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China's health authority did not immediately respond to a request for comment on infections among medical staff. A few nurses at the fever clinic were tested positive, there aren’t any special protective measures for hospital staff and I believe many of us will soon get infected," Li added. A post on the Weibo social media platform recounted a recent experience at the emergency ward at Beijing Hospital. "Those who have not been to the emergency department of Beijing Hospital don't know what a mess it has become," wrote a Weibo user called Moshang. Beijing Hospital did not immediately respond to a Reuters' request for comment.

HONG KONG/BEIJING, Dec 9 (Reuters) - Chinese regulators and state-owned banks are taking steps to split staff at their workplaces in Beijing, sources told Reuters, as businesses brace for a possible spike in COVID cases after China relaxed virus restrictions in a major policy shift. Other staff are required to work from home, they added. Among China's big four state-owned banks, Bank of China (BOC) (601988.SS) has released a notice to staff that it would split its Beijing workforce into three groups, working in the office on alternate weeks, said a person with direct knowledge. But the bank has yet to decide when to start such rotations, the person added. Other large state banks have also made similar arrangements - splitting up staff into rotating shifts while maintaining a maximum of 10%-20% of staff occupancy in their headquarters in Beijing, said two other people with knowledge of the matter.

☆ PwC invests $140 mln in China tourist hub for learning centre
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

HONG KONG, Dec 10 (Reuters) - PwC said on Saturday it plans to invest more than 1 billion yuan ($140 million) to establish an education and innovation centre China's island province of Hainan, a tourism hub. The Reimagine Park project, to occupy 16 acres in Sanya in the Chinese southern province, is due to open in 2025. "I have absolutely no doubt the China market will rebound," Raymund Chao, chairman of PwC Asia Pacific and China, told Reuters, after Beijing this week eased many of the nation's strict COVID-19 curbs. The accounting and consulting firm partners with business schools such as INSEAD and Thunderbird School of Global Management to provide learning and training opportunities at the park for executives in the business community, it said. ($1 = 6.9559 Chinese yuan renminbi)Reporting by Selena Li; Editing by William MallardOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ In China's Wuhan, a shadow of reserve and resentment even as COVID lockdowns ease
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( Martin Quin Pollard | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

"We know the country is reopening but we ourselves haven't let down our guard," said one Wuhan cornershop owner. "This has never happened before, not even at the start of the outbreak in 2020," said one Wuhan pharmacist surnamed Liu. Health authorities in Wuhan reported 229 new COVID cases on Thursday, while health authorities in Beijing reported more than 16,000 cases nationwide on the same day. REUTERS/Martin Pollard 1 2 3 4By November, as frustration towards the zero-COVID policies mounted, some Wuhan residents like Sam Yuen, a teacher, joined protests demanding an end to the lockdowns, alongside thousands of others in cities across China. City authorities put the official death toll at 3,869 in April 2020.

☆ Reaction to China relaxing COVID restrictions in major policy shift
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

REDMOND WONG, GREATER CHINA MARKET STRATEGIST, SAXO MARKETS, HONG KONG"The 10 new measures are underwhelming, given the high expectations. GARY NG, ECONOMIST, NATIXIS, HONG KONG"The latest announcements show China is determined to speed up its reopening due to economic pressure. It is likely to see upswings cyclically in business sentiment from suppressed demand, especially in sectors heavily affected by the covid restrictions. "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." SAKTIANDI SUPAAT, REGIONAL HEAD OF FX RESEARCH & STRATEGY, MAYBANK, SINGAPORE"I think markets have, in some ways, priced in that element (of further easing).

[1/4] A Christmas tree is decorated in front of the headquarters of Swiss bank Credit Suisse in Zurich, Switzerland November 23, 2022. Credit Suisse declined to comment on job cuts in the Hong Kong private banking business. Credit Suisse said in October it intends to reduce its cost base by around 2.5 billion Swiss francs ($2.67 billion) to about 14.5 billion in 2025. Client outflows have partially reversed and very few clients have left entirely, Credit Suisse Chairman Axel Lehmann told a Financial Times conference on Thursday. The fresh round of private banking cuts signals challenges facing Credit Suisse as it shifts towards banking for the wealthy, after vowing to ramp up wealth management globally.

