Mainland insurers fell in Hong Kong and Shanghai yesterday, led by Ping An Insurance and China Pacific Insurance, as investors rushed to cash out from a sector that was seen as overbought in the recent rally.
The selldown was triggered by US private-equity firm Carlyle's decision to pull out of China Pacific Insurance, the nation's No 3 insurer, on Monday. After rallying more than 40 per cent in the past year, the insurer yesterday fell 2.58 per cent to close at HK$30.20.
Analysts said Carlyle's exit had removed the uncertainty that had been weighing on the stock.
Citi analysts, who had set a HK$36 target price for the stock, maintained their "buy" rating even after Carlyle's sell-off. They said the insurer would enjoy a "steady and likely better than peers' net book value growth and sector-leading solvency margin".
Ping An was also in the spotlight yesterday after the South China Morning Post reported the China Development Bank was reconsidering its decision to back a Thai conglomerate's US$9.4 billion bid to buy HSBC's stake in the nation's No 2 insurer.
Ping An fell 4.01 per cent to HK$68.15, on a day the Hang Seng Index lost 0.94 per cent. In Shanghai, Ping An dropped 3.7 per cent to 45.46 yuan (HK$56.60). HSBC fell 0.36 per cent to HK$82.75.