Guangzhou plans to modify the 'hukou' residency structure in a significant effort to boost housing sales. The city, which is the capital of the Guangdong province in the south, is burdened with 13.2 million square meters of unsold residences, a situation that would take nearly two years to rectify.

Guangzhou is set to implement fresh initiatives that will allow prospective homeowners to acquire local residency, outpacing competing major Chinese cities in adjusting the household registration process to boost property sales. This comes in the wake of the central government's efforts to salvage the real estate market.

Individuals who have purchased properties in any of the seven city divisions – Baiyun, Huangpu, Huadu, Panyu, Nansha, Conghua, and Zengcheng – and have made social insurance payments for a year, can qualify to request for hukou or formal residency, as per the city's local authorities.

People who have contributed a minimum of 200,000 yuan (US$27,650) in income tax in Guangzhou for the last three straight years are now eligible to apply for a hukou, as per the latest proposals released late on Monday.

"Chen Xueqiang, an analyst at China Index Academy, suggests that these incentives will stimulate demand to a certain degree. He also notes that easing hukou regulations could entice and keep skilled individuals in the city, which could eventually lead to a surge in demand for housing."

The leading 30 property developers in Guangzhou experienced a 13% reduction in new home sales in the first ten months compared to the same period last year, as reported by China Real Estate Information Corp. This decline reflects the nationwide decrease in housing sales. Based on data from the China Index Academy, the city holds 13.2 million square meters of unsold properties, which, considering the current demand, could take around 22 months to sell.

Asia is set to fuel worldwide expansion as the 'China plus one' strategy gains traction in the wake of Trump's comeback. Shifting investments from China to surrounding markets to safeguard against tariffs and geopolitical threats is projected to enhance Asia's economic growth, according to HSBC's Elhedery.

Business leaders at a summit in Hong Kong on Tuesday suggested that Asia is likely to be the major contributor to global growth this year, despite the potential risks associated with geopolitical instability and extra tariffs, particularly with Donald Trump coming back to the White House.

The approach known as "China plus one," which involves shifting investments from China to nearby economies as protection against tariffs and geopolitical uncertainties, will stimulate overall growth in Asia, according to Georges Elhedery, the chief executive officer of HSBC Holdings. He made this statement at the Global Financial Leaders' Investment Summit.

Approximately half of the foreign direct investment (FDI) in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) originates from China, making it the dominant investor in the region, as stated in a panel discussion titled "Investing in Asia: outlook and opportunities". As per data from the business consultancy firm Dezan Shira & Associates, China's FDI in this 10-country alliance was recorded at US$25.12 billion last year, witnessing a surge of over one-third from 2022.

"China now considers ASEAN as its biggest trade ally, surpassing both Europe and the United States," stated Elhedery. "This has resulted in a substantial advantage, creating a beneficial cycle in Asia with this 'China plus one' opportunity," he added.

Asia is forecasted to continue being the global powerhouse for economic growth. It's predicted that the region will report an economic expansion of approximately 4.6 per cent this year, making up around 60 per cent of the world's growth, as stated by the International Monetary Fund. The growth for the upcoming year is anticipated to be around 4.4 per cent.

Google has listed Keeta, owned by Meituan, and the video game AFK Journey, as some of the 'Best of 2024' Android applications. This recent acknowledgement of Keeta and AFK Journey highlights the growing refinement of app developers in China.

Alibaba's Stock Connect link demonstrates the power of Hong Kong as a pathway to mainland markets. Mainland investors have accumulated 4 per cent of Alibaba's public float, and have contributed to 15 per cent of its trading volume via the Stock Connect program.

The financial market in Hong Kong is effectively acting as a powerful link between international fund managers and the financial markets in mainland China. This is evident with Alibaba Group Holding's enhanced listing status, which provides advantages to investors from both arenas.

Ever since becoming part of the Stock Connect program on September 10, domestic investors have acquired 4 per cent of the openly traded shares in the country's leading e-commerce platform operator, according to the company's co-founder and chairman, Joe Tsai. Furthermore, he mentioned that these investors were responsible for 15 per cent of the stock's turnover in less than a quarter year.

On August 28, Alibaba changed its listing status to dual-primary to qualify for the scheme, which provides mainland investors the opportunity to invest in one of the country's most successful tech companies. Alibaba is the proprietor of the Taobao and Tmall platforms, as well as the Alipay payment systems. Additionally, it owns the South China Morning Post.

"The primary benefit of being primarily listed in Hong Kong is that it opens up opportunities to investors from the mainland via the Stock Connect programme," stated Tsai during an informal discussion at the Global Financial Leaders' Investment Summit, which was facilitated by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, on Tuesday. "This significantly increases the liquidity of our stocks."

Alibaba first opened its doors to international investors when it launched its shares in an unprecedented global stock offering worth US$25 billion in September 2014. The company later conducted a secondary share listing in Hong Kong in November 2019, simplifying the process for regional investors to purchase and track its stock.

