Updated throughout the day
September 16
Good evening everyone. Investors rushed to the Chinese markets in the afternoon, ahead of a move by the China Securities Regulatory Commission to clamp down on margin lending. The Shanghai benchmark was up almost 5% at market close, and the Shenzhen up 6.5%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index meanwhile finished up 2.38%. Other Asian markets also saw lift today, taking their cue from Wall Street, but the rally was tempered in the region as investors remained cautious ahead of the Federal Reserve interest rate hike:
- Jakarta Composite: -0.33%
- KLSE Composite: +0.46%
- Nikkei 225: +0.81%
- Straits Times: +1.01%
- Seoul Composite: +1.96%
Here is what else you need to know:
Shares of Chinese brokerage Citic fall on police probe. Shares of China’s largest brokerage, state-owned Citic Securities, fell as much as 4% after it said three executives, including its president, were under police investigation. The executives are being investigated for suspected insider trading and “leaking inside” information. BBC
Macau’s Wynn Resorts loses 10% on reports of $258m casino heist The gambling giant took a pounding on the markets after it was found a large junket group operating out of its Macau casino may have lost as much as 2 billion Hong Kong dollars ($258 million). Barron’s
White House Confirms Chinese President’s first state visit. Chinese President Xi Jinping will make a state visit to the U.S. at the end of the month, the White House confirmed on Tuesday. The trip will be on September 25 and reciprocates President Barack Obama’s trip to Beijing last November.
Hewlett-Packard to cut up to 10% of workforce, 30,000 jobs. The move is part of an effort to split the company into two units. The cuts will come in Hewlett Packard Enterprise, which is splitting from the firm’s printer and personal computer business, and and are expected to save $2.7 billion in annual costs. The restructuring will cost $2.7 billion to implement. BBC
China puts up gas rigs in disputed in East China sea. Pictures of Chinese structures in the East China Sea have been captured by the Japanese government showing signs of natural gas production.The unilateral development in the contested area is likely to spark fresh row between the two countries. Nikkei
Nintendo picks new president after death. Long-serving Nintendo executive Tatsumi Kimishima will be appointed president of the firm following the death in July of Satoru Iwata. Kimishima has been a managing director at the firm since June 2013, and joined in 2000.BBC
North Korea tries to push America’s button; its working. The U.S. has warned North Korea to refrain from “irresponsible provocation” after the hermit state confirmed the restarting of a nuclear reactor seen as its main source of weapons-grade plutonium. Channel News Asia
Cuban President Raul Castro headed to New York. Castro will address the UN General Assembly later in September. The visit will be the first to the U.S. for Castro as the Cuban head of state. Castro’s brother Fidel holds the record for longest U.N speech, at four and a half hours. Reuters
US politicians move to lift ban on oil exports ban. Republicans are planning to vote in the coming weeks on a bill to lift the 40-year ban on oil exports. Oil companies have been lobbying Congress to allow them to benefit from the domestic oil boom. Wall Street Journal
You won’t believe this:
Dancing baby changes copyright laws. A US appeal court has ruled that copyright holders must factor “fair use” rules into online takedown requests. The decision relates to Lenz v. Universal Music, a long-running copyright case involving Prince, a dancing toddler, and a YouTube copyright complaint. The Verge
Putin can’t feel the love for Sir Elton. UK pop legend and LGBT campaigner Sir Elton John has claimed on Instagram he has had a chat with the Russian premier on gay rights issues. But it seems negotiations petered out like a candle in the wind, as the Kremlin – clearly not ready for love – denied ever having the conversation. BBC
Photo: Up to 2011x