China on Friday launched its first private pension scheme in 36 cities as it grapples with a rapidly ageing population, allowing individuals to open retirement accounts at banks to buy pension products ranging from deposits to mutual funds. The move marked the official launch of China's version of IRA, or Individual Retirement Accounts in the United States, a private pension scheme that offers tax advantages for individuals saving for retirement. As part of the new system, local domestic workers covered by China's public pension insurance can participate in the private pension scheme and contribute up to 12,000 yuan ($1,680) per year to their individual accounts and receive tax benefits. Eddy Wong, chief executive of China International Fund Management (CIFM), a joint venture between JPMorgan and Shanghai International Trust Co., said China's individual pension market has "huge potential and room for development". "The first movers in China's pension market enjoy an advantage," said Howhow Zhang, Greater China wealth and asset management strategy and transactions leader at consultancy EY.

☆ Shares brush off China COVID curbs, dollar retreats
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( Amanda Cooper | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The dollar pulled back from strong overnight gains while oil edged up after Monday's volatile sell-off. The MSCI All-World index of shares (.MIWD00000PUS) rose 0.2%, putting it on course for a second month of increases - its longest stretch of gains since late 2021. The dollar of the gains that took it to a 10-day high on Monday, when investors ditched risk assets over China's COVID flare-ups and was last down 0.2%. The dollar came under pressure in particular against the euro and the yen , which rose by 0.2% and 0.3%, respectively. Oil rose on Tuesday, a day after Saudi Arabia denied a media report that it was discussing an increase in oil supply with OPEC and its allies.

HONG KONG, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Credit Suisse (CSGN.S) has laid off about one-third of its China-based investment banking team and nearly half of its research department, sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters, as part of a global restructuring and as its China business slows. Credit Suisse declined to make specific comments on the layoffs in China when contacted by Reuters. Two sources said that more than 20 China-based investment bankers have been notified about the job cuts at Credit Suisse Securities (China), the bank's 51%-owned joint venture. Credit Suisse's China annual report shows it had 68 people in its investment banking department at the end of last year. At Credit Suisse's China venture, about 10 research staff have been let go, the sources said.

☆ Global shares shake off China COVID curbs, but investors stay cautious
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( Amanda Cooper | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The dollar pulled back from strong overnight gains while oil took a pause from Monday's retreat. The MSCI All-World index of shares (.MIWD00000PUS) rose 0.2%, putting it on course for a second straight month of increases - its longest stretch of gains since late 2021. The dollar of the gains that took it to a 10-day high on Monday, when investors ditched risk assets over China's COVID flare-ups and was last down 0.2%. The dollar came under pressure in particular against the euro and the yen , which rose by 0.2% and 0.3%, respectively. Oil prices rose on Tuesday, a day after Saudi Arabia denied a media report that it was discussing an increase in oil supply with OPEC and its allies.

☆ Asian shares recover but concerns over China may resume strict COVID curbs linger
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( Selena Li | Kirsty Needham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

HONG KONG, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Asian stock markets mostly recouped early losses on Tuesday, supported by improved sentiment for China shares, but concerns lingered that Beijing may reimpose strict COVID curbs that could cause supply chain disruptions. The biggest driver for the recovery was China, with its benchmark up 0.43%. Losses on Hong Kong's benchmark index (.HSI) narrowed to 0.7%. Gains in China were capped by worsening COVID-19 situation in the country, however. Japan's benchmark Nikkei average (.N225) rose 0.69%, as the yen's weakness against the dollar raised prospects for domestic manufacturers.

☆ Asian shares mostly down on concerns China may resume strict COVID curbs
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( Selena Li | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Thomas PeterHONG KONG, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Asian shares were on the defensive on Tuesday as a COVID-19 resurgence in China increased concerns that Beijing may reimpose strict pandemic curbs and that further restrictions could cause supply chain disruptions. The dollar pulled back from strong overnight gains on Tuesday while oil took a pause from Monday's retreat. Japan's benchmark Nikkei average (.N225) opened up 0.78%, while Australian shares (.AXJO) rose 0.55%. "China's Covid situation is really in the front row for Asia trading," said Redmond Wong, market strategist for Greater China at Saxo Markets in Hong Kong. Beijing warned on Monday that it was facing its most severe test of the pandemic, fuelling investor concerns that China may be forced to resume strict mobility curbs and give stay and home orders across cities.

