Chinese shares deal

BRiTiSH investors will soon be able to directly buy shares in Chinese firms thanks to a historic deal between the London and Shanghai stock exchanges.

The tie-up will give uK traders – from ordinary savers to giant pension funds – easy access to the world’s fastest-growing large economy. And Chinese investors can buy shares in British firms.

it will mean Britain’s market is better connected to China than any other western nation.

Yi Gang, governor of the Chinese central bank, said he wants the so-called London Shanghai Stock Connect scheme to launch this year.

London Stock exchange boss nikhil Rathi said: ‘Linking one of the largest capital markets with one of the world’s most international financial centres is good news for the uK, China and the global economy. This is another example of London’s enduring ability to be at the forefront of global financial innovation as uK markets continue to play an important role in supporting investment and innovation.’