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How China’s zero-COVID policy is taking a toll on its economyThe more contagious omicron strain of COVID-19 is testing China’s zero-tolerance COVID-19 policy and while many signs underscore the strategy’s adverse impact on the country’s economic recovery, Beijing continues to stick to it, dismissing suggestions that China should learn to live with the virus as other nations do. Lockdowns in Shenzhen and Shanghai The resurgence of COVID-19 cases in Shenzhen, dubbed as China’s Silicon Valley, prompted authorities to impose a week-long lockdown of its 17.5 million residents in March. The curbs forced the closure of some factories including those of Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) supplier Foxconn (TW:2317) and carmakers Toyota Motor (NYSE:TM) and Volkswagen (FRA:VOW). Shenzhen is also home to tech giants including Tencent (HKG:0700) and Huawei Technologies. While JP Morgan analysts do not expect the Shenzhen lockdown to have a big impact on iPhone production, some economists have delivered a grim warning on the lockdown in Shanghai. Authorities in China’s financial hub last week extended the lockdown of 26 million people as the city launched its largest public health response in the COVID-19 pandemic era. ING Bank’s Greater China chief economist Iris Pang warned that the cost of the lockdown in Shanghai and in other areas in China will have a “huge” cost to the country’s growth. Shanghai is tipped to suffer a 6% GDP loss if the lockdown persists in April, leading to a 2% GDP loss for the whole of China. The lockdown in Shanghai also affected the production of some known brands including Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA), German auto parts giant Bosch, and Taiwan’s Pegatron (TW:4938), another iPhone assembler. Offshore Yuan and China H-shares After trending downward for the previous 7 months, news of the extreme lockdowns prompted the USDCNH to break upwards and out of its channel. The USDCNH, at this point, doesn’t have a clear path back to its previous territory. Conversely, the China H-shares index saw a reversal of fortune on March 16. The China H-shares index follows Chinese incorporated companies which are traded on exchanges outside the country. The boost may have come from investors realising that China would be unlikely to face sanction from the US after failing to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine more forcibly in the beginning. GDP slowdown The latest developments in China are widely expected to take a toll on the economy that is already battered by the slowdown in the real estate sector and other downward risks. Everbright Securities recently warned that Beijing’s move to cling to its zero-COVID strategy could knock 10 percentage points out of China’s GDP on a quarterly basis in the first quarter. Natixis, meanwhile, expects the lockdowns and transport restrictions to slash 1.8 percentage points from China’s first-quarter GDP. Julian Evans-Pritchard, senior China economist at Capital Economics, in late March warned that "the economy is in the midst of its most abrupt downturn since early 2020.” China is set to release its quarterly GDP data on Monday, April 18.
C
by BlackBull_Markets
How China’s zero-COVID policy is taking a toll on its economyThe more contagious omicron strain of COVID-19 is testing China’s zero-tolerance COVID-19 policy and while many signs underscore the strategy’s adverse impact on the country’s economic recovery, Beijing continues to stick to it, dismissing suggestions that China should learn to live with the virus as other nations do. Lockdowns in Shenzhen and Shanghai The resurgence of COVID-19 cases in Shenzhen, dubbed as China’s Silicon Valley, prompted authorities to impose a week-long lockdown of its 17.5 million residents in March. The curbs forced the closure of some factories including those of Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) supplier Foxconn (TW:2317) and carmakers Toyota Motor (NYSE:TM) and Volkswagen (FRA:VOW). Shenzhen is also home to tech giants including Tencent (HKG:0700) and Huawei Technologies. While JP Morgan analysts do not expect the Shenzhen lockdown to have a big impact on iPhone production, some economists have delivered a grim warning on the lockdown in Shanghai. Authorities in China’s financial hub last week extended the lockdown of 26 million people as the city launched its largest public health response in the COVID-19 pandemic era. ING Bank’s Greater China chief economist Iris Pang warned that the cost of the lockdown in Shanghai and in other areas in China will have a “huge” cost to the country’s growth. Shanghai is tipped to suffer a 6% GDP loss if the lockdown persists in April, leading to a 2% GDP loss for the whole of China. The lockdown in Shanghai also affected the production of some known brands including Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA), German auto parts giant Bosch, and Taiwan’s Pegatron (TW:4938), another iPhone assembler. Offshore Yuan and China H-shares After trending downward for the previous 7 months, news of the extreme lockdowns prompted the USDCNH to break upwards and out of its channel. The USDCNH, at this point, doesn’t have a clear path back to its previous territory. Conversely, the China H-shares index saw a reversal of fortune on March 16. The China H-shares index follows Chinese incorporated companies which are traded on exchanges outside the country. The boost may have come from investors realising that China would be unlikely to face sanction from the US after failing to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine more forcibly in the beginning. GDP slowdown The latest developments in China are widely expected to take a toll on the economy that is already battered by the slowdown in the real estate sector and other downward risks. Everbright Securities recently warned that Beijing’s move to cling to its zero-COVID strategy could knock 10 percentage points out of China’s GDP on a quarterly basis in the first quarter. Natixis, meanwhile, expects the lockdowns and transport restrictions to slash 1.8 percentage points from China’s first-quarter GDP. Julian Evans-Pritchard, senior China economist at Capital Economics, in late March warned that "the economy is in the midst of its most abrupt downturn since early 2020.” China is set to release its quarterly GDP data on Monday, April 18.
