Kensaku Ihara

Oct 30, 2024 | asia.nikkei.com | Kensaku Ihara

HONG KONG -- Hong Kong is welcoming more mainland Chinese into the territory with the goal of admitting more than 1 million by 2046 as part of a push to offset a falling birth rate and an exodus of talent overseas. During an annual key policy address earlier this month, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee outlined plans to turn the territory into a hub for high-caliber talent, including easing entry restrictions for university graduates from the mainland.

Oct 3, 2024 | asia.nikkei.com | Peggy Ye |Kensaku Ihara

HONG KONG -- China economists lowered their forecasts for the nation's 2024 gross domestic product in the latest quarterly survey by Nikkei and Nikkei Quick News, underscoring the pressure facing authorities in the country as they fight to stimulate growth. The average projection by 28 local experts on China's economy points to GDP growth of 4.8% on the year, down from 4.9% in the previous survey compiled in July.

Sep 6, 2024 | asia.nikkei.com | Kensaku Ihara |Noriyuki Doi |Tomoko Wakasugi

HONG KONG/SHANGHAI -- Mainland China investors have been buying Hong Kong equities at a record pace, and the inclusion of Alibaba Group Holding in the Hong Kong Stock Connect program is expected to quicken the capital outflows. The Chinese tech group on Aug. 28 upgraded to a primary listing on the Hong Kong market, a step toward being eligible for Stock Connect, which lets investors in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Shenzhen trade designated shares listed in each other's markets.

Sep 6, 2024 | asia.nikkei.com | Kensaku Ihara |Peggy Ye |Kenji Kawase

HONG KONG -- China's regional banks are moving faster than big institutions in disposing of nonperforming real estate loans, while the government urges them to lend more to support a weak housing market. Bank of Zhengzhou in Henan province announced on Wednesday that it had agreed to sell assets worth 10 billion yuan ($1.4 billion) to an asset management company mostly funded by the provincial government and state-owned enterprises.

Aug 31, 2024 | asia.nikkei.com | Kenji Kawase |Kensaku Ihara |Peggy Ye

HONG KONG/MACAO -- Revenues in Macao's casino business are climbing back toward pre-pandemic levels, but clouds of uncertainty are gathering as authorities clamp down on unlicensed money changing operations that play a key role in the industry. The latest interim results of six Hong Kong-listed casino operators demonstrate the sector's renaissance.