China stocks fall as recovery pessimism lingers
Wednesday, September 20, 2023       13:33 WIB

SHANGHAI, Sept 20 (Reuters) - China stocks slipped on Wednesday as concerns lingered about the world's second-largest economy despite last week's better-than-expected data, with foreign investor selling also weighing on market sentiment.
The blue-chip CSI 300 Index and the Shanghai Composite Index both slipped 0.3% by the midday recess.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index lost 0.8%, while the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index dropped 0.9%.
Asian stocks struggled for headway while 10-year U.S. Treasury yields stood at 16-year highs as surging oil prices drive inflation and set the scene for the Federal Reserve to project interest rates staying higher for longer.
In line with market expectations, China kept benchmark lending rates unchanged at a monthly fixing.
The decision came as recent economic data showed China's economy was finding its footing after a sharp slowdown, with both factory output and retail sales in August beating market expectations.
However, Cong Liang, the vice chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission, said China's economy still faced a lot of difficulties and challenges.
China will intensify macro-control efforts and strive to achieve annual economic development goals, Cong said.
Shares in tourism, semiconductor , and automobile firms lost between 1% and 1.6% to lead the decline.
Foreign investors sold a net 2.2 billion yuan ($301.46 million) of Chinese stocks via the Stock Connect so far on Wednesday.
Tech giants listed in Hong Kong slumped 1.9%, weighing on the Hang Seng benchmark.
"With Asia, GEM (Global Emerging Markets) and global funds already underweight China, especially GEM funds, we believe much of the pessimism has been priced in," HSBC said in a note.
"The good news is the market is now cheap. We also see positives from the widespread improvement in August macro data."
($1 = 7.2978 Chinese yuan) (Reporting by Shanghai Newsroom; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)

Sumber : Reuters