Hong Kong and Asia Declined

123jump.com Staff
07 Jan, 2008
New York City

In Hong Kong trading Hang Seng dropped 1.2% or 340.20 to 27,179.49, while the China Enterprises index of H shares declined 2% or 312.66 to 15,590.74.Daily turnover on the main board was recorded at HK$113.5 billion compared to HK$99.8 billion on January 4.Construction companies stocks rose on the hope that the interest rates will be lowered in the U.S. at the end of this month.

[R]6:00AM New York, 6:00PM Hong Kong - Hong Kong dips 1.2% on weaknesses on the Wall Street.[/R]

In Hong Kong trading Hang Seng dropped 1.2% or 340.20 to 27,179.49, while the China Enterprises index of H shares declined 2% or 312.66 to 15,590.74.

Daily turnover on the main board was recorded at HK$113.5 billion compared to HK$99.8 billion on January 4.

Construction companies advanced on the rising expectations that the U.S. Federal Reserve will cut interest rates on January 30th after a weak December month employment report. Unemployment in December rose 0.3% to 5% sparking fears that the economy may be losing steam.

MTR Corp led the gainers in the property sector with a rise of 9.1% after Credit Suisse on Friday raised its target price for MTR by 31% to HK$35. MTR closed at HK$34.90. MTR holds one of the largest parcels of undeveloped land in Hong Kong.

Henderson Land jumped 2.4% to HK$76.3 and Sino Land rose 3% to HK$28.45 on the news.

Xinhua News Agency reported today that Shanghai High-Speed Railway Company has announced that the construction project of the Rmb 83.7 billion Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway will be split among four companies: China Railway Group, China Communications Construction Company, China Railway Construction Corporation, and Sinohydro Corporation.

The railway from Beijing to Shanghai which stretches 1,318 kilometers has been divided into six route sections named TJ-1 to TJ-6. China Railway was awarded two tenders - TJ-2 and TJ-5 worth 26.3% of the entire project at Rmb 22 billion.

China Railway Construction was also awarded two tenders with a total cost of Rmb37.7 billion.

China infrastructure stocks climbed on the news. China Railway soared 2.1% to HK$11.60 and China Communications Construction Limited spiked 0.7% to HK$22.90.

The Standard, online publication, reported today that China National Aviation Corporation said yesterday it will offer not less than HK$5 per share for the 24% equity in China Eastern in a counterbid to Singapore Airlines offer if the latter fails to win shareholders approval at tomorrow’s extraordinary general meeting.

CNAC’s counter offer is 31.58% higher than that from Singapore Airlines’ and values the takeover bid at HK$9.43 billion.


Mirae Asset Global Investment Hong Kong analyst Patrick Pong Kwok-hung said today that this year’s outlook for banks in Hong Kong is positive as the net interest margin is likely to remain at last year’s level at 1.85%.

Also the prime HIBOR rate, used by small and medium sized banks, is expected to fluctuate between 3.2% and 3.3%.

HSBC plunged 1.8% to HK$127.80.

Crude oil for February delivery fell 0.8% to $97.11. Oil producer PetroChina Co Limited declined 2.3 % to HK$13.86.

China National Materials Co Limited gained after the company said it would build three new production lines, boosting annual production in Guangdong province to six million tons. China National Materials stock closed up 5.3% to HK$11.88.


Asian Markets Round up

In Tokyo Nikkei 225 Index closed lower 190.86 or 1.30% to 14,500.55, in Hong Kong Hang Seng index closed decreased 340.20 or 1.24% to 27,179.49, in Australia ASX 200 closed lower 145.00 or 2.30% to close 6,161.60.

In South Korea Kospi Index close at decreased 32.76 or 1.76% to close at 1,831.14, in Thailand SET index closed lower 13.40 or 1.63% to 808.31, and Indonesia JSE Index edged increased 11.22 or 0.41% to 2,776.41. Sensex index in India closed higher 125.76 or 0.61% to 20,812.65.


[R]5:00AM New York, 7:00PM Tokyo - Tokyo plunged 1.3% on concerns of U.S. recession.[/R]

Stocks in Japan fell on worries that the U.S. economy will enter into a recession.

In Tokyo trading Nikkei 225 dropped 1.3% or 190.86 to 14,500.55, while the broader Topix Index slumped 19.20 to 1,392.71, below 1,400 for the first time in two years.

