International financial institutions have been buying up Chinese assets amid growing global interest in the country's stock markets following the announcement of a series of stimulus policies.
According to data released by the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) on Friday, J.P. Morgan Chase purchased several Hong Kong stocks on September 27th, increasing its position by about 530 million U.S. dollars in a single day to expand its holdings in Chinese assets.
Firms like Switzerland's UBS and the U.S.-based BlackRock have also recently increased their investment ratings for China's A-shares.
"Statistics show that during the last three trading days of September, funds flowing into Chinese stock exchange-traded funds (ETFs) products reached 2.4 billion U.S. dollars, a figure almost matching the total inflows into similar products over the previous nine months," said Peter Pak, executive director of BOCI Securities Limited, a Hong Kong-based investment firm.
The optimism comes after China's financial authorities announced a broader-than-expected policy package to galvanize the economy's rebound in late September.
A representative from Morgan Stanley said the firm saw a wave of interest in Chinese assets during the week-long National Day holiday that began Oct 1. "During the 'Golden Week' National Day holiday, which is the busiest week in my 20-year career in international financial institutions, I have interacted with over 3,500 overseas international investors through visits and phone calls. Their confidence in the Chinese economy is gradually recovering," said Xing Ziqiang, chief economist with Morgan Stanley China.
Global financial institutions increase investments in Chinese assets
Global financial institutions increase investments in Chinese assets
Global financial institutions increase investments in Chinese assets
The 36th extraordinary session of the Council of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) concluded on Thursday in London, with member states split over who should be held accountable for the closure of the Hormuz Strait.
As a specialized UN agency, the IMO's responsibility is to safeguard global shipping safety and the rights and interests of seafarers. At the meeting, all parties had obvious differences regarding the root causes of the situation and the wording of the documents.
According to data provided by the IMO, since the outbreak of the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran, at least seven seafarers have been killed in attacks on merchant vessels in the Strait of Hormuz area, with several others seriously injured. Around 20,000 seafarers remain stranded aboard ships in the region.
Some countries urged condemning the actions of certain country that led to the blockade, while others believe that the root cause of the current maritime tensions in the Middle East lies in the military action launched by the United States and Israel against Iran, and that unilaterally blaming one country is neither objective nor comprehensive.
Multiple representatives emphasized that the IMO should not serve as a platform for political confrontation. They called for balanced, neutral language in resolutions and urged the organization to focus on pragmatic measures within the framework of IMO regulations to safeguard maritime corridors.
Iran's delegate pointed out that the IMO must not become a tool for political pressure, and any coordination on navigation security must involve Iran.
The Russian delegate warned that current international maritime declarations appear biased and one-sided, which hinders efforts to ease the crisis. He called on the IMO to adopt a more balanced stance.
China's delegate echoed the need for inclusive and impartial language, proposing that the resolutions reflect a constructive consensus rather than unilateral accusations. The Chinese side also suggested that language condemning or opposing military actions that lead to the escalation of tensions in the Strait should be added to proposal.
The IMO Council highlighted the urgent need to address the peril faced by numerous stranded commercial ships. It encouraged exploring frameworks, such as maritime safety corridors, as an emergency humanitarian measure to facilitate the voluntary evacuation of ships from high-risk zones to safer waters.
Regarding the U.S. proposal to provide naval escort operations, IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said that naval escorts are not a long-term sustainable solution to the current crisis in the Strait of Hormuz, and only an end to the conflict can prevent shipping from becoming collateral damage.
While acknowledging that the root causes of the crisis lie beyond the IMO's mandate, he said he would continue to work with countries engaged in diplomatic efforts to address the situation.
Over the past few days, U.S. President Donald Trump has urged European countries and other allies to join naval escort operations in the Strait of Hormuz. However, European powers have largely rebuffed the request, citing concerns that direct military involvement would escalate regional tensions and risk drawing them into a wider conflict.
IMO members divided over accountability for closure of Hormuz Strait
