https://www.scmp.com/rss/522931/feed Gary Ng is a Senior Economist for Asia Pacific at Natixis Corporate and Investment Bank, a role he has held since 2015. He specialises in macroeconomic and thematic research, analysing trends across the Asia Pacific region, including international trade, supply chains, and government policies. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Kandy Wong,Ji Siqi,Ralph Jennings Kandy Wong,Ji Siqi,Ralph Jennings Beyond high-profile names like Apple’s Tim Cook, a number of lesser-known CEOs joining US President Donald Trump on his trip to China this week represent industries caught in the crossfire of the trade war, analysts said, and are expected to push for deeper engagement rather than risk becoming a “geopolitical football”. Seventeen American CEOs have been invited in total, according to a list released by the White House on Monday – a smaller business delegation than in 2017, when 27 high-profile... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3353312/trumps-cadre-ceos-hunts-wins-china-soybeans-semiconductors?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3353312/trumps-cadre-ceos-hunts-wins-china-soybeans-semiconductors?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 May 2026 13:34:22 +0000 Peggy Ye Peggy Ye CK Hutchison Holdings’ shares climbed to their highest level since 2020 after the conglomerate announced plans to exit the UK mobile market, signalling that investors believe the Li family may once again have timed an industry peak before the broader market. Shares rose about 12 per cent to HK$73.30 on Monday from the May 5 close, after the company said it would sell its 49 per cent stake in VodafoneThree for US$5.8 billion. CK Hutchison said the disposal was expected to generate a gain of about... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3353185/art-deal-uk-telecoms-exit-fits-li-familys-trademark-timing-selling-top?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3353185/art-deal-uk-telecoms-exit-fits-li-familys-trademark-timing-selling-top?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 May 2026 23:00:13 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal China has become one of the largest sources of investment in land parcels and other properties in Singapore, as the safe-haven status of Southeast Asia’s top financial hub continues to attract global capital, according to analysts. China-linked developers and business entities have become more active in the market, said Alan Cheong, executive director for research and consultancy at Savills Singapore. “Chinese developers who have had experience in Singapore are now familiar with the rules,... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3352046/singapores-safe-haven-status-draws-more-chinese-capital-property-sector?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3352046/singapores-safe-haven-status-draws-more-chinese-capital-property-sector?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 03 May 2026 02:00:09 +0000 Frank Chen,Mia Nurmamat Frank Chen,Mia Nurmamat China may gain from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) withdrawing from the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec), benefiting from additional supply as global oil markets face growing strain three months into the US-Israeli war in Iran, analysts said. The UAE – Opec’s third-largest producer, accounting for about 12 per cent of its total output – will formally leave the bloc on May 1. UAE Energy Minister Suhail Mohamed al-Mazrouei told CNBC that it was the “right time” to exit, adding... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3351849/why-china-may-benefit-uaes-opec-withdrawal-amid-iran-war-oil-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3351849/why-china-may-benefit-uaes-opec-withdrawal-amid-iran-war-oil-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Apr 2026 13:00:08 +0000 Ann Cao,Iris Deng Ann Cao,Iris Deng The distant geopolitical conflict in the Middle East is sending shock waves through Asia’s semiconductor industry, exposing fresh vulnerabilities in the supply chain as shortages of photoresist – a critical chipmaking material – emerge as the latest weak link. With the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed since early March, supplies of naphtha – a key feedstock for specialty chemicals used in semiconductor production including photoresist – have been sharply curtailed. Produced during the... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3351192/asias-chipmakers-feel-heat-naphtha-crunch-hits-photoresist-supply?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3351192/asias-chipmakers-feel-heat-naphtha-crunch-hits-photoresist-supply?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 14:00:08 +0000 Sylvia Ma Sylvia Ma The US-Israeli war on Iran has unleashed sharp swings across global energy and financial markets, fuelling demand for safe-haven assets, with Hong Kong emerging as a potential beneficiary across gold, property and capital markets. In the first of a three-part series, we examine Hong Kong’s bid to position itself as Asia’s bullion hub. War in the Middle East has intensified global demand to diversify gold storage, creating a strategic window for Hong Kong to tap its unique status and evolve from... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3350511/hong-kong-wants-become-global-gold-vault-does-iran-war-create-opening?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3350511/hong-kong-wants-become-global-gold-vault-does-iran-war-create-opening?