Monday, November 10, 2008

Stocks surge after China stimulus


Asian markets have risen sharply, a day after China announced a huge investment plan to kick-start its slowing economy.

Stocks leapt in Japan, China and Hong Kong, buoyed by China's efforts to sustain its growth rates, on which many Asian economies depend.

About $586bn (£370bn) is to go into housing, infrastructure and post-earthquake reconstruction in China over the next two years.

Correspondents say the package is a response to falling growth and exports.

There will also be significant cuts in company tax, while banks will be allowed to lend more to projects involving rural development and technical innovation.

The government also promised a shift to a "moderately easy" monetary policy.

"The investment expansion should be done swiftly and forcefully," a State Council meeting chaired by Premier Wen Jiabao concluded.

"It's a huge package," Dominique Strauss-Kahn, managing director of the International Monetary Fund, was quoted as saying by the Reuters news agency after a meeting of the Group of 20 finance officials in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

"It will have an influence not only on the world economy in supporting demand but also a lot of influence on the Chinese economy itself, and I think it is good news for correcting imbalances."

Market bounce

Chinese stocks rose sharply, with the Shanghai Composite Index ending 7.3% higher at 1,874.80. Tokyo's Nikkei 225 stock average closed up 5.8% to 9,081.43, helped by the weaker yen, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index was up 3.39% at 14,726.59.

Companies likely to benefit most from the government's investment plans did best, including banking, steel and construction firms.

Factory closures across the border in southern China have badly depressed China's manufacturing sector.

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