Hong Kong’s Exchange Fund Sees Record 9-Month Gain of US$28.8 Billion Amid Market Rally: HKMA CEO Advocates for Existing Formula Despite Deficit Concerns
The Exchange Fund in Hong Kong reports an unprecedented increase of US$28.8 billion in nine months due to thriving markets. Legislators inquired if the fund could contribute more to counter the government's deficit. However, the CEO of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) advised adhering to the current strategy.
The Exchange Fund announced some of its most successful quarterly earnings due to the surge in stock markets in Hong Kong and the United States. The varied investment strategy contributed to a significant increase in the fund reserved for protecting the city's currency value.
"Given the enhanced market outlook, we aspire to maintain the progress and secure favorable returns for the Exchange Fund in the final quarter," said Eddie Yue Wai-man, the Chief Executive of HKMA, while addressing a committee of the city's Legislative Council.
Multiple legislators inquired if the Exchange Fund could contribute a larger portion of its earnings to the government in order to help resolve its budget shortfall. During the initial nine months, the government's fiscal reserve received HK$10 billion from the Exchange Fund, a sum less than the HK$14 billion it received during the same timeframe the previous year.
According to official statistics, the government had a budget shortfall of HK$183.9 billion in the initial five months of the current fiscal year that started in April.
Yue stated that the Exchange Fund has made a payment to the government, calculated by averaging the investment returns over the last six years. This method is effective as it ensures a more consistent yearly payment to the government, rather than fluctuating annually due to the Exchange Fund's unstable performance.
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Balancing Act: Indonesia’s Economic Stability, Energy Security, and Green Future amid Coal Phase Down
Perspective | It's crucial for Indonesia not to discard coal while transitioning to eco-friendly energy
Gradually reducing dependence on coal and channeling resources into renewable energy can safeguard energy dependability and economic steadiness, paving the way for a more sustainable future.
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China’s Next Energy Challenge: Attracting Investment for Clean Tech Beyond Wind and Solar
China should increase funding for the next wave of clean-energy technology following the surge in wind and solar power. More financial resources are needed in sectors like energy storage, hydrogen, and eco-friendly aviation fuel.
"Chan emphasized during a panel discussion at the Tuesday event that there's a need for increased capital to be directed towards areas with unsatisfied needs, rather than towards already heavily invested hotspots. He stressed that there remains a significant gap that still needs to be addressed."
The increase in renewable energy has also led to instability in power grids, which struggle with an excess of solar power during midday that vanishes as the sun goes down.
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HKMA’s ‘Money Safe’ Initiative: An Extra Layer of Protection for Hongkongers’ Bank Balances from Fraud
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority's (HKMA) Money Safe program is designed to protect the bank accounts of Hong Kong residents from fraudulent activities. Enhanced authentication processes will be required to move frozen funds when banks implement this optional feature next year.
Starting next year, residents of Hong Kong will have the option to secure their entire or partial bank account balance in a "Money Safe." This initiative is designed to offer additional protection against fraudulent activities.
"Our constant goal has been to equip our clients with extra choices for their own protection," said Arthur Yuen Kwok-hang, deputy CEO of HKMA, during a press conference on Tuesday.
The HKMA has announced that twenty traditional banks along with eight online banks will gradually introduce Money Safe through various stages or tests, with the aim of having it fully operational by the close of the coming year. The banks will determine the specifics of the implementation according to their individual operational plans.
Enrollment will be optional, allowing clients to safeguard funds in their checking and savings accounts, including time-deposit accounts in Hong Kong dollars and other foreign currencies. The secured sums will keep receiving the same interest and perks as provided by these accounts.
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Shenzhen’s Record $2.5 Billion Land Sale: A Silver Lining in China’s Sluggish Property Market
The sale of land in Shenzhen, worth US$2.5 billion, serves as a positive sign in China's slow-moving real estate market. China Overseas Land and Investment, along with China Resources Land, have acquired a piece of land measuring 263,000 square meters in the Nanshan district.
China Overseas Land and Investment and China Resources Land, both developers, collectively spent 18.5 billion yuan (equivalent to US$2.54 billion) to secure a 263,000-square-meter (or 2.83 million square feet) property in the busy commercial sector of the city's Nanshan district. This was a significant 46% increase from the initial asking price. The sale of the property took place after close to 300 bidding rounds.
The sale marked the highest-priced land transaction ever recorded in the city, as per the information from Centaline Property's Shenzhen office, surpassing a residential land deal in 2016 that was worth 14 billion yuan.
"According to Sun Hongmei, an analyst from China Index Academy, a Beijing-based research group, the land location does not come with the usual constraints that restrict the cost of residential developments constructed on it. This indicates a change towards market-driven pricing in Shenzhen, which is expected to stabilize housing costs and foster a positive market forecast."
