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iShares MSCI Hong Kong Index ETF

5/20/2013, 12:53 AM ET

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Wednesday, March 14, 2012, 7:55 PM The sleeper story today is China, says Art Cashin. The Shanghai Stock Market was clobbered overnight on comments by Premier Wen, raising questions about the need for reform to avoid slipping back into the "Cultural Revolution." The issue gets its legs from the fact that the leader of the communist party right now is going around the country touting a revival of Mao, and at present, no market in the world has yet priced in a potential power struggle in China. (video) 6 Comments [Global & FX]
Wednesday, March 14, 2012, 9:10 AM More on last night's remarks from China Premier Wen: He warns of "chaos" in the market if property curbs are relaxed. The chairman of property developer Soho China (SOHOF.PK) calls the remarks "bad news" for players with high levels of debt. In addition to a steep drop in Shanghai, Hong Kong shares give up big gains to close red. EWH -0.6% premarket. 1 Comment [Global & FX]
Wednesday, March 14, 2012, 3:03 AM China will expand 8.3% this year, forecasts S&P, exceeding China's own estimate of 7.5% growth. Potential negative developments in the eurozone and Middle East provide downside risk, but China should benefit from "local governments' penchant for growth and policymakers' increasing support to small and midsize enterprises." 1 Comment [Global & FX]
Tuesday, March 13, 2012, 7:21 AM Loan demand continues to be weak in China with the big 4 banks reportedly making less than ¥20B in loans in March's 1st 2 weeks due to "weak demand from large corporates." Slowing money supply growth is likely to slow even further unless "the government forces someone to borrow money." 2 Comments [Global & FX, Financials]
Tuesday, March 13, 2012, 7:15 AM Nomura revises its 2012 GDP growth forecast for China to 8.2% from 7.9%, saying the economic prints for the year's first 2 months have been weak, but not as bad as the bank expected, and lower inflation leaves room for easier monetary policy. The revision is particularly noteworthy given Nomura's earlier prediction of a 33% chance of a hard landing. 1 Comment [Global & FX]
Monday, March 12, 2012, 7:56 AM The yuan falls by the most in nearly 2 months as PBOC Governor Zhou says the exchange rate is linked to the balance of payments, and, well, it's deteriorating. No longer a one-way bet higher, the yuan has declined 0.5% this year, after slow, steady rises for the last 3. (also) Comment! [Global & FX]
Monday, March 12, 2012, 7:09 AM China's trade deficit for the year's first two months was $4.1B, less scary than the (holiday-influenced) $31.5B for February reported over the weekend, but still the worst performance since 2004. Other data suggest continued slowing export growth. "The world's factory is running short of orders," writes Tom Orlik. 1 Comment [Global & FX]
Monday, March 12, 2012, 6:22 AM More from the PBOC's Zhou: The yuan is near fair value, and it's too early to say whether the February trade gap is the start of a trend. (see also) Comment! [Global & FX]
Monday, March 12, 2012, 4:46 AM PBOC Governor Zhou Xiaochuan says the bank has room to ease lending curbs and adjust the reserve ratio to support economic growth, but that any changes would be gradual. Zhou's comments come after weekend data showed the weakest loan growth since 2005. Comment! [Global & FX]
Saturday, March 10, 2012, 7:17 AM China posts a $31.5B trade deficit in February, surging past estimates of $4.9B (and whispers of $28B) as imports jumped 39.6% Y/Y vs. exports at 18.4%. For about the 10th week running, analysts caution against reading too much into the data thanks to the Lunar holiday. Whatever. China and Japan are posting trade deficits - the world is changing. 20 Comments [Global & FX]
Friday, March 9, 2012, 12:22 AM Chinese February inflation 3.2% vs. consensus of 3.4%, 4.5% previously. It's the lowest read in nearly 2 years, and suggests Beijing has room to further ease monetary policy. Shanghai +0.4%, lagging the rest of the worldwide rally. 1 Comment [Global & FX]
Thursday, March 8, 2012, 12:25 PM "Vastly overblown," is how Stephen Roach (formerly MS, now a Yale prof) describes fears of a hard landing in China. A big fan of China's central planners, Roach says they've done yeoman's work controlling inflation and the next task is to wean the country off of a reliance on fixed-income investment at the expense of consumption. 3 Comments [Global & FX]
Thursday, March 8, 2012, 11:17 AM Henry Tang, running to be Hong Kong's next chief executive, says he is open to adjusting the HKD's trading band with the dollar, but says the peg will be maintained. The 30-year peg has come under pressure from residents and lawmakers who blame it for rising inflation and a bubble in property prices. Bill Ackman is among those betting on a revaluation. Comment! [Global & FX]
Tuesday, March 6, 2012, 8:02 AM China Vanke - the nation's largest property developer - reports a sales decline of 39.84% in February, though the numbers may be distorted by the Spring Festival. Nevertheless, Vanke shares were off 3.4% in Shanghai last night, leading the composite to its worst performance in weeks, -1.4%. Comment! [Global & FX]
Monday, March 5, 2012, 10:35 AM Chinese auto sales through February fall 3% Y/Y, the worst figure since the 8.9% drop in 2005. "There are no incentives for consumers to buy," says Cui Dongshu, "They worry more about their income prospects ... more people are delaying their purchase." Comment! [Global & FX]
Monday, March 5, 2012, 8:03 AM After 7 straight weeks of stock market gains in Shanghai, the team at Credit Suisse decides the risk of a hard landing in China is gone. The analysts still expect growth to remain slow as inflation - on the way down right now - is expected to pick up later in the year, taking significant monetary ease off the table. Comment! [Global & FX]