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Apr 2026 06:00:16 +0000 Xinyi Wu,Mia Nurmamat Xinyi Wu,Mia Nurmamat China’s economy grew 5 per cent year on year in the first quarter, beating market expectations despite the global impact of the US-Israel war in Iran, which analysts said indicates the country remains on track to meet its full-year growth target without the need for near-term stimulus. The closely watched gross domestic product growth figure, released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Thursday, beat the 4.86 per cent forecast by economists polled by financial data provider Wind. It... https://www.scmp.com/economy/economic-indicators/article/3350237/china-records-5-gdp-growth-first-quarter-track-annual-target?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/economic-indicators/article/3350237/china-records-5-gdp-growth-first-quarter-track-annual-target?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 02:00:21 +0000 Yeon Woo Lee Yeon Woo Lee China has for the first time included commercial health insurance in its 2026 government work report, signalling efforts to strengthen the country’s social safety net and support the growth of innovative drugs and medical devices. On Thursday, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said the government would “work faster to develop commercial health insurance” and promote the “high-quality development of innovative drugs and medical devices” to better meet people’s diverse needs. Behind the unusual emphasis... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3345717/china-pursue-commercial-health-insurance-ease-public-strain-support-drug-innovation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3345717/china-pursue-commercial-health-insurance-ease-public-strain-support-drug-innovation?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Mar 2026 10:12:46 +0000 Xinyi Wu Xinyi Wu Rising energy costs driven by Middle Eastern geopolitical tensions may provide some relief to China’s years-long struggle with weak prices, but analysts warn that a spike in oil prices could spark a scenario in which stagnant economic growth collides with rising inflation, hindering the nation’s economic recovery. “Rising oil prices [could] lead to stagflation, which helps increase the inflation rate but also leads to a decline in economic growth and an increase in unemployment,” said Su Jian,... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3345420/mideast-oil-crisis-revives-stagflation-spectre-haunting-chinas-deflation-battle?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3345420/mideast-oil-crisis-revives-stagflation-spectre-haunting-chinas-deflation-battle?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Mar 2026 10:00:40 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng Technology stocks across China, South Korea and Japan have taken a beating as risk-off sentiment sweeps markets amid escalating fears that the US-Iran war may further disrupt tech infrastructure and supply chains. Hong Kong and Chinese tech stocks have been affected to a lesser degree than their Korean and Japanese peers because of the different levels of exposure to energy and shipping disruptions caused by the Middle East turmoil, analysts said. In Seoul, the Kospi index sank over 12 per cent... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3345407/asian-tech-stocks-reel-us-iran-war-disrupts-energy-logistics-supply-chains?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3345407/asian-tech-stocks-reel-us-iran-war-disrupts-energy-logistics-supply-chains?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Mar 2026 09:04:16 +0000 Peggy Ye Peggy Ye Hong Kong’s government-backed investment fund is being redeployed to support the city’s sluggish commercial property sector, signaling authorities’ growing willingness to use public funds as a policy tool to steady office valuations and align real estate investment with the city’s industrial ambitions. Attracting foreign institutions, however, might prove challenging. The city’s elevated vacancy rates, looming new completions and uncertain rental recovery have kept global funds on the sidelines,... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3345175/hong-kongs-strategy-hkic-prop-citys-office-market-seen-challenging?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3345175/hong-kongs-strategy-hkic-prop-citys-office-market-seen-challenging?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Mar 2026 00:30:08 +0000 Yeon Woo Lee Yeon Woo Lee South Korean retail investors, known for their aggressive trading style, are ramping up exposure to Chinese artificial intelligence-related stocks, even as their home market ranks among the world’s top performers. Data from SEIBro, a portal operated by the Korea Securities Depository, showed that South Korean retail investors bought US$507 million worth of Hong Kong-listed shares and US$154 million of mainland-listed shares between January 2 and Monday. The data showed that total purchases had... https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3344586/south-korean-investors-pour-millions-minimax-other-chinese-ai-and-chip-stocks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3344586/south-korean-investors-pour-millions-minimax-other-chinese-ai-and-chip-stocks?