Nov 21 (Reuters) - Britain's competition regulator said on Monday it was looking into whether U.S. chipmaker Broadcom Inc's (AVGO.O) $61 billion acquisition of cloud computing company VMware Inc (VMW.N) may substantially lessen competition. The Broadcom-VMware deal, announced in May, is the second biggest globally so far this year and marks Broadcom's attempt to diversify its business into enterprise software. The companies are also seeking European Union antitrust approval. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is inviting comments from interested parties by Dec. 6 to help it with an assessment on whether to formally launch an investigation into the Broadcom-VMware deal. Reporting by Radhika Anilkumar in Bengaluru; Editing by Devika SyamnathOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Nov 21 (Reuters) - Goldman Sachs on Monday warned that the global equity bear market is not over as the markets are yet to see a trough in the momentum of global growth deterioration, a peak in interest rates and valuations lowered to reflect a likely recession. "We continue to think that the near-term path for equity markets is likely to be volatile and down before reaching a final trough in 2023," Goldman Sachs said in a note. The investment bank expects investors to start to price in expectations for a bull market next year. "We expect markets to transition into a 'Hope' phase of the next bull market at some point in 2023, but from a lower level." Reporting by Siddarth S in BengaluruOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Moody's closing its consulting business in China, cutting staff -sources
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The U.S.-headquartered credit rating firm started winding down the business, Moody's Analytics, in China this week, the people said on condition of anonymity as they are not authorised to speak to media. The move, first announced internally on Monday, has affected more than 100 employees across Moody's Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen offices, one of the sources said. Total headcount for the business unit could not immediately be ascertained. Moody's credit ratings business will continue to operate in the world's second-largest economy, the source added. Reporting by Samuel Shen in Shanghai, Georgina Lee and Selena Li in Hong Kong; Editing by Sumeet Chatterjee and Edwina GibbsOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

SINGAPORE/LONDON, Nov 11 (Reuters) - Regulators are moving in on distressed crypto exchange FTX as it scrambles to raise billions in funds to stave off collapse, while its chief executive, Sam Bankman-Fried, faces heightened scrutiny. The Securities Commission of the Bahamas has frozen assets of FTX Digital Markets, an FTX subsidiary. FTX Australia called in administrators on Friday, the Australian Financial Review reported, citing a company statement. Bankman-Fried is under investigation by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for potential securities law violations, Bloomberg reported, citing a source. This source said helping out FTX was the question for larger investors in FTX.

Meanwhile, the Securities Commission Of the Bahamas said on Thursday it had frozen assets of FTX Digital Markets, an FTX subsidiary. Broker Genesis Trading disclosed its derivatives business has approximately $175 million in locked funds on FTX. "We believe there is a 20-30% chance of a FTX rescue at best," said Matthew Dibb, chief operating officer of Singapore-based crypto investment manager Stack Funds. He is seeking the remainder from other funds, including current investors such as Sequoia Capital, the source added. It was not clear whether Bankman-Fried will be able to raise the funds he needs or if these investors would participate.

A representative for FTX did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the deal or the SEC investigation. FTX and Binance did not disclose the terms of their agreement, and markets face fresh uncertainty over whether it will proceed. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration 1 2Prior to the Binance proposed deal, Bankman-Fried approached cryptocurrency exchange OKX on Monday morning about a deal, but the exchange declined to move forward. "It has been a truly a devastating year for the industry," said Ryan Wong, a senior researcher at crypto exchange Huobi. "This could be a major source of risk to crypto markets," Lai wrote.

