Monday, January 11, 2010

Andy Xie on the China bubble

Andy has a proven track record unlike other economists.

Article worth reading in it's entirety.

"Other Asian economies such as Japan, South Korea and Taiwan failed to shed export dependency and develop domestic growth. Periodic spikes in consumption are usually due to asset inflation. Once a country loses export market share on rising costs, it stagnates because property bubbles during high growth periods deter consumption while overwhelming the middle class with housing expenses. China may be following the same path: Despite a decade of talking about promoting consumption, that share of GDP has been declining year in, year out."

"The high export growth era is over for three reasons. China's market share in global trade is twice as big as its GDP share. The odds are low that China could continue to expand its market share. Second, the tide won't rise as fast as before. The Greenspan era saw a credit bubble supercharge western consumption, but the bubble has burst. Odds are that future trade growth will be half or less as in the past. Finally, a western employment crisis will lead to protectionism targeting China. Other developing countries may gain market share at China's expense."

"The liquidity environment, however, is likely to turn against the bubble soon. The killer is inflation driven by a surge in money printing. The average lag between currency creation and inflation is 18 months in the United States. China's lag could be two years since the government uses subsidies to suppress inflation. By 2012, China could experience 1990s-like inflation. And that's when the property bubble will probably burst."

Sunday, January 10, 2010

HK government puppets, business masters

One person multiple votes.

SCMP:

Among the 12 seats, four small functional constituencies had fewer than 200 registered voters, with the financial sector having just 140 - the smallest number of voters in all the functional constituencies. However, the actual number of voters may be even smaller than the official figures, as some large companies can have more than one vote in one sector through their subsidiaries.

In the transport constituency, which had only 178 registered electors in 2008, property tycoon Cheng Yu-tung's New World Development had five votes, including Citybus and New World First Ferry Services.

Tycoon Li Ka-shing's Hutchison Whampoa (SEHK: 0013) controlled at least four votes in this sector with its subsidiaries including Hongkong United Dockyards and Hongkong Salvage and Towage.

With subsidiaries taking in the property, hotel, retail, transport and information technology industries, Li's Cheung Kong (SEHK: 0001) Group and Hutchison Whampoa had at least 20 multiple corporate voters across eight sectors in the 2008 election, according to a search of the two companies' subsidiaries listed in their annual reports. The Kwok family's Sun Hung Kai Properties (SEHK: 0016) controlled at least 10 votes, with a number of voters in the tourism sector, including The Royal Garden and Royal Park Hotel.

New World Development had 11 multiple voters, while tycoon Lee Shau-kee's Henderson Land Development (SEHK: 0012) Company controlled at least seven votes. Wharf, chaired by former chief executive candidate Peter Woo Kwong-ching, had at least six votes.


And as expected from a non representative government, they pull from the bin of pathetic ridiculous excuses...

In its consultation paper on constitutional reform, the government noted public views that the functional constituencies electorate should be broadened, but proposed no alternatives.

The paper said:
"This is because the process would be too complicated and involve the interests of many different sectors and individuals. It would not be easy for the community to reach consensus on this matter."

Friday, January 1, 2010

Oops, Chaoda (0682) does it again

Pays $450M in stock valued at $7.65 for 70% of a company (Keen Spirit) that has:

- NO REVENUES just losses
- $20M of liabilities

Not clear from the filing but the Keen Spirit group has around $25M of annual loss up to Nov 2009.

It's a considerable leap of faith for anyone to believe this is an intelligent investment made by Chaoda.

What exactly are they buying??...


So not only are they paying $450M for a loss making company with no independently valued asset value, they are moving away from their core competency and into biotech.


Thursday, December 3, 2009

Donald Tsang Hong Kong CE

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Sinotronics 1195, heavy action

219m shares out of the 559m issued transacted.

The reason became apparent with the filing made by Union Day Group Ltd/Sze Ming Yee at close, they have increased their position to just under 400m shares to 71.49%.

The plot thickens.


SINOTRONICS01195.HK
(
Delayed Quote1 2009-11-25 16:01
  • Last
  • 0.415
  • Chg
  • 0.140
  • Bid
  • 0.420
  • High
  • 0.590
  • Open
  • 0.450
  • Volume
  • 219.40M
  • Chg(%)
  • 50.909%
  • Ask
  • 0.425
  • Low
  • 0.400
  • Prev Close
  • 0.275
  • Turnover
  • 107.80M