The Stock Connect program, celebrating its 10th anniversary this week, provides an avenue for mainland investors to purchase shares listed in Hong Kong while adhering to China's stringent capital regulations. It also grants foreign investors the opportunity to invest in shares denominated in yuan, listed on the Shanghai and Shenzhen exchanges, through Hong Kong.

"Our clients and users are well-versed with our products but lack knowledge about our stocks," Tsai observed, highlighting that over 90% of their business is conducted in the mainland. "At present, mainland investors have the opportunity to invest in our stocks."

HSBC, Cathay Pacific, and EcoCeres collaborate for sustainable aviation fuel initiative in Hong Kong

The agreement reduces greenhouse gases equivalent to 10,000 return journeys from Hong Kong to London, according to the financial institution.

HSBC has made a pioneering move in Hong Kong by being the first to directly buy sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for corporate use, in an effort to reduce its carbon emissions from travel. This comes before any government initiatives promoting the usage of this fuel, as part of the city's efforts to achieve its climate objectives.

On Tuesday, it was declared that the city's biggest bank has consented to a unique arrangement to purchase 3,400 tons of SAF from EcoCeres, a biofuel production company that was established in 2021 as a separate entity from the city's leading piped gas provider, Hong Kong and China Gas (Towngas). This was part of a tripartite agreement.

The energy source will be employed in flights run by leading airline Cathay Pacific, taking off from Hong Kong International Airport.

"This represents the most significant SAF acquisition ever made by HSBC," stated Luanne Lim, the Chief Executive Officer of the global bank's Hong Kong division. "The Hong Kong project will act as a trial scheme that could potentially facilitate wider adoption."

The agreement is set to eradicate approximately 11,800 tonnes of carbon emissions, which is comparable to the carbon impact of 10,000 return, economy-class journeys from Hong Kong to London, she further explained.

Alice Suen, who leads the bank's sustainable finance activities, stated that Cathay constitutes approximately 80% of the bank's airline transactions in Hong Kong.

Baidu reports that the price of autonomous vehicles has reduced to $34,525 as large-scale manufacturing accelerates. Baidu's CEO, Robin Li, announced that the RT6 is currently the only Level-4 self-driving car in mass production worldwide.

On Tuesday, Baidu, a prominent technology company in China, announced that it has reduced the manufacturing cost of its Apollo RT6 autonomous vehicle to 250,000 yuan (US$34,525) each. This is a noteworthy advancement in making self-driving cars more affordable and prevalent in China.

At a business gathering in Wuhan, the heart of Hubei province, Baidu's co-founder, chairman, and CEO, Robin Li Yanhong, announced that the RT6 is currently the only Level-4 autonomous driving vehicle being produced on a large scale globally. This statement underscores the company's edge over its rivals, as per local news outlets.

"Tesla embodies an alternate technological trajectory… they aimed to advance from L2 to L4, and they're still in the process of achieving it," declared Li at the occasion.

The international norms organization, SAE International, has outlined six stages of self-driving technology, beginning from Level 0 which has zero automation. Level 4 signifies autonomous driving where human involvement is typically unnecessary.

Earlier this year, Baidu's Apollo vehicles created quite a stir in Wuhan by drawing local customers with their inexpensive service. However, conventional taxi drivers in the city expressed worry that this novel technology could threaten their livelihoods.

The Brazilian representative indicates that investments from China in new energy are encouraged. The diplomat from Brazil points out that the significant potential in their new energy sector makes the country an attractive prospect for Chinese investors.

While the US and the EU have swiftly imposed tariffs and trade barriers on China's electric vehicle (EV) industry to limit its influence, the chief representative from Brazil in Hong Kong has expressed that his country is open to increased investment from Beijing in this rapidly growing and profitable sector.

"Connections have grown significantly vital and robust," stated Consul General Manuel Innocencio De Lacerda Santos Jnr during a discussion with the Post the previous month. "China's financial involvement in Brazil is primarily concentrated on the green energy industry – including wind, solar, and hydropower – due to Brazil's prowess in these sectors."

Based on data from China's customs, Brazil has consistently exported over US$100 billion worth of goods to China for the past three years. China has remained Brazil's top trade ally for a straight 15 years.

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Analysts predict that the bond between China and Brazil is expected to fortify with the recent election of Lula as the

The diplomat pointed out that the two countries complement each other, highlighting the potential for further collaboration in digital services and biotechnology. Although Brazil may not be at the forefront of semiconductors or artificial intelligence (AI) like China, Santos suggested that AI could be employed to enhance efficiency and sustainability in the agricultural sector.

BlackRock's Artificial Intelligence is closely monitoring and assisting in making stock selections based on its observations. Asset managers are investigating the application of AI, as regulatory bodies such as Hong Kong's supervisory authority attempt to establish guidelines.

In the meantime, Hong Kong's securities regulator has set up a set of rules to guarantee the sensible exploitation of the technology.

BlackRock's automated investment platform, which they refer to as a "human-machine collaboration," utilizes this technology to generate over 1,000 indicators from more than 300 different data sources. These sources include content from social media, blogs, and internet searches.