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Feb 2026 22:00:09 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu When Wilson Chan Fung-cheung joined Hong Kong’s banking industry as a foreign-exchange trader more than four decades ago, his work involved US dollars, UK pounds, Japanese yen and various European and Asian currencies – but not Chinese yuan. “Back then, there was no yuan trading at all as, in fact, the internationalisation of the yuan only started in 2009,” recalled Chan, who has worked for various Chinese banks. Beijing’s decision that year to promote its currency for wider use in trade,... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3344464/why-chinas-path-financial-superpower-status-could-begin-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3344464/why-chinas-path-financial-superpower-status-could-begin-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Feb 2026 15:00:09 +0000 Sylvia Ma Sylvia Ma With Hong Kong set to unveil its annual budget, economists have said the city should strengthen its role in pushing the internationalisation of the Chinese yuan as Beijing presses ahead with financial opening while keeping stability firmly in view. From expanding offshore yuan products to using its stablecoin regulations as a sandbox for potential cross-border payment channels, the experts said that Hong Kong could help realise the nation’s vision of becoming a “financial powerhouse”, especially... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344264/should-hong-kongs-next-budget-make-room-taking-yuan-global-experts-weigh?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344264/should-hong-kongs-next-budget-make-room-taking-yuan-global-experts-weigh?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Feb 2026 00:00:30 +0000 Yeon Woo Lee Yeon Woo Lee China and South Korea have had a turbulent relationship over the past few years as they compete across a range of hi-tech industries. But the two countries now appear to be bonding over a shared challenge: their rapidly ageing societies. The issue has featured on the agenda of several meetings between President Xi Jinping and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in recent months, with the leaders pledging to work together to deal with the economic changes being wrought by their nations’ low... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3343740/china-and-south-korea-find-new-shared-bond-their-rapidly-ageing-societies?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3343740/china-and-south-korea-find-new-shared-bond-their-rapidly-ageing-societies?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Feb 2026 06:00:10 +0000 Ann Cao,Coco Feng Ann Cao,Coco Feng Taiwan’s move to defend its “silicon shield” is the latest sign of the island’s tech dominance being used as a bargaining chip in trade negotiations, as it faces increased geopolitical pressure to shift semiconductor manufacturing capacity overseas, according to analysts. It would be “impossible” to move 40 per cent of the island’s semiconductor capacity to the US, Taiwan officials have told the US, according to Taiwan vice-premier Cheng Li-chiun in an interview with local broadcaster Chinese... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-war/article/3343070/taiwan-says-proposal-move-40-its-chipmaking-capacity-us-impossible?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-war/article/3343070/taiwan-says-proposal-move-40-its-chipmaking-capacity-us-impossible?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Feb 2026 12:00:09 +0000 Cao Jiaxuan Cao Jiaxuan Finland’s prime minister begins a four-day visit to China on Sunday, heading a large business delegation on a trip designed to forge closer ties with Beijing amid pressure from coercive US policies. According to analysts, Petteri Orpo’s trip also highlights Beijing’s efforts to strengthen ties with individual European Union member states as a way to soften broader EU scrutiny over claims that China’s overcapacity is driving a huge trade imbalance. Observers expect cooperation to largely focus on... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3341111/finlands-leader-set-4-day-china-visit-europe-seeks-counter-trump-pressure?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3341111/finlands-leader-set-4-day-china-visit-europe-seeks-counter-trump-pressure?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 24 Jan 2026 12:00:11 +0000 Julie Zhang Julie Zhang As Chinese biotech and pharmaceutical firms gain importance on the global stage, foreign investors from sovereign wealth funds to industry players are securing strategic stakes in their future success. International institutional investors have built up significant positions in Chinese biotech firms over the past decade. These positions often approach, and in some cases exceed, the 5 per cent disclosure threshold for substantial shareholders in Hong Kong. BlackRock, the world’s largest asset... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3340801/revealed-global-funds-blackrock-temasek-back-chinas-largest-biotech-firms?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3340801/revealed-global-funds-blackrock-temasek-back-chinas-largest-biotech-firms?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Jan 2026 00:30:09 +0000 Aileen Chuang Aileen Chuang A sudden spike in volatility in Japanese government bonds (JGBs) – long seen as among the world’s safest assets – is stoking concern that risk aversion is rippling through Asian markets across asset classes, according to analysts. Investors have repriced the term and risk premiums on JGBs as fiscal worries that started simmering last year have flared again after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi pledged tax cuts and higher spending. The 40-year bond yield rose above 4 per cent on Tuesday, the... https://www.scmp.com/business/commodities/article/3340667/japan-bond-volatility-raises-contagion-alarm-asias-stocks-and-debt?