Flash News

TREE NEWS reports: Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index opened 0.51% higher, with the Hang Seng Tech Index up 1.01%. The tech-focused sub-index outpaced the benchmark at the open.

TREE NEWS update: South Korea’s Trade Minister Kim Jung-kwan said Korean companies will gain new channels into the US market as a $350 billion investment program with the United States is implemented. He will brief lawmakers on Tuesday on the plan, which includes a large natural gas power plant project planned in Texas.

TREE NEWS reports: The People’s Bank of China set the yuan’s central parity rate at 6.7459 per dollar, 28 pips stronger than the previous fix of 6.7487. The onshore spot closed the prior session at 6.6955, while the overnight session last traded at 6.6953.

TREE NEWS reports: The dollar fell 1% against the South Korean won on the day to 1,360.60, its lowest level since Sept 16. The won outperformed its Asian emerging-market peers, supported by foreign investors buying South Korean local stocks.

TREE NEWS reports: China’s domestic commodity futures opened mixed on the session, with rapeseed meal, international copper and No. 2 soybean main contracts each rising more than 1%. Ethylene glycol and propylene main contracts fell more than 2%, while crude oil and fuel oil each dropped more than 1%.

TREE NEWS reports: Margin financing balances on the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges rose by a combined 14.171 billion yuan on September 21, bringing the two-market total to 2.614447 trillion yuan. The Shanghai bourse’s margin balance stood at 1.339890 trillion yuan, up 5.328 billion yuan from the prior session, while Shenzhen’s reached 1.274557 trillion yuan, up 8.843 billion yuan.

TREE NEWS update: Vietnam’s top leader To Lam said a trade agreement with the United States is “very close” and pledged to increase imports of US high-tech products, including aircraft, to narrow the trade imbalance. He said Vietnam wants to accelerate talks toward a reciprocal, balanced and fair tariff arrangement, adding that Vietnamese exports meet US demand without directly competing with American goods.

TREE NEWS reports: Russian companies are converting fertilizer and coal terminals at the Baltic and Arctic ports of Ust-Luga and Murmansk to handle grain exports, five shipping and grain industry sources said, after Ukrainian drone attacks disrupted Black Sea shipping. Russian and Ukrainian grain exports have fallen sharply in recent months amid mutual attacks on vessels and ports. Nearly 90% of Russia’s seaborne grain exports went through the Black Sea last season. Russia is the world’s largest wheat exporter.

TREE NEWS update: JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon said India’s tax and regulatory regime and barriers restricting foreign companies may deter investment, while he still views the United States as a strong investment destination. Dimon made the remarks in comments on India’s business environment, pointing to taxation, regulation and limits on foreign firms as potential obstacles to capital flows into the country.

TREE NEWS reports: UBS Asset Management global sovereign fixed income head Kevin Zhao said further Japanese intervention to support the yen would offer a good selling opportunity. He questioned whether the Bank of Japan’s rate hike last Friday signals a shift toward a hawkish stance.

TREE NEWS update: Qingdao will begin issuing 50 million yuan worth of online retail consumption vouchers under its “Le Gou Qingdao” program on September 22, the city’s commerce bureau said. The vouchers will be available on JD.com, Douyin and Taotian, covering categories including digital appliances, household goods, auto supplies, beauty and health products.

TREE NEWS reports: South Korea’s KOSPI opened 2.2% higher, with Samsung Electronics rising 3% in early trade. Japanese markets remained closed for a holiday, leaving Seoul as the main regional market in action. No further details on the drivers of the move were given.

TREE NEWS update: China is set to issue or is currently issuing local government bonds. The material provides no further details on amounts, timing, regions or terms. The development concerns China’s local government debt issuance.

TREE NEWS update: French President Emmanuel Macron said France is prepared to help ensure the security of oil exports through the Red Sea. The statement, made without further detail on the scope or form of French involvement, comes amid continued disruption to shipping in the waterway. No timeline or specific assets were given.

TREE NEWS reports: Infineon, Texas Instruments, STMicroelectronics and onsemi have all implemented price increases in 2026 as AI-driven demand tightens power semiconductor supply. Caitong Securities said the core driver is a structural shift in overseas IDM inventory strategy, with firms building buffer stock to hedge a supply gap. Taiwan’s Panjit and Taiwan Semiconductor plan a further 10%-15% spot price hike in October.

TREE NEWS update: French President Emmanuel Macron said he discussed Ukraine and Russian strikes on energy infrastructure with US President Donald Trump. Macron also said he will discuss halting strikes on energy facilities with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. No further details of the talks were given.

TREE NEWS update: North Korea’s missile administration successfully conducted a test of a new weapon on August 20, with Kim Jong Un observing the launch, state media KCNA reported on August 22. Kim said the test demonstrated advanced defense technology and that acquiring such capabilities is of major significance for the country’s combat readiness and long-term weapons development.

TREE NEWS update: Reserve Bank of Australia Assistant Governor Hunter said on Tuesday that a fourth rate hike this year may be necessary to keep inflation under control, reinforcing market expectations of a move as early as next week. Speaking on a podcast, Hunter said the policy board is concerned inflation is too high and too persistent, risking it becoming embedded in price-setting. He cited higher energy costs from Middle East conflict and domestic demand outpacing supply.

TREE NEWS reports: Wind data shows 875 A-share companies plan interim dividends for 2026, with total payouts of about 720.474 billion yuan — a record high. Major firms including China Railway, China Mobile and Yankuang Energy have published implementation announcements for their 2026 half-year distributions, setting record and ex-dividend dates.

TREE NEWS reports: Nearly 30 listed Chinese brokerages have held 2026 half-year results briefings or hosted investor events in their jurisdictions as of September 21, with “M&A” raised repeatedly by investors. Industry participants say securities-sector mergers and restructuring have entered a policy-and-market-driven implementation phase, with sector concentration continuing to rise. Scaling up is only the first step; post-merger business synergy and profit improvement are the real test.