Stocks
Hong Kong, Shanghai rally on China stimulus on mixed day for markets
Hong Kong and Shanghai stocks rallied Tuesday after China unveiled fresh stimulus measures as the country’s leaders struggle to kickstart growth in the world’s number two economy.
After a string of weak data that has fanned worries about the financial health of the country and led to calls for more help to boost growth, the central bank said it would make it easier for lenders and lower a key interest rate.
The decision came as traders were already upbeat after the Federal Reserve last week lowered borrowing costs for the first time since 2020 and indicated more were in the pipeline through to 2026.
China’s economy, the world’s second-largest, has yet to achieve a highly anticipated post-pandemic recovery as it is battered by a prolonged property sector debt crisis, continued deflationary pressure and high unemployment.
While Beijing has resisted calls to unveil a so-called bazooka stimulus similar to that seen during the global financial crisis, it has pushed through a series of piecemeal measures that appear to have done little to turn things around.
People’s Bank of China chief Pan Gongsheng told a news conference that “the reserve requirement ratio will be cut by 0.5 percentage points in the near future to provide long-term liquidity to the financial market of about one trillion yuan ($141.7 billion)”.
It will also “lower the interest rates of existing mortgage loans and unify the down payment ratios for mortgage loans”, he added.
Hong Kong stocks jumped more than two percent and Shanghai was up around 0.8 percent.
There were also gains in Tokyo as dealers returned from a long weekend, while Singapore and Manila also rose, but Sydney, Seoul, Taipei and Wellington retreated.
The advances came after a positive day on Wall Street, where the Dow and S&P 500 ended at new record highs.
Traders are awaiting the release Friday of the personal consumption expenditures index — the Fed’s preferred inflation metric — hoping for an idea about its next rate move.
After Wednesday’s bumper 50-basis-point cut, debate is now swirling about how big monetary policymakers will go at their next meeting.
Minneapolis Fed boss Neel Kashkari said he was for another big reduction owing to weakness in the labour market, while his Chicago counterpart Austan Goolsbee added that slowing jobs growth would likely mean there were many more cuts to come.
Atlanta Fed chief Raphael Bostic said he wanted to base his decision on incoming data.
– Key figures around 0230 GMT –
Tokyo – Nikkei 225: UP 0.7 percent to 37,974.98 (break)
Hong Kong – Hang Seng Index: UP 2.3 percent to 18,673.74
Shanghai – Composite: UP 0.8 percent to 2,770.82
Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1107 from $1.1113 on Monday
Pound/dollar: UP at $1.3349 from $1.3345
Dollar/yen: UP at 143.66 yen from 143.57 yen
Euro/pound: DOWN at 83.20 pence from 83.27 pence
West Texas Intermediate: UP 0.6 percent at $70.80 per barrel
Brent North Sea Crude: UP 0.6 percent at $74.31 per barrel
New York – Dow: UP 0.2 percent at 42,124.65 points (close)
London – FTSE 100: UP 0.4 percent at 8,259.71 (close)
One of the Listed companies, National Polymer Limited has recommended 10.50% Cash Dividend for the year ended June 30, 2024.
It has reported Consolidated EPS of Tk 2.27 paisa, and Consolidated NAV per share of Tk 30.63 for the year ended March 31, 2024.
The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the company will be held on December 18, through the digital platform. The record date for this has been fixed at October 22.
The Company also discloses its financial reports for the second quarter, (April – June 24).
As per the company’s consolidated life revenue account for April to June 2024, the excess of total income over total expenses, including claims (surplus), stood at Tk 1,394.24 million. This marks a significant increase from the surplus of Tk 823.68 million during the same period in 2023.
For the first half of 2024, from January to June, the company reported a surplus of Tk 2,177.57 million, compared to Tk 1,290.39 million in the corresponding period of the previous year.
Additionally, the Life Insurance Fund balance as of June 30, 2024, reached Tk 55,188.62 million, showing a net increase of Tk 5,892.25 million from Tk 49,296.37 million on June 30, 2023.
One of the Listed companies, Beacon Pharmaceuticals PLC has recommended 20% Cash dividend and 10% Cash Dividend to Sponsor Shareholder and Directors for the year ended June 30, 2024.
It has reported EPS of Tk 2.26 paisa, and NAV per share of Tk. 26.37 for the year ended June 30, 2024.
The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the company will be held on December 23, through the digital platform. The record date for this has been fixed at October 27.
The Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) has removed three audit firms from its panel for their failure to secure enlistment with the Financial Reporting Council (FRC), according to a notice issued today.
The firms—A Hoque & Company, FAMES & R, and SK Barua & Company Chartered Accountants—were delisted following the FRC’s request. In December last year, the FRC published a list of enlisted audit firms and subsequently, in February, requested the BSEC to remove any firms that were not included on that list.
BSEC regulations mandate that financial statements signed by auditors outside its approved panel will not be accepted. With the removal of these three firms, the total number of audit firms on the BSEC panel has been reduced from 48 to 45.
Sources from the FRC revealed that 15-20 audit firms failed to secure enlistment last year, and approximately 45 chartered accountants are currently under restrictions imposed by the Institute of Chartered Accountants.
Although the delisted firms can no longer audit issuer companies or listed securities, they are allowed to complete audit and assurance services that were initiated before their removal, the BSEC clarified.
