[ad_1]
UBS shares bullish outlook on Chinese Internet firms, cites some but ‘limited’ expansion
“We are pretty positive on China’s internet sector this year,” Jerry Liu, head of China internet research at UBS, told CNBC’s “Squawk Box Asia” Tuesday, as a top Chinese official told state media that China’s two-year tech crackdown could be coming to an end.
UBS expects to see some expansion for these Chinese Internet companies, such as Alibaba, Tencent and Meituan, but Liu says it will be limited.
“Based on conversations we have with global investors on the geopolitical and regulatory environment, I think there will still be some long-term concerns and that’s why that puts a lid on how much re-rating we can see,” he said.
“I do see a recovery this year but compared to the past two years, we just don’t have as much macro growth and online penetration to be had in the long run,” he added.
According to a Bain report, online penetration growth in China slowed down in the first three quarters of 2022, with traditionally high-penetration categories such as personal care declining slightly.
– Sheila Chiang
Citi expects a ‘short and shallow’ recession, followed by an economic recovery in 2024
Citi’s Chief Investment Strategist Steven Wieting expects a “short and shallow” recession to kick in, adding that the economy can recover in 2024.
As inflation recedes, some of the “burdens that the economy [was] carrying” were lost, Wieting told CNBC.
“With recession likely in the US and elsewhere in 2023, heightened uncertainty looks set to persist for now,” he wrote in a recent wealth outlook report.
However, he thinks that the economy will start to see signs or preconditions for recovery even before 2023 comes to a close, citing that corporate earnings will start to make a “substantial recovery” over 2024 and 2025.
—Lee Ying Shan
CNBC Pro: This global lithium stock is up 15% since its IPO — and one bank says it could jump almost 600%
Shares of a U.K.-based lithium exploration and development firm could soar by nearly 600%, according to investment bank Canaccord Genuity.
Analysts at the bank say the stock has been “flying under the radar” since its 2022 IPO despite prices of battery-grade lithium carbonate soaring in 2022.
CNBC Pro subscribers can read more here.
— Ganesh Rao
Chinese authorities in contact with Moderna, Pfizer about vaccine and treatment pill
Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel said the company is discussing its vaccine with Chinese authorities.
“We are in discussion with the Chinese government and we have been for quite a while,” Bancel said.
“We are actively in discussion. I’m hoping that something will happen. But, of course, it’s a decision of the Chinese government of where this lands in the end,” he said in an interview with CNBC’s Sara Eisen and Meg Tirrell.
He added that there were no further developments to announce at this stage.
In a separate interview, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said the company is working with the Chinese government “a lot” and sending its Covid pill, Paxlovid, as the nation faces a wave of infections.
“We are trying to understand what is their policy and their needs,” Bourla told Tirrell. “So far, they have shown tremendous interest in Paxlovid.”
The CEO said Pfizer had been sending “very low quantities” to China since the drug was registered there months ago, but is now sending more as cases surge.
Bourla added, “We are sending as much Paxlovid as we can. Our manufacturing machines are working so to be able to supply them at this stage.”
— Jihye Lee, Sara Eisen, Meg Tirrell
South Korea budget shifts from surplus to deficit for first time since August
South Korea’s current account balance fell from a surplus into deficit territory for the first time since August, government data showed.
The nation’s balance of payments registered a deficit of $620 million for November, according to statistics from the Bank of Korea. South Korea recorded a surplus in current account balance for the previous two months after marking a deficit of more than $3 billion in August.
The goods account recorded a deficit of $1.57 billion, a steep decline from the $6.07 billion surplus a year earlier. The services account recorded a deficit of $270 million, a slight rise from a further deficit of $340 million seen a year ago.
— Jihye Lee
CNBC Pro: China’s reopening has gotten Wall Street excited. Here’s how the pros are playing it
Beijing’s sudden and rapid dismantling of its stringent Covid-19 controls after nearly three years has raised hopes that its battered economy could follow a similarly rapid pace of recovery.
From hotels and airlines, to “less obvious beneficiaries,” Wall Street analysts name their top Chinese and global stocks to play the reopening.
Pro subscribers can read more here.
— Zavier Ong
China’s tech sector will be more cautious about expansion, says Riedel Research Group
The Chinese technology sector will be more cautious of how fast it expands after its “shot across the bow” by the government, Riedel Research Group’s founder David Riedel said.
Beijing has “reminded” tech companies where the real power lies in terms of the relationship to collecting consumer data, Riedel said on CNBC’s “Street Signs Asia” on Tuesday.
His comments came after shares of Alibaba rose on Monday after it was announced that Ant Group founder Jack Ma was no longer in control of the company.
Jack Ma “has been fighting this situation for years now on various fronts, and he has been a little battered and bruised,” Riedel said.
Tokyo’s consumer price index rises 4%, faster than expected
Japan saw core consumer prices in its capital rise 4% in December on an annualized basis, faster than expected and above the Bank of Japan’s inflation target of 2%, government data showed.
Economists polled by Reuters had expected to see a 3.8% rise in prices for core items, excluding fresh food and including fuel.
Tokyo’s inflation is seen as a gauge for the nationwide inflation print, which is scheduled to be released later this month on Jan. 20.
— Jihye Lee
Consumers see inflation, spending sliding over next year, according to New York Fed Survey
CNBC Pro: Platinum prices are soaring. These buy-rated stocks with upside could be a way to cash in
Dow, S&P 500 close down while Nasdaq posts second day of gains
At market close Monday, the Dow and S&P 500 traded down despite both trading up earlier in the day.
The S&P 500 whipsawed around the flatline in the afternoon, closing down just 0.1%. The Dow ended down 0.3% as investors focused on growth names as hopes grew over cooling inflation.
But the Nasdaq Composite ended up 0.6%, helped by a nearly 6% rally in Tesla and jumps in other tech names.
Losses were concentrated in recent winners, like health care, energy and aerospace and defense.
— Alex Harring, Scott Schnipper
Tesla jumps 7% as electric vehicle stock rallies off 2-and-a-half year low
Tesla rose more than 7% as investors pulled the electric vehicle maker off prior lows not seen in two-and-a-half years.
The stock is up more than 12% in 2022. That means the first few trading days have offered a respite after plummeting 65% in 2022.
Tesla has struggled in recent months amid CEO Elon Musk’s chaotic purchase of Twitter. Investors are watching Tesla and Apple for insights into how some of the biggest technology names will fare after the industry was beat down last year.
[ad_2]
Read More: Asia-Pacific markets trade mixed after Nasdaq extends gains backed by technology
