(Bloomberg) — Chinese stocks roared back from a rout and the yuan strengthened as speculation mounted that policymakers are making preparations to gradually exit the stringent Covid Zero policy that’s been the biggest bugbear for investors.
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A gauge of Chinese stocks listed in Hong Kong surged almost 7% intraday, rebounding from its lowest close since late 2005. However, it pared gains after Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said he’s “not aware” of a government committee to assess ways to exit Covid Zero.
Stocks jumped earlier as unverified social media posts circulated online that a committee was being formed to assess scenarios on how to exit Covid Zero. The market had seen a heavy bout of selling following the Communist Party congress, where President Xi Jinping’s power grab led to expectations that strict lockdowns and other market-unfriendly policies will likely persist.
“I think the market’s reaction shows how much anticipation there has been for the reopening in the market,” said Hao Hong, partner at Grow Investment Group.
The impact of the speculation was felt beyond China markets. US stock index futures also extended gains while a broader gauge of Asian equities climbed more than 2%. Iron ore futures in Singapore rose, heading for the biggest increase in three weeks, while copper prices rebounded after three days of consecutive declines. Oil also gained amid a broader market rally.
The Hang Seng Tech Index jumped as much as 9.3% before paring gains to under 8%. The CSI 300 Index of onshore shares ended 3.6% higher, the most since march.
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‘Not Surprised’
To be sure, markets have rallied on such reopening speculation in the past, only to be left disappointed as China continued to pursue Covid Zero.
Authorities have ramped up lockdowns quietly since the recently concluded party congress, as the highly transmissible omicron strain continues to breach virus defenses. Economic powerhouses including Shanghai, Zhengzhou and Guangzhou all have varying levels of restrictions in place, which have upended production and disrupted daily lives.
However, there are debates on how to fine tune the zero-tolerance approach as social and economic costs rise and the public and investors grow weary. Chinese officials are mulling a cut to travel quarantine to two days in a hotel and five days at home, down from seven days in a hotel and three days at home, Bloomberg News has reported.
Dip buyers though have suffered repeated setbacks in the face of the relentless equities rout.
“I’m not surprised by the rumor circulating online about a conditional reopening,” said Liu Xiaodong, a fund manager at Shanghai Power Asset Management Co. “The state council could be waiting for the deliberation by the team of experts to determine the next step. The market is also willing to buy that an inflection point is near for Covid Zero.”
READ: China Ramps Up Lockdowns, Covid Restrictions Across Country (1)
The onshore yuan rose as much as 0.7% before paring gains to 0.2%. It fell to a 15-year low earlier in the session. The yield on 10-year government bonds rose two basis points to 2.66%, ending four straight days of declines.
The latest rally comes as global financial industry heavyweights gather in Hong Kong for a summit where China’s Covid policies are bound to be a topic of discussion.
“Efforts to resuscitate consumption and attract foreign investments cannot be done without some form of re-opening,” said Fiona Lim, senior foreign exchange strategist at Malayan Banking Bhd in Singapore. “Any confirmation by authorities to ease up on Covid-Zero would probably strengthen yuan significantly.”
–With assistance from Jeanny Yu, Chester Yung, Wenjin Lv, Linda Lew, Jessica Zhou and April Ma.
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