by BlackBull_Markets
Long Emerging Markets as the World DeDollarization BloomsAll the empires and dynasties I studied rose and declined in a classic Big Cycle that has clear markers that allow us to see where we are in it. This Big Cycle produces swings between 1) peaceful and prosperous periods of great creativity and productivity that raise living standards a lot and 2) depression, revolution, and war periods when there is a lot of fighting over wealth and power and a lot of destruction of wealth, life, and other things we cherish
AMEX:EEMLong
by noam_chom
2
Are investors bullish on Chinese stocks again?A raft of regulations targeting a number of sectors — from technology to real estate and education — have hammered Chinese stocks late last year and into 2022, and although many economists remain bullish on Chinese stocks’ potential, Beijing’s relationship with the Kremlin is now weighing on investor appetite for Chinese shares. On Friday, April 1, Shanghai’s SSE Composite Index tumbled 5.8% year on year, and is down 9.6% from the start of the year. The SZSE Component Index, the benchmark index of the tech-heavy Shenzhen Stock Exchange, is also down 13.2% year over year on Friday, and 17.3% lower year-to-date. The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index, which tracks Chinese companies listed in Hong Kong, likewise tanked 31.9% from last year as of Friday, and down 8% year-to-date. 2021 in retrospect In 2021, Chinese companies were hit with regulatory changes as Beijing sought to weed out anti-competitive behavior, online gaming addiction, excessive childcare and education costs, and eliminate other risks in the private sector. Beijing’s crackdown on the tech and financial technology sector led to the record fine of over 18 billion yuan (around $3 billion) on Alibaba (NYSE:BABA), the transition of Alibaba’s mobile payments arm Ant Group into a financial holding company and a raft of rules aimed at data security and anti-monopoly, among others. The government also targeted the education sector last year, launching sweeping rules that upended for-profit tutoring companies. New rules aimed at protecting minors also took a toll on the operations and revenue of big gaming companies like Tencent Holdings (HKG:0700) and NetEase (NASDAQ:NTES). Towards the end of last year, the vulnerability of China’s property sector came to light as China Evergrande's (HKG:3333) massive debt pileup of more than $300 billion highlighted the risks of the country’s highly-leveraged real estate sector that many fear would lead to a wider contagion affecting the country's financial industry and the global markets. These factors led to a sell-off of Chinese stocks at home and in the US, with the Nasdaq Golden Dragon China Index (INDEXNASDAQ: HXC), which tracks 98 of China's biggest US-listed firms, posting its sharpest drop since the financial crisis of 2008 in March after reaching an all-time high in February 2021. As of writing, the HXC is trading lower than its 2008 peak after retracing approximately 70% of the gains it made since its 2008 bottom. Booting Chinese stocks from US exchanges Geopolitical tensions and data security concerns prompted the US Securities and Exchange Commission to tighten its auditing rules on Chinese companies listed on US bourses. This threatens the US listing status of companies like KFC operator Yum China Holdings (NYSE:YUMC), Twitter-like Weibo (NASDAQ:WB), Baidu (NASDAQ:BIDU), and iQIYI (NASDAQ:IQ). Even before these firms were added to the SEC’s “provisional list” of companies that are found to be violating the US Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, the US has already booted several Chinese companies — including China’s big three telecommunications companies — over the past year, citing data security concerns and other alleged violations. Bullish on Chinese stocks Despite uncertainties over the outlook for China’s regulatory environment in the coming years, some global banks and economists including Bernstein, Credit Suisse and Goldman Sachs remain bullish on Chinese stocks. Credit Suisse upgraded its outlook on China, noting that values may be depressed, while Goldman Sachs underscored the investability of Chinese assets due to the liberalization and reform measures in the Chinese capital markets, which according to the bank backs its view that China equity is an asset class “that is too big, too growthy, and too vibrant to ignore.” Geopolitical woes, COVID-19 risks remain However, some economists are polarized on their outlook on Chinese stocks due to lingering geopolitical tensions and the resurgence of COVID-19 cases that recently prompted lockdowns in two of the country's most populous cities. Reports highlighting Beijing’s relationship with Russia might be reducing investor appetite for Chinese stocks. Beijing has refused to back a global condemnation of the Kremlin’s military actions against Ukraine, refusing to describe the attacks as an invasion. US-listed Chinese companies have lost over $1.1 trillion in market value in recent weeks due to these concerns and Asian Corporate Governance Association’s Jamie Allen told CNBC over a week ago that the delisting of US-listed Chinese firms could come in the next two to three years.
