UBS sees Asia as its future growth engine after Credit Suisse merger boosted its regional footprint, CEO says (SCMP)
2024-04-02

Malaysia 1MDB scandal: Switzerland begins fraud trial of Saudi oil executives linked to sovereign wealth fund (SCMP/AP)
2024-04-02

3 killed in avalanche at popular Swiss ski resort: police (Xinhua)
2024-04-02

Syngenta withdraws Shanghai IPO application, will restart process in China or elsewhere ‘when the conditions are right’ (SCMP)
2024-03-29

2024 Art Basel in Hong Kong, a fulcrum for global arts exchange (GT)
2024-03-28

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Foreign ministers of China, Timor-Leste hold talks (Xinhua)
2024-04-04

Chinese, Lao foreign ministers hold talks (Xinhua)
2024-04-04

China’s cyberspace regulator vows to work with Africa on AI governance (SCMP)
2024-04-04

Xi-Biden phone call ‘anchor for stabilizing ties,’ signals willingness to manage tensions despite growing divergence (GT)
2024-04-03

Chinese FM refutes Philippine defense chief’s smear of ‘propaganda trap’ over South China Sea (GT)
2024-04-03

Chinese premier meets Indonesian president-elect (Xinhua)
2024-04-02

China’s military to hold live-fire exercise on Myanmar border as fighting continues (SCMP)
2024-04-02

Chinese, Japanese experts hold dialogue on discharge of nuclear-contaminated water: FM spokesperson (China Daily)
2024-04-01

China urges Europe to continue supporting free trade as French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné visits Beijing (SCMP)
2024-04-01

China and India put tough issues at ease with diplomatic and military meetings (China Daily)
2024-03-29

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Qingming Festival holidays start with record travel, consumption spending (GT)
2024-04-04

China's State Council appoints, removes officials (Xinhua)
2024-04-03

China’s new data agency plans fast track to powerful national computing network (SCMP)
2024-04-03

China doubles subsidies for child, elderly care facilities to deal with demographic decline (SCMP)
2024-04-03

CPC to implement Party discipline education campaign (Xinhua)
2024-04-03

Shanghai advances development of 6G (Xinhua)
2024-04-03

China’s former justice minister Tang Yijun facing corruption probe, top anti-graft agency says (SCMP)
2024-04-02

‘Good intentions’: China’s canteens for seniors are losing money and shutting down from lack of demand (SCMP)
2024-03-31

China to assist foreign visitors by simplifying bank card binding with domestic payment system (GT)
2024-03-29

Xi Jinping’s chief of staff is China’s new internet tsar, sources say (SCMP)
2024-03-28

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Hong Kong’s new ID card policy on gender markers slammed for ‘violating right to bodily integrity’ of trans people (HKFP)
2024-04-04

Beijing’s top man in Hong Kong to brief officials, lawmakers on ‘spirit’ of China’s ‘two sessions’ (SCMP)
2024-04-03

Hong Kong residents make 1.76 million outbound trips over Easter break as mainland China tours surge in popularity (SCMP)
2024-04-03

Hong Kong New Home Sales Hit 11-Year High After Property Curbs Removed (Caixin/Bloomberg)
2024-04-03
Hong Kong’s new home transactions hit an 11-year high in March, an encouraging sign for the beaten-down property market after the government lifted cooling measures.
There were close to 4,200 sales in the period, more than 14 times the figure from the prior month, according to real estate agent Midland Realty.
This comes after Hong Kong authorities in late February removed measures to cool home purchases, such as tax levies, to revive the sector. Developers are counting on the pickup in sales to reduce excess inventories that are keeping a lid on prices.
“We think that the strong sentiment for firsthand transactions should extend into April,” said Sammy Po, chief executive of Midland Realty’s residential division for Hong Kong. “Even if non-Hong Kong buyers are asking for lower prices, they are showing a much higher level of interest to purchase a property.”
Part of the reason for the climb could be the launch of several new projects, including Wheelock Properties Ltd.’s Seasons Place and Henderson Land Development Co.’s Belgravia Place. Both have recorded strong results.
Over the long weekend, CK Asset Holdings Ltd. released more units of its Blue Coast development on the southside of Hong Kong Island, attracting 50 times more bidders than available apartments. It launched more units on Tuesday.
Blue Coast is “very affordable,” and the developer is very confident about sales, Executive Director Justin Chiu said at a news briefing. Agent data has indicated that more than a third of the bidders are from mainland China, although final results have yet to be determined ahead of the ballot to be drawn on Saturday, he added.
CK Asset expects to reap HK$8.8 billion ($1.1 billion) from the sale of 422 units in total.
Still, Hong Kong’s residential market may continue to weaken this year, with UBS Group AG expecting values to decline 5%. Buyers’ interest in new homes are also set to add pressure on prices in the secondary market.