The system monitors any sudden increases in social media discussions about a company, which are often followed by a surge in traffic on the company's website. This could potentially indicate a rise in the company's stock price. Ahmed Talhaoui, the leader of BlackRock's Systematic Group for Asia-Pacific, Europe, Middle East and Africa, stated in a recent Hong Kong press conference, "A single stock can generate numerous signals, and some of these may conflict with each other. Therefore, we must be adept at integrating these signals."

Processes such as machine learning and similar methods assist, however, the involvement of humans remains crucial.

Chairman of HKEX states that Middle Eastern firms show inclination towards Hong Kong listings

Carlson Tong Ka-shing asserts that a firm 'trust and friendship' has been formed between Saudi Arabia and Hong Kong

Carlson Tong Ka-shing reiterates the strong bond of 'trust and friendship' between Saudi Arabia and Hong Kong.

Carlson Tong Ka-shing mentioned that several projects and businesses funded by the kingdom's state-owned investment fund, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), as well as companies listed on the Saudi Stock Exchange, or Tadawul, could readily pursue listings in Hong Kong.

Tong mentioned that high-ranking representatives from Tadawul and PIF expressed their curiosity about the proposal for Saudi firms to be listed in Hong Kong. This occurred during a meeting with a team from the city, held in Riyadh the previous month.

"Saudi businesses stand to gain by listing in Hong Kong as it provides an opportunity to gather funds for economic diversification. At the same time, it allows Hong Kong and global investors to tap into the Gulf economy," he stated.

In alignment with its Saudi Vision 2030 strategy, Saudi Arabia is undertaking a transformation and broadening of its economy to decrease its dependence on oil. This has initiated a multitude of infrastructure projects throughout the nation.

Following numerous engagements with HKEX and authorities from the Hong Kong government during the past couple of years, along with the dual-listing of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in both markets, Tong expressed that a foundation of "trust and friendship" has been built between the two parties.

Chinese builders hasten residential sales as mood shifts

Strong sales in October have exhausted inventory, leading to an expected average decline of 20 per cent in several cities come November, according to a research institute.

The week of November 3 saw the approval of approximately 115 projects, which collectively provide 44,577 housing units, as per the data gathered by 58 Anjuke Real Estate Research Institute. This institute monitors the real estate activities in 55 major cities on the mainland. This marked a 30 per cent increase from the prior week's approvals.

In October, the leading 100 property developers in the country reportedly sold homes valued at 435.5 billion yuan (equivalent to US$60.2 billion). This represents a 73% increase compared to sales in September, as reported by China Real Estate Information Corp. Over the same period, there was a slight dip in home prices by 0.5%, marking the least significant decrease since March, as indicated by government statistics.

"There's a lot of excitement," stated Wei Kai, the marketing head at Centaline Property's Shenzhen branch, one of the biggest real estate firms. "The mood is getting better, hence everyone is eager to kick off their projects immediately."

Sources indicate that Pegatron of Taiwan has sold the majority share of its iPhone factory in India to Tata. As Apple expands its production network beyond China, it's anticipated that India will manufacture nearly a quarter of all iPhones distributed this year.

According to the agreement disclosed privately a week ago, Tata will possess 60% and oversee day-to-day activities in the partnership, while Pegatron will own the remaining portion and offer technical assistance, stated the two informants, who wished to remain anonymous since the specifics are not yet disclosed to the public.

The insiders didn't provide further details about the deal's financial aspects.

Tata chose not to provide any remarks, and neither Apple nor Pegatron responded to inquiries from Reuters on Sunday.

In April, Reuters initially reported that Apple-supported Pegatron was in the advanced stages of discussions to sell its sole iPhone manufacturing facility in India to Tata. This move signifies the Taiwanese company's most recent reduction in its collaboration with Apple.

Shares in Hong Kong put a stop to a 6-day downturn as Chinese banks see an increase following a regulatory directive. Firms listed on the stock market that have share prices less than their book value are required to devise strategies to rectify the situation, as stated by the CSRC last Friday. The CSRC reiterated this statement last Friday for companies listed on the stock market with share prices less than their book value.

The Hang Seng Index saw a 0.8 per cent increase, finishing at 19,576.61, which marked a turnaround from a 7.3 per cent drop in the previous six trading days. The Hang Seng Tech Index also experienced a rise, albeit a smaller one at 0.3 per cent.

The major indexes in Mainland China experienced a slight decline. The CSI 300 Index saw a decrease of 0.5 per cent, while the Shanghai Composite Index went down by 0.2 per cent.

Investor confidence in Hong Kong and Chinese stocks continues to be unstable after China's unexpected decision not to introduce the financial stimulus that investors were counting on. This unease is exacerbated by the potential for increased tariffs following Donald Trump's re-election as US president. The Hang Seng Index experienced a substantial drop of 6.3 per cent last week, marking a total fall of 16 per cent since its peak in October.