Hang Seng still in bear market territory despite best month since 1998

Hong Kong’s benchmark index soared 26.6% in November – the Cling Seng index’s highest month-to-month acquire since October 1998, or close to the tip of the Asian monetary disaster 24 years in the past.

However the index nonetheless sits in bear market territory, which is outlined as down 20% from a current excessive, standing at a lack of 20.45% loss year-to-date as of Dec. 2.

Hong Kong’s financial system, together with its inventory market, has been battered by Beijing’s extended zero-Covid coverage that has shut out vacationers from mainland China and dampened client confidence. Shares listed in Hong Kong have whipsawed between sell-offs and rallies inside a single buying and selling day on unconfirmed rumors that hinted at a shift in China’s insurance policies.

The volatility within the Hong Kong inventory market, nevertheless, dates again even additional than this 12 months. Strategists at Goldman Sachs stated from February 2021 to October 2022, the Cling Seng index noticed a “systemic correction,” which the agency defines as a fall of 40% or extra.

Throughout that interval, the HSI plunged 53% from peak-to-trough, Goldman strategists famous.

“That is probably the most vital market sell-off for the reason that dislocation through the World Monetary Disaster, additionally placing the drawdown into the Systemic class per our classification,” the agency’s China fairness strategists Kinger Lau and Si Fu informed CNBC in an electronic mail.

The crew added that it is “unimaginable to name the market backside” for the index, based mostly on its buying and selling patterns, which has proven main volatility up to now two years.

Analysts at Weiss Multi-Technique Advisers stated, “November could, in hindsight, be considered as a key turning level for Chinese language equities,” noting the Cling Seng China Enterprise index and the property sector noticed vital positive factors.

“Property shares have been boosted by relaxed collateral and fairness issuance requirements, and tech shares have been robust on earnings and reopening hopes,” the analysts stated in a report.

After its November positive factors, the Cling Seng index hovered round 18,600 – a degree of resistance based on market watchers.

“With the 18,600 degree of resistance being overcome for the Cling Seng Index, that might appear to put the important thing psychological 20,000 degree on watch,” IG market strategist Yeap Jun Rong stated in a Thursday notice.

He added the newest messaging from the Chinese language authorities, together with well being officers encouraging aged vaccination and broader indicators of shifting away from its zero-Covid insurance policies, has lifted the area’s inventory market.

“Latest occasions have been supportive of the worst-is-over stance for Chinese language markets,” he stated, including that the occasions have led to a “much-needed calm” to Chinese language equities that proceed to push increased on reopening hopes.

The HSI final fell beneath the 20,000 degree in August, and analysts anticipate to see a continued rebound within the fairness market on additional indicators that the nation will shift away from zero-Covid.

In a earlier report, the strategists at Goldman Sachs stated they anticipate to see a 20% rally within the Chinese language inventory market when the nation reopens.

The strategists stated the month-to-month inventory performances seen in November assist that view.

“These cycle analyses level to a robust prospect that the market may stage a restoration rally someday in 2023 after a really difficult efficiency up to now 2 years,” they stated in an electronic mail to CNBC.

“The reopening catalyst may assist gasoline the cycle shift to a ‘Hope’ section,” they stated, “the place fairness valuations are likely to broaden [or] get well regardless of a still-challenging earnings outlook.”

— CNBC’s Evelyn Cheng contributed to the story