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/commodities/article/3340667/japan-bond-volatility-raises-contagion-alarm-asias-stocks-and-debt?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 Jan 2026 07:11:50 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi,Sylvie Zhuang Seong Hyeon Choi,Sylvie Zhuang US President Donald Trump’s proposal to boost next year’s military budget to US$1.5 trillion aims to blunt China’s global influence, a move analysts said could push Beijing to speed up its own military build-up with “greater urgency”. On Wednesday, Trump wrote on social media that the US military budget for the 2027 financial year should be raised in the face of “very troubled and dangerous times”. “This will allow us to build the ‘Dream Military’ that we have long been entitled to and, more... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3339229/trump-wants-us15-trillion-dream-military-will-china-boost-spending-response?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3339229/trump-wants-us15-trillion-dream-military-will-china-boost-spending-response?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Jan 2026 14:11:08 +0000 Ji Siqi,Shi Jiangtao,Kandy Wong,Ralph Jennings Ji Siqi,Shi Jiangtao,Kandy Wong,Ralph Jennings As a diplomatic row sees Japanese company executives put visits to China on hold, Beijing is preparing to roll out the red carpet for South Korean business leaders accompanying President Lee Jae-myung on a state visit starting Sunday. The contrasting receptions highlight how geopolitics is reshaping corporate ties in East Asia. Analysts expect continued friction between Beijing and Tokyo in 2026 to accelerate Japanese efforts to de-risk from the Chinese market. Conversely, Beijing’s warming... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3338540/chinas-diplomatic-divide-red-carpet-south-korea-cold-shoulder-japanese-firms?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3338540/chinas-diplomatic-divide-red-carpet-south-korea-cold-shoulder-japanese-firms?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Jan 2026 13:00:11 +0000 Zhao Ziwen,Sylvie Zhuang Zhao Ziwen,Sylvie Zhuang TikTok may have dodged a US ban but unresolved questions about its algorithm could remain a source of tension in the broader US-China relationship, according to analysts. ByteDance, the parent company of the social media site, signed a binding agreement this week to divest its US entity into a joint venture controlled by a consortium of American investors, ending years of legal and political uncertainties. TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew said in an internal memo on Thursday that the deal effectively... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3337118/tiktok-seals-us-deal-core-algorithm-could-still-rattle-ties-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3337118/tiktok-seals-us-deal-core-algorithm-could-still-rattle-ties-china?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 19 Dec 2025 14:00:18 +0000 Iris Deng,Ann Cao,Coco Feng Iris Deng,Ann Cao,Coco Feng China’s reported development of its own extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machine to make advanced semiconductors for artificial intelligence and high-performance computer systems could provide a “massive” boost to the country in its tech rivalry with the United States, according to analysts. Scientists at a high-security Shenzhen laboratory earlier this year built “what Washington has spent years trying to prevent”: a prototype EUV lithography machine, according to a Reuters report on... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-war/article/3337100/china-eyes-mastery-euv-lithography-bolstering-ai-chip-ambitions-analysts-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-war/article/3337100/china-eyes-mastery-euv-lithography-bolstering-ai-chip-ambitions-analysts-say?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 19 Dec 2025 12:00:13 +0000 Yeon Woo Lee,Ralph Jennings Yeon Woo Lee,Ralph Jennings As Chinese tourists pull back from visiting Japan amid a diplomatic row, a slumping won is positioning South Korea as the new bargain destination for mainland travellers, analysts said. The Korean won has become Asia’s worst-performing currency in the second half of the year, weighed down by an interest rate gap with the United States and sustained equity outflows to the US market. In October, South Korea’s real effective exchange rate plunged to a 16-year low – falling even further than it did... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3336644/why-south-korea-becoming-chinas-new-bargain-travel-hotspot-amid-japan-spat?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3336644/why-south-korea-becoming-chinas-new-bargain-travel-hotspot-amid-japan-spat?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Dec 2025 13:00:16 +0000 Sylvia Ma Sylvia Ma With reported gold sales by Russia’s central bank, debate has emerged over whether this could mark the start of a broader retreat in the precious metal – a discussion sharpened by a Chinese celebrity hedge fund manager’s remarks amid recent price volatility. On Saturday, Li Bei, founder of Shanghai Banxia Investment Management Centre, said “the best days for gold are over” and “signs of a new wave of central-bank gold selling are emerging,” in a post on the company’s official WeChat... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3334752/will-russias-gold-sale-prompt-retreat-hedge-fund-manager-spurs-debate?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3334752/will-russias-gold-sale-prompt-retreat-hedge-fund-manager-spurs-debate?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Dec 2025 10:30:11 +0000 Ralph Jennings,Xiaofei Xu Ralph Jennings,Xiaofei Xu Chinese firms must be extra vigilant in Europe as policymakers there weigh tougher measures against a pair of iconic hi-tech suppliers while France has threatened to suspend fast-fashion retailer Shein, analysts say, as the moves come after a seizure of Chinese-owned chipmaker Nexperia. The European Commission’s reported plan to force member states to phase out Huawei Technologies and ZTE gear from telecoms networks could mark a fresh regulatory hurdle while serving as a warning to roughly 3,000... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3332680/eu-scrutiny-huawei-zte-and-shein-raises-stakes-chinese-firms-compliance-maze?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3332680/eu-scrutiny-huawei-zte-and-shein-raises-stakes-chinese-firms-compliance-maze?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 13 Nov 2025 15:00:13 +0000 Ann Cao,Wency Chen,Iris Deng Ann Cao,Wency Chen,Iris Deng The Dutch government is under renewed pressure to end its seizure of the Chinese-owned, Netherlands-based semiconductor company Nexperia, after Washington agreed to suspend its updated export control rule for one year. After a meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart Donald Trump on Thursday, China’s Ministry of Commerce said Washington would temporarily halt the implementation of its so-called 50 per cent subsidiary rule. Introduced in late September, that rule... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-war/article/3330953/netherlands-faces-pressure-surrender-control-nexperia-after-xi-trump-summit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-war/article/3330953/netherlands-faces-pressure-surrender-control-nexperia-after-xi-trump-summit?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Oct 2025 14:00:34 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings A tentative deal for the management of Chinese short video app TikTok in the United States is facing new pressure after last week’s flare-up in trade tensions between Beijing and Washington, with analysts mixed in their assessment of the pact’s chances for survival. “It’s probably quite hard to see that [deal] happening under such an atmosphere,” said Gary Ng, senior Asia-Pacific economist at Natixis. “I don’t know whether it will collapse or go through … The biggest downside is the US could... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3329137/us-china-tensions-back-upswing-tiktok-deal-risk?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3329137/us-china-tensions-back-upswing-tiktok-deal-risk?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Oct 2025 15:00:09 +0000 Sylvia Ma,Kandy Wong Sylvia Ma,Kandy Wong While the domestic consequences of this week’s shutdown of the United States federal government are clear, analysts said the implications for China may take longer to surface and could be more mixed, as trade talks appear likely to continue between the two countries despite the stalemate in Washington. “We don’t expect the immediate impact on China to be too pronounced,” said Lynn Song, chief economist for Greater China at ING Bank. “One thing to watch in the event of a lengthy shutdown could be... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3327637/us-government-frozen-after-shutdown-china-talks-still-motion-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3327637/us-government-frozen-after-shutdown-china-talks-still-motion-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Oct 2025 11:00:09 +0000 Brian Rhoads,Neil Denslow Brian Rhoads,Neil Denslow Hong Kong cut interest rates for the first time this year, potentially boosting the city’s economy, stock market and property sector. The city’s base rate hit the lowest since December 2022 after the 25 basis point reduction to 4.5 per cent. The US Federal Reserve earlier lowered its target rate by the same amount. Hong Kong’s de facto central bank follows the Fed in setting rates because of the city’s currency peg to the US dollar. Fed policymakers also signalled the potential for two more cuts... https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3325994/fed-rate-cut-boosts-hong-kong-chiefs-economy-push?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3325994/fed-rate-cut-boosts-hong-kong-chiefs-economy-push?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Sep 2025 09:15:39 +0000 Sylvia Ma Sylvia Ma China’s consumer prices slipped back into decline in August, highlighting persistent deflationary pressures, while a narrower drop in factory-gate prices suggested Beijing’s “anti-involution” campaign may be starting to take hold. The national consumer price index (CPI), a key gauge of inflation, fell 0.4 per cent year on year last month, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics on Wednesday. The reading was worse than market expectations of a 0.2 per cent drop in a poll... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3324962/chinese-consumer-prices-slip-back-decline-amid-deflationary-pressures?