This marked the initial significant transaction following China's announcement of relaxed regulations for the real estate sector in its four primary cities: Beijing, Shenzhen, Shanghai, and Guangzhou.
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Alibaba Cloud Targets Southeast Asia Expansion in 2025 through AI Partnerships: A Strategic Move in Global Dominance
Alibaba Cloud sets ambitious goals for Southeast Asia by 2025 through new AI collaborations
The premier cloud services provider in China is focusing on investments in its operations within Indonesia, Thailand, and other markets.
In its updated Alibaba Cloud Partner Rainforest Plan, the company based in Hangzhou expressed its intention to collaborate with 100 ecosystem partners next year. The goal is to create and offer advanced AI and cloud computing solutions to businesses in diverse industries globally.
This action is in line with a wider plan by Alibaba Cloud to increase foreign investments and broaden its cloud infrastructure services in crucial markets.
"Selina Yuan, the president of international business at Alibaba Cloud, stated in the company's partner summit in Bali, Indonesia on Tuesday, that they are dedicated to assisting their worldwide partners to mutually profit from the AI era and satisfy the varied business needs of their global clients."
Artificial Intelligence has significantly propelled the expansion of cloud services at Alibaba, the company that owns South China Morning Post. Alibaba Cloud, which collaborates with approximately 12,000 global partners including Deloitte and Accenture, saw a 7 per cent increase in its year-on-year revenue, reaching 29.6 billion yuan (US$4.1 billion) in the quarter ending in September. This represents the division's quickest quarterly growth in a span of two years.
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Hong Kong Property Transactions Soar to 7-Month Peak, Yet Market Braces for December Downturn Amid Geopolitical Tensions
Real estate transactions in Hong Kong reach a peak in 7 months, yet a decline is anticipated in December. The Land Registry reports that last month saw 7,689 property deals, amounting to US$8.2 billion.
Real estate sales in Hong Kong hit a seven-month peak in November, but market analysts predict a likely decline this month. This downturn is anticipated due to increased wariness among buyers triggered by escalating geopolitical conflicts and a possible reduction in the frequency of interest rate cuts.
Last month saw the finalization of 7,689 transactions involving new and pre-owned residences, workplaces, retail spaces, industrial properties, and car parks. This figure, released by the Land Registry on Tuesday, represents the peak since the 9,880 deals made in April.
The count was 31 percent greater than the 5,857 recorded in October and over twice the 3,532 documented a year ago.
The worth of the transactions surged over 50 per cent to HK$64.1 billion (US$8.2 billion) in comparison to October, indicating a 161 per cent increase from the previous year, according to the data.
Quarter to Four
The Hong Kong housing minister unveils a strategy to control partitioned apartments and enhance home ownership.
Real estate deals in November increased for the third consecutive month, however, they are expected to plunge by almost 40 per cent to a minimum of 4,800 in December due to a decrease in house sales, says Derek Chan, the research chief at Ricacorp Properties.
Confidence resurged in the real estate market after a 0.5% decrease in interest rates in September, which was additionally reinforced by the relaxation of home loan rates for property purchasers and investors in October.
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China’s Industrial Bodies Warn Against US Chip Purchases in Response to Biden’s Sanctions: Potential Impact on Nvidia, Qualcomm, and Intel’s Mainland Operations
Chinese trade associations are advocating for a cautious approach to purchasing American semiconductor components in response to sanctions imposed by the Biden administration. This move could potentially impact the domestic operations of major tech companies such as Nvidia, Qualcomm, and Intel.
The latest actions taken by the US have significantly damaged the steady and robust growth of China's internet sector, says the Internet Society of China. The statement also indicates that these measures have undermined faith and certainty in American chip products.
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China Embraces Sanofi’s US$1 Billion Investment for New Insulin Plant in Beijing
China is receptive to Sanofi's new project worth US$1 billion in Beijing
The most recent financial commitment from Sanofi in China is set to fund the establishment of a new insulin manufacturing facility in the country's capital.
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Hong Kong Investors Boost Japan’s Booming Hospitality Sector Amid Positive Economic Outlook and Favorable Interest Rates
People from Hong Kong are investing new funds into Japan's thriving hospitality industry. This positive perspective on Japan's hospitality industry is backed by the nation's enhancing economic outlook.
The positive perspective on Japan's hospitality industry is supported by the nation's growing economic outlook. In addition, the country's interest rate at 0.25 percent is among the world's lowest.
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Chinese Lidar Sensing Giant Hesai Unfazed by EV Tariffs, Eyes Global Expansion Amidst Rising Demand for Smart Cars
Hesai, a Chinese manufacturer of lidar sensors, remains determined to expand internationally despite electric vehicle tariffs. The company, which creates sensors for autonomous vehicles, is currently evaluating its investment strategies with aims of global reach, according to the Chief Financial Officer.
