank Commonwealth, which is 99% owned by Australia's biggest lender Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) (CBA.AX), focuses on retail lending as well as corporate banking services for small and medium enterprises. 2 bank, and J Trust have expressed interest and are looking at submitting binding bids, the sources said. CIMB, J Trust, CBA and Morgan Stanley declined to comment. Bank Commonwealth did not respond to a Reuters request seeking comment.

Persons: Bazuki Muhammad, Morgan Stanley, Yantoultra Ngui, Anton Bridge, Kane Wu, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: CIMB, REUTERS, Rights, J Trust, Indonesia's PT Bank Commonwealth, Bank Commonwealth, Australia's, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, CBA, Bank International Indonesia, China's, China's Bank of, SS, Thomson Locations: Kuala Lumpur, Rights SINGAPORE, Malaysian, Indonesia, Southeast, Southeast Asia, China's Bank, China's Bank of Hangzhou, Hangzhou, Singapore, Tokyo

☆ More China companies buyback shares as Beijing seeks to stabilise market
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SHANGHAI, Oct 30 (Reuters) - More than 30 Chinese listed companies unveiled share buyback and purchase plans over the weekend while major mutual fund house E Fund Management Co said it would invest in its own product as Beijing steps up efforts to put a floor under a sliding stock market. China has already announced a slew of measures, including share purchases by state fund Central Huijin, to stem declines in a stock market (.CSI300) that last week hit the lowest level since 2019. Amid government calls to revive the market, more than 20 listed companies, including Hainan Mining Co (601969.SS), Vatti Corp (002035.SZ) and Zhejiang Sanmei Chemical (603379.SS), unveiled share buyback plans or proposals late on Sunday. In addition, companies such as CRRC Corp (601766.SS) and Wuxi Lead Intelligent Equipment (300450.SZ) disclosed share purchase plans by their controlling shareholders. ($1 = 7.3145 Chinese yuan renminbi)Reporting by Samuel Shen and Tom Westbrook; Editing by Lincoln FeastOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Samuel Shen, Tom Westbrook, Lincoln Organizations: E Fund Management, Central, Hainan Mining Co, Vatti Corp, Chemical, CRRC, E, CSI, Huijin, Shanghai Securities, Thomson Locations: SHANGHAI, Beijing, China, Hainan, Zhejiang, Wuxi

☆ Nazis in Canada? A Secret List With Answers May Soon Be Released.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-29 | by ( Ian Austen | More About Ian Austen | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

For 37 years, Canada has kept close guard on an explosive roster of names. Canada’s strong privacy laws and government secrecy have kept the report confidential, but a recent political blunder may crack it open. Now, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government is discussing whether the time has come to unseal the report. The deliberations began before the celebration of Mr. Hunka, said Anthony Housefather, a member of Mr. Trudeau’s Liberal Party caucus who has been the primary political proponent of declassification. But the episode has increased pressure on the government to finally act.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelensky, Yaroslav Hunka, Justin Trudeau’s, Hunka, Anthony Housefather Organizations: Nazi Waffen, Trudeau’s Liberal Party Locations: Canada, Ukraine, Ukrainian Canadian

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