NASDAQ:HXC
by BlackBull_Markets
Interesting Tencent fractal repetitions This fractal is something I noticed back in Sept and at the time I just found the coincidence funny and didn't take it too seriously, I wish I had though, because it would have been a great short! Basically I took the rally starting from the bottom in Mar 2020 and then flipped it upside down and moved it over so now the peak in Feb 2021 is the current bottom. It was for these reasons I was getting bullish on China when Tencent hit 45 and I was shocked when it tanked to 38, thinking the whole pattern was now broken. I admit that the news they were pumping out a the time even got to me and I didn't take advantage of the wall street manipulation. Now going forward, it would again be funny if it follows the rally projection here. I think it is unlikely that it'll follow it exactly, but who knows at this point? If it does, watch out for that peak in the summer of 2023. This is just more proof to me though that fractals can be a very useful tool in predicting the movement of a stock and you have to experience it unfold before you to believe in this kind of analysis.
OTC:TCEHY
by Lynxys
Aussie dips ahead of retail sales After a strong week, the Australian dollar has reversed directions and dropped below the 0.75 line on Monday. Investors will be keeping an eye on Australian retail sales, which will be released on Tuesday. The markets are expecting a gain of 1.0%, down from 1.8% in January. The month of March has been kind to the Australian dollar, with sharp gains of 3.47%. The risk currency has not been affected by the tumultuous reaction in the markets to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, although risk apprehension is certainly higher since the war began. Investors are also uneasy over the situation in China, which continues to battle an upsurge in Covid cases. The government has imposed rolling lockdowns on Shanghai, which has a population of some 25 million. The property crisis has been overshadowed by the Ukraine crisis, but it hasn't gone away. Since Evergrande's default last year, Chinese property developers are finding themselves locked out of the global debt market, and the country's third-largest developer missed two bond payments on Friday. There is plenty of risk apprehension to go around, but the Aussie's savior has been the resource-based economy of the Lucky Country, as the range of commodities that Australia exports have been in huge demand as prices continue to head higher. Australia releases its annual budget on Tuesday, and the surge in commodities will allow the Morrison government to narrow its budget deficit and also give out some goodies, as it eyes a federal election later this year. The budget is expected to include help for homeowners and a temporary reduction in the tax on petrol. 0.7414 is the first line of support. Below, there is support at 0.7313 There is resistance at 0.7577 and 0.7639
by OANDA
Dollar / South African Rand (USDZAR) High Timeframe outline HTF (High Time Frame) outlook for the South African Rand. Lets see how it plays out over the coming months. I am currrently positioned long and per the box, break down from here and you target the next range below for some action. HTF charts take long to play out. Wonder what the news will be .... USD at monthly resistance, so probably heading to the lower box. These monthlys all tested, and weekly struggling to hold. So lower box looking prbable for now. However, this is the range to long, albiet a bit sketchy. USD looking strong against CHINA YEN , this could play a significant role, as South Africa (Along with rest of Africa) is aligned (owned) by China.
by Willco95
Trading Idea - #BaiduSHORT ENTRY: 190.50 USD TARGET: 133.00 USD (+30% profit) STOP: 222.00 USD 1.) Baidu started a correction after an impressive bull run! None of the Fibonacci Retracement levels could hold as a support! Reversal coming! 2.) According to the fundamental analysis, Baidu is a clear buy recommendation. 3.) Baidu generates significant margins and is therefore very profitable. The financial situation looks excellent, which means a considerable investment capacity. 4.) Baidu is definitely a BUY at 133.00 USD!