Hesai Group, the leading global producer of lidar sensors used by numerous intelligent vehicles to survey their environment, maintains its optimism regarding its growth into global markets such as Europe, even amid concerns over potential tariffs on electric vehicles manufactured in China.
The firm is evaluating investment strategies beyond mainland China in an effort to lower the cost of its lidar sensors for international clients, according to Andrew Fan, the Chief Financial Officer of the Shanghai-based business, as he informed the Post.
"He stated, "We are committed to broadening our reach internationally." "Hesai aims to establish itself as a global corporation with a presence all over the world."
"Fan stated that thanks to advancements in technology, increased manufacturing output, and effective cost management, lidar sensors have become dependable and cost-effective for consumers. He is confident that as intelligent driving continues to evolve, these components will become increasingly popular among car manufacturers."
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Xiaomi’s New Era of Growth: Building a Sustainable Open Ecosystem for Apps, Services, and Content
Boosting Partners, Enhancing Users: Xiaomi's Continual Open Ecosystem for Applications, Services, and Content
Capitalizing on its distinctive abilities as a smartphone producer, Xiaomi is constructing open ecosystems that encompass applications, games, services, and content.
Through the "Expand with Xiaomi" approach, the company offers all-inclusive solutions to promote user involvement and revenue expansion for its associates.
[This article's content has been created by our promotional collaborator.]
In the last ten years, the worldwide smartphone industry has seen an exceptional surge, leading to a broad-scale adoption of mobile internet. Nowadays, about 5.3 billion individuals, which is two-thirds of the global population, have internet access. This shift towards digitization offers a two-fold opportunity: the growing consumer desire for handy, tailored online services, and the chance for developers and brands to leverage this expanding user base to broaden their scope.
Within this vibrant and promising environment, makers of smartphones have emerged as key participants. Leveraging their distinct in-device features, they provide a variety of services that cater to the requirements of users as well as developers, unleashing infinite possibilities for steady expansion and mutual triumph throughout the ecosystem.
Xiaomi, after years of inventive development and tactical expansion, has managed to stay in the top three worldwide smartphone producers for 17 successive quarters. This has solidified its position as a major contender in the mobile internet field. With its wide-ranging device network and HyperOS platform, Xiaomi ensures uninterrupted connectivity in various user situations. As of September 2024, their adaptable operating system caters to 685.8 million monthly active users globally.
During the recent 2025 Xiaomi Internet Partner Conference held in Singapore, Xiaomi presented GetApps, its official app store for international users. The app store is aimed at generating value for both users and developers. GetApps has broadened its scope to more than 100 markets, proudly serving over 260 million active users every month and supporting over 30 million new downloads each day.
In addition to well-known applications, Xiaomi GetApps provides a selection of content, such as brain-teasing games and functional applications, among others. These flourishing sectors within the unrestricted platform serve to meet the unique requirements and tastes of users, while also providing developers with exposure to specific audience groups.
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Credit Agricole CIB Unfazed by Trump’s Trade War, Plans Robust Asia Expansion from Hong Kong Base: Exclusive Interview with CEO Xavier Musca
Special Report | Credit Agricole CIB strengthens its growth in Asia from Hong Kong, unfazed by Trump's trade war
The bank boasts significant proficiency in yuan trading, green financing, and infrastructure growth, according to CEO Xavier Musca.
The CEO of the French banking behemoth, Credit Agricole CIB, has confirmed the bank's dedication to leverage Hong Kong as a hub to broaden its operations in Asia. He further indicated that these plans will remain unchanged, despite Donald Trump's intention to initiate a trade conflict with China.
The three main development factors in Hong Kong – the globalization of the yuan, sustainable finance, and infrastructure growth – present significant opportunities for Credit Agricole CIB, given our proficiency in these areas, according to Xavier Musca in a recent exclusive discussion with the Post, during his latest trip to the city.
"Asia possesses a vast reserve of savings, which is highly appealing to Credit Agricole Group in its capacity as a bank and wealth management firm."
He stated that Credit Agricole's growth strategy in Hong Kong and Asia will remain unaffected by the difficulties posed by Trump's re-election, who has promised to levy extra tariffs on products from China.
"China, which holds the position of the world's second largest economy, will persist in its growth and maintain its openness," stated Musca. "Despite the looming threat of a trade conflict, we have no intentions of reducing our operations in China or anywhere else in Asia."
Two fifty-four
Trump warns of impending tariffs against China, Canada, Mexico over drug issues on his first day in office.
The lender is attracted to the numerous city infrastructure projects that require financing, a sector where the French lender is an expert. At present, the Hong Kong administration is marketing infrastructure retail bonds worth HK$20 billion (US$2.6 billion) until December 6 to fund several vital infrastructure developments. In the middle of October, the government generated HK$55 billion from Silver Bonds for the identical objective.
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