China Daily Global Edition (USA)
Hshares slump most in seven months amid Fed rate concern
Mainland stocks in Hong Kong slumped the most in seven months, led by financial companies, as rising bets the Federal Reserve will raise borrowing costs this year derailed one of the world’s best rallies.
The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index tumbled 4 percent at the close, its biggest loss since Feb 11. The gauge rose 34 percent from a February low through Friday, sending a momentum indicator to the highest level since April 2015. China Life Insurance Co and China Construction Bank Corp fell more than 5 percent.
The Shanghai Composite Index slid 1.9 percent at the close, nearing the 3,000 level that has triggered State support in the past.
Federal Reserve Bank of Boston President Eric Rosengren warned on Friday that waiting too long to raise interest rates could overheat the US economy, a day after European Central Bank President Mario Draghi surprised markets by playing down the prospect of further stimulus.
Speculation that the Fed will move slowly in raisingUS borrowing costs has helped rank Hong Kong equities among the world’s best performers this quarter as the city’s currency is pegged to the dollar.
“Investors are worried the US will hike rates,” said Daniel So, a strategist at CMB International Securities Ltd in Hong Kong. “In the past few months, Hong Kong has outperformed most markets because of speculation central banks will continue to ease or low US rates will continue, so it’s especially sensitive to rate hike concerns.”
The Hang Seng China Enterprises gauge fell to 9,654.08 points. A measure of its 14-day relative strength index was at 77.2 on Friday, above the threshold of 70 that indicates overbought conditions to some traders. The benchmark Hang Seng Index tumbled 3.4 percent from a one-year high, with a gauge of its expected price swings surging the most since January.
Net buying of Hong Kong equities through an exchange link with Shanghai reached the highest since April 2015 on Friday amid a flood of mainland money flowing across the border. Global investors sold a net 2.2 billion yuan ($329 million) of mainland stocks through the link on Monday, the most since November.
The Shanghai Composite capped its biggest drop in six weeks, with nearly 12 shares falling on the gauge for each that rose. The benchmark equity index went the past 19 sessions without a 1 percent closing move in either direction. The Shenzhen Composite Index retreated 2.9 percent, while the ChiNext index of small-company shares lost 2.6 percent.
China Life, which jumped 13 percent last week, dropped 5.6 percent in Hong Kong to pace insurers lower, while China Construction Bank slid 5.4 percent. TencentHoldings Ltd, the biggest gainer on the Hang Seng Index over the past month, sank 3.2 percent. AAC Technologies Holdings Inc was the day’s biggest decliner on the Hang Seng Index as it tumbled 8.4 percent, paring its 2016 advance to 57 percent.
Insurers had rallied last week after mainland regulators allowed them to invest in the city’s equities through an exchange trading link with Shanghai. The companies are allowed to invest up to 15 percent of their assets in overseas markets including Hong Kong, which they can currently do through a different program.
A measure of Hong Kong developers declined the most since January as China Resources Land Ltd slumped 5.9 percent from a one-year high and Hang Lung Properties Ltd traded without the rights to a dividend.
the decline in the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index on Monday
The seven-year-old investment outfit now plans to add to a portfolio of almost 300 startups that include app storeWandoujia andMeitu, a developer of selfie apps that’s close to listing inHong Kong.
“The new dual-currency funds will strengthen our investment capacity,” Lee said in a statement. “Sinovation Ventures has investment teams both in China and in the US, that could grasp pivotal investment opportunities in the two countries.”
Lee’s firm operates in a manner similar to Y Combinator Inc, the US startup incubator.
Chinese-based venture capital firms raised just $400 million in the second quarter, the lowest figure in almost three years, according to London consultancy Preqin Ltd.
Monday.