Chinese cities ease COVID curbs as virus keeps spreading

Chinese cities ease COVID curbs as virus keeps spreading

BEIJING, Dec 2 (Reuters) – Some communities in Chinese cities where COVID-19 is still spreading are easing off on testing requirements and quarantine rules ahead of an expected shift in virus policies nationwide after widespread social unrest. The uneven relaxation of COVID restrictions is, however, fueling fear among some residents who suddenly feel more exposed … Read more

China softens tone on COVID severity after protests

China softens tone on COVID severity after protests

BEIJING, Dec 1 (Reuters) – China is softening its tone on the severity of COVID-19 and easing some coronavirus restrictions even as its daily case toll hovers near record highs, after anger over the world’s toughest curbs fueled protests across the country. Several cities in the world’s second-largest economy, while still reporting new infections, are … Read more

COVID protests escalate in Guangzhou as China lockdown anger boils

COVID protests escalate in Guangzhou as China lockdown anger boils

SHANGHAI/BEIJING, Nov 30 (Reuters) – People in the Chinese manufacturing hub of Guangzhou clashed with white hazmat-suited riot police on Tuesday night, videos on social media showed, as frustration with stringent COVID-19 rules boiled over, three years into the pandemic. The clashes in the southern city marked an escalation from protests in the commercial hub … Read more

HSBC eyes bumper dividend from $10 bln sale of Canada unit to RBC

HSBC eyes bumper dividend from $10 bln sale of Canada unit to RBC

Deal comes amid pressure from Chinese shareholder Analysts hail ‘sensitive’ transaction Bank could return deal proceeds to shareholders LONDON/TORONTO/NEW YORK, Nov 29 (Reuters) – HSBC (HSBA.L) has agreed to sell its business in Canada to Royal Bank of Canada (RY.TO) for C$13.5 billion ($10 billion) in cash, paving the way for a potential bumper payout … Read more

Stocks and oil rise on hopes of looser COVID curbs in China

Stocks and oil rise on hopes of looser COVID curbs in China

Euro STOXX 600 up 0.4% Oil prices rebound on China hopes, talk of output cuts Dollar falls as investors seek riskier assets China property shares rally on policy support http://tmsnrt.rs/2yaDPgn LONDON/SYDNEY, Nov 29 (Reuters) – Stocks and oil gained on Tuesday on hopes that public unrest in China might prompt an earlier loosening of COVID-19 … Read more

Chinese authorities seek out COVID protesters

Chinese authorities seek out COVID protesters

BEIJING, Nov 29 (Reuters) – Chinese authorities have begun inquiries into some of the people who gathered at weekend protests against COVID-19 curbs, three people who were at the Beijing demonstrations told Reuters, as police remained out in numbers on the city’s streets . In one case, a caller identifying as a police officer in … Read more

China’s lockdown protests spread to campuses and cities abroad

China's lockdown protests spread to campuses and cities abroad

HONG KONG, Nov 28 (Reuters) – Protests against China’s strict zero-COVID policy and restrictions on freedoms have spread to at least a dozen cities around the world in a show of solidarity with rare displays of defiance in China over the weekend. Expatriate dissidents and students staged small-scale vigilantes and protests in cities around the … Read more

China’s anti-lockdown protests shake stocks and oil

China's anti-lockdown protests shake stocks and oil

China announces record new local COVID cases Commodities sold off amid demand concerns Dollar slips against yen, Swiss franc NEW YORK/ LONDON, Nov 28 (Reuters) – US stocks tracked a decline in equities worldwide and oil was sold off on Monday as rare protests in major Chinese cities against the country’s strict zero-COVID curbs fueled … Read more

Investors batten down ahead of Fed minutes, Eurozone recession fears grow

Investors batten down ahead of Fed minutes, Eurozone recession fears grow

Fed minutes awaited US Thanksgiving public holiday on Thursday Stock eke out slim gains globally Euro zone economic data points to recession China hit by rising COVID-19 infections LONDON, Nov 23 (Reuters) – Global shares were little changed on Wednesday as investors kept their eyes peeled for the minutes of a Federal Reserve meeting that … Read more

China COVID cases weigh on Wall St; disney jumpers

China COVID cases weigh on Wall St;  disney jumpers

Disney up on Iger’s return as CEO S&P 500 energy index leads sectoral falls Grindr slips after rocketing in debut Tesla down on vehicle recall, China COVID concerns Dow up 0.01%, S&P 500 down 0.34%, Nasdaq down 1.05% Nov 21 (Reuters) – Wall Street’s main indexes started the week roughly lower on China saying it … Read more