Regional News

France and Hong Kong Signed a Tax Cooperation Agreement

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On Thursday France and Hong Kong (China) signed a tax cooperation agreement.  This agreement will promote exchanges of investment, know-how and technology between the two parties, said John Tsang the Hong Kong Secretary of Finance during a speech at a working lunch.

According to the French Ministry of Economics, the agreement is the result of ten years of negotiations. He added that France could obtain information necessary for the implementation of tax legislation in Hong Kong. In contrast, Hong Kong investors could benefit from a reduction of 10% withholding on passive income (such as dividends, interest and royalties). Today, 700 French companies reside in Hong Kong.

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Hedging Gains in Asia

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Most Asian markets fell on Friday. MSCI Asia Pacific Index was on the morning down 0.5 percent after reaching its highest level in two years the day before.

– Sentiment among investors is uncertain. Macro figures from the U.S. was a bit weak. “This week we’ve had a couple good days and investors may use this opportunity to take profit,” said Shane Oliver, head of investment strategy at AMP Capital Investors in Sydney to Bloomberg News.

Masaaki Shirakawa, Governor of the Bank of Japan said the U.S. contributed to the downside risk for the economy while the South Korean central bank explained its decision not to raise interest rates by weak growth in the European and U.S. economy in addition to a strengthening of its currency, reported Bloomberg News.

Among the few exceptions to the broad decline on Friday, the Chinese domestic stock markets rose by 2.23 percent in Shanghai and 1.01 per cent in Shenzen.

Industrial & Commercial Bank of China and China Construction Bank was among the winners in the banking index after Citigroup announced that Chinese banks will be required to show solid earnings growth for the third quarter, reported Bloomberg News.

A report from the Chinese Commerce Ministry on Friday that showed that foreign investment in China rose in September helped to further strengthen confidence in the outlook for the Chinese economy, writes Bloomberg News.

In South Korea, LG Electronics was up 2.4 percent and LG Display up 1.0 percent after another positive update from a brokerage house, wrote CNBC.

The mining company Rio Tinto also went against the trend and was up 1.1 percent driven by the company’s strong production report that was presented on Thursday, and signs that the company’s iron ore joint venture with BHP Biliton met resistance among EU regulators.

Key indicators: (at 7:06) Note: The market closes at different times)
Nikkei 225 (Japan) 9489.80 -0.98%
Topix (Japan) 825.82 -1.33%
Kospi (South Korea) 1899.35 -0.02%
Taiex (Taiwan) 8205.30 -0.12%
Straits Times (Singapore) 3217.06 0.69%
Shanghai Composite (China) 2950.81 2.47%
Shenzhen Composite (China) 1215.83 0.78%
Hang Seng (Hong Kong) 23747.36 -0.44%
Bombay Sensex 30 (India) 20393.43 -0.51%
S & P / ASX 200 Index (Aus) 4689.00 -0.21%

Deloitte Survey: Investors Bullish on China Private Equity Fund

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The “China Private Equity Confidence Survey” issued by Deloitte & Touche 14 in Beijing shows that investors are optimistic about China’s private equity funds (PE ) market and RMB funds. The survey also shows China’s growing private equity funds will change the existing market structure.

The work of the international research firm Deloitte in relation to China’s private equity market found that 79% of the respondents expected the next 12 months that private equity investment activities in China will be heating up.

Deloitte China, the North China managing partner of the company’s private equity services, pointed out that the confidence many private equity investors in the China market is high, due to many factors, including the current rising economic trend, the open market recovery, growth in domestic RMB funds, and to private equity funds as a source of financing for growing businesses. The most striking of the factors is the rapid rise and growth of RMB funds.

Despite the confidence in China’s private equity fund market, the survey revealed that only half of the respondents expect plenty of capital.  Despite this, continuing support for privatization of state-owned enterprises, is set to increase. Industry, consumer, retail trade activities in the next 12 months will be the majority of those business that will go private.  This is followed by electricity, energy, the mining industry and the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and health care industries.

Andrew Zhu Deloitte Tax and Business Advisory Partner, pointed out that as China’s private equity fund market matures, the past focus on investment activities in the coastal areas to the mainland will be more substantial along the lines of second and third tier cities infiltration and this may even include some provinces and cities in the western hinterland, which will provide more competition to the Chinese mainland market.

Qatar Plans to Increase its Investments in Socotra

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Socotra

In a letter to President Ali Abdullah Saleh, said the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani said his country is ready to establish a Yemeni company – country to explore for oil and gas and develop oil fields in Yemen, in addition to investing in the development of tourism to the island of Socotra.

The Chairman welcomed the country in favor of investments in Yemen and praised the role played by Qatar in the protection of Yemen’s unity and security.

Socotra continues to be the focus of recent tourist projects in Yemen. Its natural beauty and remote destination has caused it to a destination for adventurers. Now the Yemeni government is hoping to transform it into a source of revenue. With tourism increasing in general in Yemen, the leaders want to capitalize on a wave of what they see as a positive international interest and foreign investment.

Socotra maybe the key to Yemen’s success.

Keep Your Eye on Korea

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Seoul- For those who prefer more exotic destinations in the fastest growing region today, Asia, one of the most interesting options is South Korea. With growth expected to exceed 4 percent in 2010, and strong domestic demand. In fact, since Ecotrade has opened a strategy on the main Korean stock index, Kospi 100, which so far this year up to 8 percent maximum currently listed.