Trading in debt-laden Chinese property developer Country Garden suspended in Hong Kong (HKFP)
2024-04-03

Hong Kong Cyberport data breach last year affected 13,632 staff and jobseekers, privacy watchdog says, slamming cybersecurity oversights (SCMP)
2024-04-02

Hong Kong’s IPO market struggles after slowest start since 2009 as jumbo deals vanish amid tighter regulations, poor valuations (SCMP)
2024-03-29

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A second KMT leader from Taiwan plans a visit to mainland China next week (SCMP)
2024-04-04

Young Taiwanese urged to ‘remember the roots of the Chinese nation’ by island’s former leader Ma Ying-jeou (SCMP)
2024-04-04

9 dead, over 1,000 injured in 7.3-magnitude quake in China's Taiwan (China Daily)
2024-04-03

Mainland ready to aid disaster relief after Taiwan earthquake: spokesperson (Xinhua)
2024-04-03

Taiwan puts Quemoy live-fire drills on hold after Beijing warns against ‘targeted’ provocation (SCMP)
2024-04-02

Ex-Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou starts ‘journey of peace’ in mainland China (SCMP)
2024-04-01

China strongly opposes, condemns provocative visit of UK politicians to the island of Taiwan (GT)
2024-03-31

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China’s yuan: central bank sees resolve for stable currency, stimulus tested as Fed holds firm on rates (SCMP)
2024-04-05

China’s Communist Party finance organ draws institutional road map for sector (SCMP)
2024-04-03

China’s new policies for efficiency in trading data (China Daily)
2024-04-02

China strongly rejects US report on foreign trade barriers (GT)
2024-04-02

China property: second-hand home prices slip again with Beijing, Shanghai among market casualties (SCMP)
2024-04-02

China Construction Bank sees more policy support from Beijing, despite pressure on state-owned lenders to boost profit (SCMP)
2024-04-02

More provinces are running fairs to further attract and utilize foreign investment (GT)
2024-04-02

China's factory activity expands at fastest pace in a year, in growing signs of solid economic recovery (GT)
2024-04-01

China's official PMI surges to 50.8 in March, returning to expansion territory in 6 months (GT)
2024-03-31

Shanghai planning US$13.8 billion fund of funds in pursuit of ‘several world-class industry clusters’, with eye on AI, biotech and semiconductors (SCMP)
2024-03-29

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DPRK successfully test-fires intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile -- KCNA (China Daily)
2024-04-03

How a modern-day Korean war may unfold – if Kim Jong-un follows through on his threats (SCMP/Bloomberg)
2024-04-03

China warns against tightening of sanctions against DPRK (China Daily)
2024-03-29

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Mongolia and OSCE to Cooperate in Developing Multilingual and Multicultural Education (Montsame)
2024-04-04

Mongolia's central bank lowers economic growth forecast to 3.8 pct (Xinhua)
2024-04-03

Prime Ministers of Mongolia and the Republic of Korea Hold Meeting (Montsame)
2024-04-02

Over 9 pct of Mongolia's livestock die in cold winter (Xinhua)
2024-03-29

Mongolia and China to Implement Joint Project for Combating Desertification (Montsame)
2024-02-28

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Embassy of Switzerland