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China Stocks Tumble on Spiking Sino-US Tension, Lingering Economic Uncertainty Triggered by COVID-19

© AP Photo / Eugene HoshikoAn investor looks at a stock price monitor at a private securities company
An investor looks at a stock price monitor at a private securities company  - Sputnik International
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At the start of the week, on 25 May, China stocks had closed higher, buoyed by signs of gains in consumer companies, despite Washington and Beijing repeatedly exchanging barbs over US accusations of cover-ups and lack of transparency related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

China stocks tumbled on 27 May amid a fresh spike in Sino-US tensions and lingering uncertainty regarding the extent of COVID-19 fallout for the economy, reported Reuters.

The blue-chip CSI300 index fell 0.7 per cent to 3,845.61, while the Shanghai Composite Index dropped 0.3 per cent to 2,836.80 points.

The smaller Shenzhen index ended trading down 0.85 per cent, and start-up board ChiNext Composite index nosedived 1.964 per cent.

China's consumer staples sector displayed a drop of 1.15 per cent, while the healthcare sub-index dropped 1.96 per cent.

Data showed the real estate index rising by 0.19 per cent.

In the main Shanghai Composite index the principal gains were posted by Sichuan Hongda Co Ltd, up 10.19 per cent, Silvery Dragon Prestressed Materials Co Ltd Tianjin, which firmed 10.14 per cent, and Shangying Global Co Ltd , rising 10.08 per cent.

Earlier, on Monday, China stocks had closed higher, driven by gains in consumer companies.

© AFP 2023 / JOHANNES EISELE Chinese investors look at prices of shares and the Shanghai Composite Index at a stock brokerage house
China Stocks Tumble on Spiking Sino-US Tension, Lingering Economic Uncertainty Triggered by COVID-19 - Sputnik International
Chinese investors look at prices of shares and the Shanghai Composite Index at a stock brokerage house

The Shanghai Composite index rose 0.15 per cent to 2,817.97, and the blue-chip CSI300 index was up 0.14 per cent.

According to analytics, current hesitancy was motivated by a desire to hold back and monitor pace of the country’s economic recovery from the pandemic, as both activity and demand remain weak.

While there was a markedly less swift fall of profits at China’s industrial firms in April, nonetheless, according to Jingyi Pan, a Singapore-based market strategist at financial services firm IG, there were still many jeopardies to contend with.

"Risks of a second COVID-19 wave and further geopolitical tensions cannot be ruled out, but these have yet to morph into material impact at this point," the analyst was cited by the outlet as acknowledging.

According to Frank Benzimra, head of Asia equity strategy at Societe Generale, increased government fiscal efforts to fight unemployment could potentially benefit Chinese sectors, including infrastructure.

Spike in Sino-US Tensions

News from the markets comes amid a renewed deterioration of relations between China and the US.

The two countries were supposed to negotiate a second part of the trade deal aimed at ending the long-standing tariff war between Washington and Beijing, however, the COVID-19 pandemic threw a spanner in the works.

The US President’s economic adviser Larry Kudlow has stated that reaching a trade deal with China is no longer on the top list of priorities for Donald Trump, more concerned with Beijing’s alleged cover-up of the seriousness of the coronavirus outbreak in the country in its early stages.

Washington has so far failed to substantiate the accusations, which have been vehemently rejected by Beijing.

© REUTERS / THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTYA worker in protective suit takes body temperature measurement of a woman following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Jilin, Jilin province, China May 17, 2020. Picture taken May 17, 2020. cnsphoto via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. CHINA OUT.
China Stocks Tumble on Spiking Sino-US Tension, Lingering Economic Uncertainty Triggered by COVID-19 - Sputnik International
A worker in protective suit takes body temperature measurement of a woman following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Jilin, Jilin province, China May 17, 2020. Picture taken May 17, 2020. cnsphoto via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. CHINA OUT.

Kudlow also criticised China's recent decision to tighten the national security laws in the semi-autonomous region of Hong Kong in light of last year's protests, calling the impending move a "big mistake".

President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he was preparing a strong response to China's planned laws for Hong Kong, adding it would be announced before the end of the week.

Washington has been pressuring China over its intention to introduce a law in Hong Kong that would ban treason, sedition, and other acts that might divide the country.

Threatening to withdraw the trading privileges that the island currently enjoys, earlier in May, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo doubted Hong Kong would be able to maintain a significant level of autonomy from China, and implied Washington could rethink its policy towards the special administrative region.

On 24 May US National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien threatened with the possibility of the US using sanctions against China after China's governing Communist Party proposed a bill to ban "separatist, subversive and terrorist activities" along with any form of foreign interference in Hong Kong.

© REUTERS / TYRONE SIUAnti-government demonstrators scuffle with riot police during a lunch time protest as a second reading of a controversial national anthem law takes place in Hong Kong, China May 27, 2020.
China Stocks Tumble on Spiking Sino-US Tension, Lingering Economic Uncertainty Triggered by COVID-19 - Sputnik International
Anti-government demonstrators scuffle with riot police during a lunch time protest as a second reading of a controversial national anthem law takes place in Hong Kong, China May 27, 2020.

Beijing has slammed US statements as interference in China's sovereign matters.

The National People's Congress is expected to vote on the contentious bill on 28 May, with the initiative having provoked another wave of protests in Hong Kong over concerns the legislation might undermine the administrative region's liberties and special position within China.

 

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