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3324962/chinese-consumer-prices-slip-back-decline-amid-deflationary-pressures?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 10 Sep 2025 01:38:00 +0000 SCMP SCMP The US-China chip war has reached new heights as increased US export control measures have led to intensified efforts from China to achieve semiconductor self-sufficiency. Huawei Technologies, for instance, on Thursday touted what it called the “world’s most powerful” computing cluster achieved without Nvidia’s advanced chips. In the latest China Future Tech webinar, Natixis director and senior economist for Asia Pacific, Gary Ng, joined South China Morning Post technology editor Zhou Xin,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china-future-tech/semiconductors/article/3324258/china-future-tech-webinar-how-us-tactics-could-boost-chinas-chip-self-sufficiency?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china-future-tech/semiconductors/article/3324258/china-future-tech-webinar-how-us-tactics-could-boost-chinas-chip-self-sufficiency?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Sep 2025 01:38:53 +0000 Alice Li Alice Li The Chinese yuan is set to continue making gains against the US dollar over the coming months, as China’s central bank sets strong daily reference rates for the currency and traders bet on possible US interest rate cuts, analysts said. The People’s Bank of China set its strongest onshore yuan daily reference rate of the year on Friday, at 7.1030 per US dollar, with the yuan’s fixing rate gaining 0.65 per cent against the dollar over the month of August. On Monday, the central bank set the daily... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3323909/chinas-yuan-set-more-gains-against-us-dollar-fed-sends-dovish-signals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3323909/chinas-yuan-set-more-gains-against-us-dollar-fed-sends-dovish-signals?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Sep 2025 08:37:35 +0000 Aileen Chuang Aileen Chuang Global investors have ramped up use of Chinese bonds in short-term borrowing agreements in Hong Kong, taking advantage of new measures from mainland and Hong Kong regulators that took effect on Monday. Several banks, securities firms and hedge funds completed their first trades under the offshore Bond Connect repurchase (repo) business set up by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), leveraging enhancements announced last month, including the repledging of bond collateral during the lifetime... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3323060/chinese-bonds-find-fast-favour-hong-kong-short-term-borrowing-new-rules-take-effect?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3323060/chinese-bonds-find-fast-favour-hong-kong-short-term-borrowing-new-rules-take-effect?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 25 Aug 2025 09:30:07 +0000 Sylvia Ma Sylvia Ma China’s central bank has set the yuan’s daily reference rate against the US dollar at the strongest level in more than nine months, as bets on rate cuts by the Federal Reserve are growing following a dovish pivot by its chair, Jerome Powell. On Monday, the People’s Bank of China set the yuan’s midpoint rate – also known as the daily fixing rate – at 7.1161 per US dollar, its strongest showing since early November. Compared with 7.1321 in the previous release, Monday’s fixing also marked the... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3323017/chinas-yuan-fixing-rate-hits-9-month-high-after-dovish-pivot-us-fed-chair?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3323017/chinas-yuan-fixing-rate-hits-9-month-high-after-dovish-pivot-us-fed-chair?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 25 Aug 2025 04:14:28 +0000 Sylvia Ma Sylvia Ma The passage of a sprawling budget bill has raised concerns over the long-term debt of the United States, which analysts said could compound already heightened worries over the reliability of the country’s currency as a safe-haven asset. Winning a narrow 218-214 vote in the House of Representatives on Thursday, the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” – which raises spending on border security and defence while making the record tax cuts enacted in 2017 permanent – now heads to US President Donald Trump... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3316991/did-trump-get-his-big-beautiful-bill-us-dollars-expense?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3316991/did-trump-get-his-big-beautiful-bill-us-dollars-expense?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 04 Jul 2025 11:30:13 +0000 Zhao Ziwen Zhao Ziwen On a recent Sunday afternoon in lower Manhattan, a small shop inside the Oculus, a soaring curvilinear mall at the World Trade Center, stands out for the bustling crowd thronging its space. “We’re out of stock,” more than one employee can be heard telling customers. This is not one of New York’s many top-brand boutiques but Pop Mart, a Chinese designer toy brand that has become a sensation in the United States. Its signature “blind box”, containing collectable figurines revealed only when the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3316434/some-china-retailers-us-still-offers-path-profit-one-toy-or-tea-order-time?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3316434/some-china-retailers-us-still-offers-path-profit-one-toy-or-tea-order-time?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Jun 2025 15:50:59 +0000