In the first section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange 9.8 billion shares worth 1.1 trillion yen were traded and in the second section 227 million shares valued at 4.1 billion yen changed hands.

Of the Nikkei 225 stocks 41 gained, 172 declined, and 12 were unchanged.

Sumitomo Metal Mining led decliners with a fall of 6.62%, followed by Nippon Sheet Glass losing 6.15% after commodity prices plunged on concern that a recession in the U.S. will affect demand.

Copper prices fell 0.9%, nickel slipped 2.6% and zinc tumbled 3.1%. Nippon Mining Holdings declined 1.34%, Sumitomo Metal Industries edged down 1% and Nippon Steel shed 2.84%.

The U.S. Labor Department reported on Friday that the net new jobs in the December month rose 18,000 after gaining 115,000 in November. The unemployment rate increased to 5%. The economy generated 1.3 million jobs in 2007 far lower than target of 2 million by the current Bush administration. In 2006, 2.3 million net new jobs were created.

The Bank of Japan reported today that the country’s monetary base rose for the fifth consecutive month by 0.4% in December from a year ago. The amount of cash in circulation plus the balance of current account deposits held by financial institutions soared to 90.78 trillion in December.

Also, current account deposits slumped 11.2% to 8.22 trillion yen, while the outstanding balance of notes in circulation increased 1.7% to 78 trillion yen.

Of the Nikkei 225 index stocks Millea Holdings led advancers with a rise of 5.91% followed by rises in Toto Limited of 3.93%, in T&D Holdings Incorporated of 3.47%, in Kumagai Gumi Company of 3.23%, and in Sky Perfect of 3.17%.

Retailers also gained after Fast Retailing reported last week that December sales rose 6.4% from a year ago. Fast Retailing soared 3.07% and JFront Retailing spiked up 0.42%.

Sony Corporation gained after Time Warner said it will back the Blue-ray high definition video format to make DVDs instead of Toshiba Corporation’s format. Sony rose 0.69% as a result, while Toshiba dropped 2.25%.

Sumitomo Metal Mining led a decline of Nikkei 225 index shares with a fall of 6.62% followed by losses in Nippon Sheet Glass of 6.15%, in Alps Electric Company Limited of 5.92%, in Kawasaki Kisen of 5.78%, and in Tokai Carbon Company of 5.56%.

Shipbuilders fell on concern that weakening economic growth in the U.S. will affect demand of commodities. Mitsui OSK Lines dropped 4.89%, Hitachi Zosen shed 4.86% and Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding slipped 4.35%.

Exporters also declined after the yen gained 107.91 against the dollar. However, it closed at 108.93. Toyota Motor Corporation tumbled 4.83%, Komatsu Limited dropped 3.50% and Casio Computer edged lower 3.52%.

Nikkei news reported today that Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will reduce launch fees for its H-2A rockets by 35% to 60 million to 70 million yen next year to be competitive. The company also plans to cut time between orders and lift-off to a year.

The online publication of Nikkei news also reported Friday that investment fund Aetos Capital is bidding 930 billion yen for the takeover of Daito Trust Construction Company.

Rio Tinto reported in a statement to the Australian Stock Exchange that the company will pay $315 million for the construction of three 250,000 ton iron ore ships by Namura Shipbuilding Company. The vessels, which will increase exports of the ore and expand its fleet, will be delivered in 2012.

Aoen Corporation senior managing executive offficer Maasaki Toyoshima told a CFS shareholders meeting in Tokyo yesterday that the company might increase its 15% stake in the drugstore operator if it rejects a 15 billion yen takeover bid from Ain Pharmaciez Incorporated.

Aeon is seeking an additional 18% of voting rights to prevent the takeover. The company closed 2.49% down.


Asian Markets Round up

In Tokyo Nikkei 225 Index closed lower 190.86 or 1.30% to 14,500.55, in Hong Kong Hang Seng index closed decreased 340.20 or 1.24% to 27,179.49, in Australia ASX 200 closed lower 145.00 or 2.30% to close 6,161.60.

In South Korea Kospi Index close at decreased 32.76 or 1.76% to close at 1,831.14, in Thailand SET index closed lower 13.40 or 1.63% to 808.31, and Indonesia JSE Index edged increased 11.22 or 0.41% to 2,776.41. Sensex index in India closed higher 125.76 or 0.61% to 20,812.65.