Hong Kong stocks rise amid speculation China Evergrande to avert full-blown default

On Sep 23, 2021 34

Local stocks rise after a one-day holiday amid speculation China Evergrande to reorganise debt and stem a sector-wide crisis
Mainland markets also gain following a record streak of robust trading volume in Shanghai and Shenzhen

Hong Kong stocks rose as trading resumed after a holiday break with property and tech stocks leading the charge. China Evergrande group rallied amid speculation the indebted developer will avert a full-blown default.

The Hang Seng Index climbed 0.7 per cent to 24,388.52 from Tuesday’s level at the local noon break. The Hang Seng Tech Index added 0.4 per cent. The city’s financial markets were closed on Wednesday for a holiday linked to the Mid-Autumn Festival.

China’s Shanghai Composite Index advanced 0.6 per cent, aided by 44 straight days of robust trading volume. China’s central bank pumped liquidity into the banking system on Wednesday to allay concerns about a liquidity crunch as investors await possible reorganisation at Evergrande.

The developer surged as much as 22 per cent, paring it to 11 per cent at HK$2.51. The Shenzhen-based developer, which last reported more than US$300 billion of liabilities, on Wednesday resolved the interest payment due on an onshore bond. The group’s property management unit rallied 7.4 per cent to HK$4.51, while the new energy vehicle arm erased earlier gains.

“We’re still relatively sanguine about the risk that Evergrande’s collapse triggers a financial crisis or economic crash in China,” Mark Williams, chief Asia economist at Capital Economics wrote in a report. “Policymakers will use their control of the banking system to prevent financial strains spreading beyond highly-leveraged developers.”

Speculation about Evergrande restructuring suggests the central government is aware of high potential risk related to its bankruptcy and “it needs to take immediate measures to contain all these risks,” said Raymond Cheng, managing director at CGS-CIMB Securities. “We expect both sector’s share prices to see a strong rebound in the near term.”

Other property developers also rode on the upturn. Sunac, KWG Group, Longfor Group and Country Garden rallied at least 7 per cent as the best sector performers. Chinese tech stocks also chalked up hefty gains, with GDS Holdings, Alibaba Health and Bilibili pacing winners.

Local stocks were also buoyed up by overnight rallies in US stocks and bonds after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said the central bank could begin tapering asset purchases in November and complete the process by mid-2022. Officials were also more inclined to raise interest rates next year.

Author: Zhang Shidong, SCMP