One attraction of this market is that it has internationally recognized firms. An example is Samsung Electronics and Hyundai Motors, where experts recommend the purchase of shares. For the former, the market consensus expected to close the year with a net profit of over 10,000 million euros, and even increase your cash in 2011 to almost 13,000 million, 40 percent more than expected gain in 2010. The proximity to China and strong domestic demand will allow surfing the uncertainties of the market. Lost in the exercise less than 5 percent.

A similar story is seen in the case of car maker Hyundai. Experts believe that net income will increase slightly in 2011 to over 3,200 million euros, and will feature a box of 4,600 million. Representing an increase of close to 19 percent if one takes into account the forecasts of experts who handle cash in 2010.

Japan Reinserted 44 Billion Euro Stimulus Package

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Tokyo – In the fight against the economic crisis, the Japanese Cabinet issued another economic stimulus package at the equivalent of 44 billion euros. The money will go to employment and social programs, assistance for small businesses and investments in infrastructure.  There is hope that the package will stave off renewed appreciation of the yen. The package will be financed through a supplementary budget, yet Prime Minister Naoto Kan will still bring the stimulus package to parliament this month.

On Tuesday, the Japanese central bank had lowered its key rate for the second-largest economy in the world to almost zero percent to combat deflation. The bank announced  a program for the purchase of securities with a total of five trillion yen (about 44 billion euros) to help support the economy. The biggest problem for the recovery of the Japanese economy is the soaring yen. This has caused goods imported from abroad to be cheaper and Japanese exports to be one of the more expensive goods in the world.

High Price Attracts Hedge Funds

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KazatompromUranium is currently trading at prices not seen for months, and appeals to speculative investors like hedge funds to get started. As the U.S. consulting company Ux Consulting tells in her latest monthly report, yellow cake listed for immediate delivery was the third consecutive week at more than 48 dollars per pound (454 grams). Compared to the low of March 2010 is a price increase of 19 percent.

Given the low interest rate environment, professional investors speculate on the search for yield except with classics such as stocks , bonds and gold, more with exotic plants. Therefore flow for months billion in agricultural commodities and push up prices there to the highest levels in years.

Even six years ago hedge fund registration on the uranium market was active , as prices increased for the radioactive element into the flight over went and to the end of 2006 by more than five times . In 2007 it doubled the price again and in June of this year a record high reached of 136 dollars a pound .

The price rise had accelerated at the time, after governments put around the world to nuclear energy in the hope of reducing their dependence on fossil fuels and reduce emissions. In May of this year, said the uranium sector of the mining group Rio Tinto with the increasing use of nuclear power in India and China will see to it that the demand for fuel will remain strong.

According to UXC CEO Jeff Combs , the main difference to the situation in 2004 is that today more uranium is on the market. In Kazakhstan , where the world’s most of uranium promoted to the ejection 2003-2009 more has than quadrupled , as demonstrated by figures from the World Nuclear Association. They also show that the flow in the second- largest producer, Canada has hardly changed since 2003 . The Kazakh government mining company Kazatomprom plans to expand 2010 production by 29 percent to 18 000 tonnes, by 2016 it will even increase to 25 000 tonnes.

Deloitte Grows in Asia

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Revenues in Asia Pacific grew 9 percent, making it the region with the fastest growth for the sixth consecutive year. Korea and India are part of the member firms that have grown over 20 percent. Deloitte China has grown by 8 percent. The market share of the Fortune Global 500 rose 2 percentage points in the Asia-Pacific. The Deloitte member firms have also contributed to the achievement of some of the largest IPO on the markets.

Investments in Fixed Assets Rose 24.8% from January in China

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Fixed Asset Investments in China during the first eight months increased by 24.8% yoy to reach 14,100 billion yuan, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said on Saturday.

The growth rate was 0.1 percentage point lower than that for the first seven months.The investments in the state and controlled by the state rose 20.0% to 5850 billion yuan.

Investments in the property market rose by 36.7% to 2,840 billion yuan during the first eight months.

Investment in projects of the central government rose by 11.4% to 1120 billion yuan, while investment in projects of local governments increased by 26.1% to 12,980 billion yuan during the first eight months .

Foreign investment rose 2.5% to 488.7 billion yuan from January to August over a year. Investment from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan rose 15.8% to 445.4 billion yuan. The domestic business investment rose by 26.3% to 13,110 billion yuan.

SEC Point Capital Inflows Stock

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Conrad Theerachai Secretary-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) said that foreign investment flows to the Thai bond market. And the stock market surpassed the 900 point of talking to foreign securities companies were foreign investors that Thailand’s equity investment. Because the rate of economic growth has been high the credit rating has been organized well. And improved management of government listed companies. The SEC continues to monitor continuously and believes that once Thai shares rose to another level and price incentives would not be diluted by market forces.

The bond market showed rapid growth. The value of the bond market increased from 11,000 million dollars. Representing 11 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) is U.S. $ 193,000 million. Representing 70 percent of GDP after the crisis in Thailand in 2540 through the bond market. Of capital inflows reached U.S. $ 3,000 million during the past eight months.