☆ Ping An urges HSBC to make aggressive cost cuts
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

[1/2] The company logo of Ping An Insurance is seen in Beijing, China, Aug. 27, 2020. REUTERS/Thomas PeterHONG KONG, Nov 4 (Reuters) - HSBC Holdings shareholder Ping An has urged the lender to cut costs aggressively and exit sub-scale non-Asian markets as the Chinese insurer pushes harder for the bank to spin off its Asia operation. HSBC should be "more aggressive in radically reducing costs" and consider layoffs, Ping An Asset Management, the bank's largest shareholder and a wholly-owned unit of Ping An Insurance (601318.SS), said in a statement on Friday. Reporting by Selena Li Editing by Sumeet Chatterjee and David GoodmanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Those returns would come from "great trading opportunities", including placing long and short bets on Chinese equities, said Man Group CEO Luke Ellis, without giving any details. "I think the alpha opportunities in China are very attractive," Ellis told Reuters on Thursday, referring to the potential to generate returns that are higher than market benchmark gains. "We've been able to generate good alpha in the Chinese market. With China gradually opening up its markets to foreign investors, Ellis sees the potential for Man Group to expand its operations in that country when it relaxes its stringent COVID-induced border controls. Man Group launched a Chinese domestic private fund unit in 2017 that currently runs one fund with a macro strategy.

☆ HSBC top shareholder Ping An urges aggressive cost cuts, renews spin-off push
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-04 | by ( Selena Li | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

HSBC should be "more aggressive in radically reducing costs" and consider layoffs, Ping An Asset Management (Ping An AM), the bank's largest shareholder and a wholly-owned unit of Ping An Insurance (601318.SS), said in a statement on Friday. The statement on Friday marks Ping An AM's first public comments on the subject. Ping An AM said cost reduction was "urgent and absolutely needed" for the bank to improve performance, suggesting HSBC should consider layoffs and cuts in expenses at headquarters. HSBC said in a statement it had kept a tight grip on costs by driving greater efficiencies across the organisation. "We will support any initiatives including a spin-off that are conducive to improve HSBC's performance and value; we will consider any suggestions that will help HSBC improve its development and operation strategy," Ping An AM said.

☆ Hong Kong's Lee touts 'China advantage' to rebuild city's image as financial hub
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/4] Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee speaks during the Global Financial Leaders Investment Summit in Hong Kong, China November 2, 2022. REUTERS/Tyrone SiuNov 2 (Reuters) - Hong Kong leader John Lee pitched the city's connection with China in an address to some of the world's top financial executives, as he pushes to rebuild the COVID-ravaged city's image as a major financial hub. Chief Executive Lee told the Hong Kong Monetary Authority's Global Financial Leaders' Investment Summit on Wednesday the city would continue working towards lifting COVID restrictions. "Hong Kong remains the only place in the world where the global advantage and the China advantage come together in a single city," Lee said. Authorities, he said, were keen for more international companies to list in Hong Kong to grow the city's capital markets activities.

☆ Credit Suisse plans to push ahead with China expansion after overhaul
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-31 | by ( Selena Li | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

As part of the global revamp, Credit Suisse is evaluating its presence in 13 locations in Asia Pacific with an aim to "simplify" operations in each location, Credit Suisse's Singapore-based Asia Pacific chief executive Edwin Low told Reuters, without elaborating. Low said China and Hong Kong, however, will remain brighter spots. A Credit Suisse report in September forecast the number of Chinese millionaires will double by 2026. As part of its China expansion plans, Credit Suisse struck a deal to buy out its Chinese partner in a local securities joint venture last month, at a time when plans of its global overhaul were being deliberated internally. "China will go through ups and downs, but we're giving the opportunity to acquire 100% of Credit Suisse Securities with our full commitment, knowing that the China recovery may not be immediate," Low said.

☆ Insurer AIA's new business value edges up as China COVID curbs ease
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Oct 31 (Reuters) - Asia-focussed insurer AIA Group Ltd (1299.HK) reported a 1% rise in quarterly new business value on Tuesday as sales recovered from pandemic lows in its main markets of China and Hong Kong. AIA's mainland China business posted a 6% rise in value of new business (VONB) during the quarter, on a constant exchange rates basis. Its Hong Kong business also saw VONB growth, AIA said. The two markets together account for about half of AIA's new business growth globally. In the quarter ended Sept. 30, AIA's VONB rose to $741 million from $735 million a year earlier.

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