Hong Kong Market soars 1.8%

The Hong Kong share market closed sharp higher on Wednesday, 11 September 2019, as risk sentiment bolstered on expectations for global easing measures and renewed expectations for a deal to be struck at the upcoming high-level U.S.-China trade talks. Meanwhile, buying momentum amplified on Beijing's latest effort to further open up its financial markets and rumors that the HK government may soften its stance to the protesters, and that the government may consider retrieving farmland for building public housing. At closing bell, the Hang Seng Index surged 1.78%, or 475.38 points, to 27,159.06. The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index spurted 1.55%, or 161.67 points, to 10,565.01.

The city's market got off to a firmer start amid renewed expectations for a deal to be struck at the upcoming high-level U.S.-China trade talks after reports that China has offered to buy American products in exchange for a delay in a series of U.S. tariffs and easing of a supply ban against Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei Technologies.

To revive their flagging economies, central banks around the world, including the United States, China, Europe and Australia, have indicated further interest rate cuts and economic stimulus. The European Central Bank's meeting due on Thursday, at which policymakers are widely expected to cut interest rates, ramp up asset purchases or both.

China's foreign exchange regulator said on Tuesday that it had decided to scrap quota restrictions on two major inbound investment schemes, as a weakening yuan and rising outflows prompt Beijing to seek to attract more foreign capital. The investment quota limits under the Qualified Foreign Institutional Investors (QFII) scheme, and the Renminbi Qualified Foreign Institutional Investor (RQFII) programme will both be removed, the currency regulator said on Tuesday, without divulging when the changes would take effect. QFII, set up in 2002, lets foreign funds invest onshore in China's yuan-denominated A shares. The RQFII programme, introduced in 2011, gives investors access to offshore renminbi to buy mainland-traded stocks. The removal of the first quota, after 17 years of a gradual, regulated opening of China's equities, removes one of the major vestiges of the country's closed capital markets. It is also a nod to the ongoing negotiations to resolve the year-long US-China trade war, which has sought to remove restrictions on foreign investments, address American concerns of China's track record on intellectual property, among other trade issues.

Blue chips rose across the board. HSBC (00005) shot up 3.1% to HK$60.75. HKEX (00388) edged up 0.3% to HK$246. Tencent (00700) added 1.7% to HK$346. China Mobile (00941) rose 1.7% to HK$67.3. AIA (01299) gained 0.8% to HK$80.35.

Smartphone component suppliers rose across the board after Apple announced the new iPhone models. FIH Mobile (02038) surged 7.3% to HK$1.03. Sunny Optical (02382) nudged up 0.5% to HK$115.2. AAC Technologies (02018) jumped 1.5% to HK$39.6. Q Technology (01478) put on 1.2% to HK$8.77. FIT Hon Teng (06088) ascended 3.2% to HK$3.54. Tongda Group (00698) soared 5.2% to HK$0.61. Truly International (00732) advanced 2% to HK$1.01.

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