Hong Kong Market recovers 0.42%

Headline indices of the Hong Kong share market closed higher on Friday, 17 August 2018, as investors risk appetite buying resumed by tracking firm overnight cues from the U.S. and Europe, with the market mood further brightened by easing U.S.-China trade tension after the two countries said on Thursday they would hold lower-level trade talks next week. As per reports, the talks in Washington would take place on August 21 and 22, just before $16 billion in new US tariffs on Chinese goods take effect, along with an equal amount of retaliatory tariffs from Beijing. At closing bell, the Hang Seng Index advanced 113.35 points or 0.42% to 27,213.41. The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index added 34.15 points or 0.33% to 10,513.83. The sub-index of the Hang Seng tracking the Commerce & Industry sector inclined 0.81%, the financial sector was 0.3% up, and Utilities shares gained 0.06%, while properties sector fell 0.12%. Turnover decreased to HK$100.3 billion from HK$124.5 billion on Thursday.

Shares of HK listed Mainland developers were higher on strong RMB. Renminbi rose rapidly as the central tightened its overseas liquidity. China Evergrande (03333) put on 1.9% to HK$26.8. China Overseas Land & Investment (00688) added 1.8% to HK$23.2. China Vanke (02202) advanced 4.6% to HK$24.8. Longfor Group (00960) rose 1.3% to HK$20.

Handset components makers were lower. AAC Technologies (02018) dipped 3% to HK$80.85. Sunny Optical (02382) fell 1.3% to HK$88.55. FIT Hon Teng (06088) gained 4.7% to HK$3.6. BYD Electronic (00285) slipped 2.2% to HK$7.86.

Lenovo (00992) soared 6.5% to HK$4.9 after it reported strong set of results, which triggered a slew of upgrades from research house. Morgan Stanley raised its target price for Lenovo Group to HK$4.8 from HK$4.3, and maintained its "equal-weight" rating.

NEWS FROM THE PRESS: The Hong Kong Monetary Authority said today the composite interest rate, which is a measure of the average cost of funds of banks, increased by 1 basis point to 0.63% at the end of July, from 0.62% at the end of June. The rise in the composite interest rate mainly reflected an increase in the weighted funding cost for deposits during the month.

HK jobless rate flat at 2.8% in May - July -- Hong Kong's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stood at 2.8% in May - July 2018, same as that in April - June 2018. The underemployment rate increased from 1% in April - June to 1.1% in May - July 2018, according to the Census and Statistics Department. Looking ahead, the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Law Chi-kwong, said the labour market should remain tight in the near term riding on the solid growth momentum of the local economy. Nevertheless, as external uncertainties have increased markedly of late, with possible repercussions for export outlook, local economic sentiment and asset markets, the Government will stay vigilant to their potential impact on the local labour market.

OFFSHORE MARKET NEWS, US stock market closed higher on Thursday, amid upbeat corporate earnings results and news of a new round of U.S.-China trade talks. The Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 396.32 points or 1.6% to 25,558.73, the Nasdaq rose 32.41 points or 0.4% to 7,806.52 and the S&P 500 climbed 22.32 points or 0.8% to 2,840.69.

The major European markets also closed higher on Thursday. The German DAX Index climbed by 0.6%. The U.K.'s FTSE 100 Index and the French CAC 40 Index both advanced by 0.8%.

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