Flash News

TREE NEWS reports: Hong Kong’s Labour and Welfare Bureau said in its interim Manpower Projection Update on September 22 that the territory’s overall labour shortfall will narrow to about 130,000 by 2028 from roughly 180,000 in the previous projection, helped by three years of talent attraction and labour importation measures. It said most key industries remain tight, with innovation and technology, aviation, construction, city operations and healthcare notably affected.

TREE NEWS update: China’s Vice Minister of Commerce and Deputy International Trade Representative Ling Ji visited Zhongguancun Life Science Park in Beijing on September 21 and chaired a roundtable with more than 30 foreign-funded enterprises, including Cummins, Novo Nordisk, ABB and Danaher. Beijing Vice Mayor Tang Wenhong attended the event.

TREE NEWS reports: The UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) said in a report released on the 21st that a possible ultra-strong El Nino in 2026-2027 could severely hit the economies of Latin America and the Caribbean. The agency warned the phenomenon would deepen poverty and affect energy, agriculture, fisheries and infrastructure.

TREE NEWS reports: Hong Kong stocks closed higher, with the Hang Seng Index up 0.18% and the Hang Seng Tech Index up 0.34%. Internet shares led gains as Tencent Holdings rose more than 5%, while large-model concept stocks fell, with Zhipu dropping over 6% and MINIMAX nearly 4%. PCB-related names were mixed, as Guanghe Technology gained over 6% and Kingboard Laminates fell more than 5%.

TREE NEWS update: Wang Pan has been appointed Party Secretary of Zhuhai Rural Commercial Bank, the bank said in an announcement, after he chaired a recent extraordinary shareholders’ meeting as Party Secretary and vice chairman, a role in which he is acting as chairman. He succeeds Zeng Li, who was transferred to Zhuhai Gree Group in August. Wang previously served as deputy director of Zhuhai’s financial work bureau.

TREE NEWS reports: The London Metal Exchange reported declines across most of its base metals inventories. Lead stocks fell 3,025 tonnes, zinc dropped 2,125 tonnes and copper slipped 1,625 tonnes, while tin fell 135 tonnes and aluminium edged down 75 tonnes. Nickel was the only gainer, rising 102 tonnes.

TREE NEWS update: Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, in New York for the UN General Assembly, said on September 21 that the United States should press Israel to abandon policies that undermine stability in the Middle East and the world. Fidan made the remarks while attending an event in New York.

TREE NEWS reports: Spot gold dropped below $4,300 per ounce, down roughly 1% on the day. The move marks a pullback for the precious metal, which had been trading above that level. No further details were immediately available.

TREE NEWS update: The UK government announced on the 21st that Britain has test-fired a torpedo from an unmanned underwater vehicle for the first time. The trial was carried out last week in UK waters using the British-made “Excalibur” UUV, firing a heavy torpedo jointly developed by the United States and Australia. The government called the test a “major advance” in submarine technology cooperation among the UK, US and Australia.

TREE NEWS update: Ukraine said it attacked the Kuibyshev oil refinery in Russia. No details on the scale of damage, casualties or the weapons used were provided. The refinery is located in Russia’s Samara region.

TREE NEWS update: China published an autism intervention and rehabilitation guideline covering intervention goals, basic principles, content, venues and personnel, quality control, and terminology. The guidance states the optimal treatment window is before age six and aims to improve deficient behaviors in autistic children, reduce non-adaptive and repetitive behaviors, and enhance social adaptability and quality of life.

TREE NEWS update: Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun confirmed that the US and China discussed establishing an artificial intelligence dialogue and possible notification mechanism, following talks between Vice Premier He Lifeng and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Asked whether specific AI measures would be announced during this week’s leaders’ summit or whether Beijing believes Washington aims to curb China’s AI development, Guo said the specific question should be directed to the competent Chinese authorities.

TREE NEWS reports: Panda bond issuance reached 213.98 billion yuan in the first eight months of the year, which said the country’s financial markets ran smoothly over the period. Another 29 overseas institutions entered China’s interbank bond market. Panda bonds are yuan-denominated debt sold onshore by foreign issuers.

TREE NEWS update: A residential plot in Beijing’s Changping district sold for 1.7 billion yuan on September 22, with Beijing Chengjian winning at the starting price. The site covers 49,262.68 square meters (73.89 mu) of land, with planned gross floor area of 92,121.20 square meters and a floor area ratio of 1.87. The transaction price equates to a floor price of 18,454 yuan per square meter.

TREE NEWS update: A residential plot in Tianjin’s Zhongbei Town was sold on September 22 for 568 million yuan, the starting price, with no competitive bidding. The site covers 47,883 square meters (71.82 mu) with a planned floor area of 76,613 square meters and a floor area ratio of 1.6. Houtai Commerce and Trade Group won the land at a floor price of 7,414 yuan per square meter.

TREE NEWS update: Saudi warplanes struck the Red Sea port city of Mokha in Yemen’s southwestern Taiz province early on the 22nd, killing six people and wounding eight, Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV reported. The Houthi movement, which controls the broadcaster, said the airstrike hit the port city before dawn. No further details on the targets or the identities of the casualties were given.

TREE NEWS reports: The European Union and the Philippines are expected to conclude a trade agreement within the next few months that would liberalise tariffs on more than 94% of tariff lines. The deal would lower duties across the bulk of bilateral trade between the two sides. No signing date has been set.

TREE NEWS update: Chinese Vice President Han Zheng will attend the general debate of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, the Foreign Ministry announced at a regular press briefing. Spokesperson Guo Jiakun said the debate is a key opportunity for countries to build political consensus and coordinate multilateral action, and that Han will set out China’s positions on the international situation and major regional issues. This year marks 55 years since the People’s Republic of China regained its UN seat.

TREE NEWS reports: The dollar climbed for a third consecutive session against the Japanese yen, gaining 0.3% on the day to trade at 157.75. The move extends a multi-day advance for the greenback versus the yen.

TREE NEWS update: Zhuhai’s Gaolan Port completed its first containerized export of complete new energy vehicles on Sept. 22, loading 1,408 Chinese-made NEVs onto a vessel at the Gaolan Port International Container Terminal in Zhuhai Economic and Technological Development Zone. The ship departed for Vitoria Port in Brazil, a Belt and Road partner country.