NASDAQ:BIDUShort
by Traderherz-Analytics
7
Waiting to see what happens on March 1st***Earnings report may or may not be the catalyst I'm looking for*** BEIJING, Feb. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- iQIYI, Inc. (NASDAQ: IQ) ("iQIYI" or the "Company"), an innovative market-leading online entertainment service in China, today announced that it will report its financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 before the U.S. market opens on March 1, 2022. iQIYI's management will hold an earnings conference call at 6:30 AM on March 1, 2022, U.S. Eastern Time (7:30 PM on March 1, 2022, Beijing Time). Please register in advance of the conference using the link provided below. Upon registering, you will be provided with participant dial-in numbers, Direct Event passcode and unique registrant ID by email. Participant Online Registration: apac.directeventreg.com
NASDAQ:IQLong
by clarkehimself
Alibaba Long term AnalysisWe can see a pretty hurt #BABA stock due to all fear in the markets with China and the war, for long-term traders, this could represent a good opportunity. I try to make the chart as clear as possible, remember that this is for long-term trades, right now there´s a lot of volatility in the markets. With that scope in mind and because of volatility, the SL is extended to -34%, so manage your entry position size well. In their fundamentals, BABA is undervalued. Remembering that resistance areas become support areas when the chart moves positive, I recommend moving your SL with these new support levels and managing your exits as comfortably as you need them to be.
NYSE:BABALong
by SprinklesTheCat
What Will A Geopolitical Compromise Means For Markets?Henry Clay was a US Senator from Kentucky, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the US Secretary of State, and a Presidential candidate in the 1800s. His legacy and nickname were “The Great Compromiser” for his involvement with the Missouri Compromise, the Compromise Tariff of 1833, and the Compromise of 1850. As Henry Clay understood, any great compromise means that both sides at the negotiating table must come to an agreement that makes them uncomfortable or incomplete. The price of an asset is always the correct price A messy geopolitical landscape Option one- A Great Compromise- High Odds Option two- A prolonged conflict Option three- The unthinkable In 2022, the geopolitical temperature has risen to the highest level since WW II. On February 4, Chinese President Xi and Russian President Putin met at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics. The leaders signed a $117 billion trade agreement, but the watershed event was the “no-limits” cooperation understanding. Twenty days later, after the end of the Olympics, Russia invaded Ukraine, launching the first major war on European soil in over three-quarters of a century. Many analysts believe the Russian invasion sets the stage for Chinese reunification with Taiwan. Markets reflect the economic and geopolitical landscapes. Volatility in markets across all asset classes has increased, and uncertainty is the market’s worst enemy. The war, sanctions, retaliation, and a Chinese-Russian alliance threatens the status quo over the previous decades. The price of an asset is always the correct price As we learned in early 2020 in nearly all asset classes, bear markets can take prices to levels that defy logic and rational and logical analysis. The same holds on the upside as price spikes can reach unthinkable heights. The moves to the upside or downside compel many market participants to sell what they believe are tops or buy when they think the market cannot go any lower. Picking tops or bottoms is more about ego than making money, as the effort contradicts to prevailing trends. Picking a top or a bottom is a statement that the current price is too high or too low, which is always a mistake. Market participants can be wrong, but markets are never wrong. The price of any asset is always the right price because it is the level where buyers and sellers agree on a value in a transparent marketplace. Declaring a market top or bottom is a contrarian statement as it goes against the prevailing trend. A messy geopolitical landscape Two years ago, the world faced a common enemy as COVID-19 ignored borders, race, religion, political ideology, and all of the other factors that separate countries and people. In February and March 2022, the world faces new and daunting challenges: The Chinese and Russian leaders shook hands on a “no-limits” alliance. Russia invaded Ukraine, starting the first major war in Europe since World War II. Ukraine continues to put up fierce resistance. The US, NATO allies in Europe and allies worldwide slapped sanctions on Russia. Russia retaliated with export bans and other measures. North Korea test-fired ICBM missiles. Iran fired missiles near the US embassy in Iraq. Russian missiles came within miles of the Polish border. An attack on Poland triggers article five of NATO’s charter- An attack on one member is an attack on all. China and Russia stand on opposite sides of the conflict from the US and Europe. China plans to reunify with Taiwan against their will. On the US domestic scene, the US remains divided along political lines with mid-term elections in November. The central bank liquidity and government stimulus that stabilized the economy during the pandemic ignited an inflationary fuse before the geopolitical landscape deteriorated. The war in Ukraine only exacerbates price increases as Russia is a leading world producer of raw materials. Europe’s breadbasket in Ukraine and Russia is now a mine and battlefield at the start of the 2022 crop year. Russia and Ukraine typically supply one-third of the world’s wheat and other crops. They are also leading fertilizer exporters, causing problems in other worldwide growing regions. In 2022, the war will lead to rising prices, falling supplies, and the potential for famine and civil uprisings. Historically, food shortages have caused many revolutions. The 2010 Arab Spring that began as food riots in Tunisia and Egypt caused the sweeping political change in North Africa and the Middle East. Meanwhile, the Biden administration pledged to address climate change by supporting alternative and renewable fuels and inhibiting the production and consumption of fossil fuels. US production declined in 2021. After decades of working to achieve energy independence from the Middle East, US policy handed the pricing power to the international oil cartel. Since 2016, Russia has had an increasing role in OPEC’s production policy. In 2022, the cartel does not move unless Moscow agrees to cooperate. Oil prices were already rising when Russia invaded Ukraine, and they moved over $100 per barrel after the attack. Meanwhile, other fossil fuels have moved higher. Coal traded to a new all-time peak. US natural gas rose to a multi-year high, and European and Asia gas prices rose to record levels. Rising energy prices fueled inflation, and the war has poured fuel on an already burning inflationary fire. The war in Ukraine is less than one month old, and the human toll is rising. Tensions are at the highest level in decades. Markets are nervous, and the developments on the geopolitical over the coming days and weeks will dictate the direction of markets across all asset classes. I see three potential outcomes. Option one- A Great Compromise- High Odds In the current standoff, neither side wants to give an inch. The Russian leader faces disgrace or worse if he loses to an inferior military but impassioned Ukrainian population, many of who would choose death over capitulation. The US and Europe do not want to appease Russia like the UK’s Nevil Chamberlain appeased Hitler in the 1930s. China may support Russia, but the world’s second-leading economy has close economic ties with the US and Europe. A Henry Clay-inspired great compromiser could emerge and come up with a solution where Russia, China, the US, Europe, and the rest of the world walk away from the negotiating table unhappy but with a workable solution. I believe, and it is more than a bit of wishful thinking, that this is the high odds result of the current geopolitical mess, and the result will go down in history as the great compromise of 2022. A great compromise would likely lead to a significant stock market rally and a commodity correction. Option two- A prolonged conflict A prolonged conflict where Russians fight a long and bloody war against Ukrainian forces will devastate the world economy and peace. Russia may capture territory, but it is clear President Putin will never capture the souls of the Ukrainian masses. The Russian brutality over the past weeks will never be forgotten. President Putin did not count on the passionate resistance Russian troops encountered across Ukraine. The longer the battle and the more brutal the weapons, the greater the price for Russians controlling the territory over the coming years. Millions of refugees have left the country, but that leaves over 40 million Ukrainians; most now consider Russians their mortal enemy. A long battle will weaken the Russian military and the Russian leader abroad. A prolonged conflict will cause sanctions to collapse Russia’s economy, causing domestic problems for President Putin and his government. Moreover, skirmishes are likely to break out worldwide. In the early days of the war in Ukraine, North Korea and Iran flexed their military muscles. With Europe and the US focused on Ukraine, China could use the opportunity to seize Taiwan. A prolonged conflict would weigh on US stocks and likely lift commodity prices to higher highs. Option three- The unthinkable The final option is the nuclear one, which is low odds, but a highly frightening scenario. If Russian aggression spreads across the Ukraine border into Poland or any NATO member country, it will trigger Article five that states an attack on one is an attack on all. The US and Russia have the most nuclear weapons, which increases the potential of MAD or mutually assured destruction. In this scenario, it does not matter how markets react as the world would face a disastrous situation. I believe that a great compromise is on the horizon, which would cause markets to stabilize. However, the extent of the compromise is critical as it must address the current situation in Ukraine and Taiwan and threats from North Korea and Iran. Anything short of a comprehensive understanding between the world’s powers will cause years of rising tension and threats to the nearly eight billion people that inhabit our planet. Where is Henry Clay when the world needs him? Expect the volatility in markets to continue. -- Trading advice given in this communication, if any, is based on information taken from trades and statistical services and other sources that we believe are reliable. The author does not guarantee that such information is accurate or complete and it should not be relied upon as such. Trading advice reflects the author’s good faith judgment at a specific time and is subject to change without notice. There is no guarantee that the advice the author provides will result in profitable trades. There is risk of loss in all futures and options trading. Any investment involves substantial risks, including, but not limited to, pricing volatility , inadequate liquidity, and the potential complete loss of principal. This article does not in any way constitute an offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any investment, security, or commodity discussed herein, or any security in any jurisdiction in which such an offer would be unlawful under the securities laws of such jurisdiction.
SP:SPX
by Andy_Hecht
2