HK stocks seen lower amid record oil prices
HONG KONG, April 23 (Reuters) - Hong Kong stocks are expected to fall on Wednesday, tracking overseas losses, as record oil prices and worries about inflation and weak consumer spending in the United States are likely to trigger selling.
But oil producers should gain after crude prices climbed near $120 a barrel, said Alex Tang, research director at Core Pacific-Yamaichi International.
"Investors will find Tuesday's market rebound just followed the reversal of the A-share market and was sentiment driven," he added.
The benchmark Hang Seng Index .HSI rose 0.9 percent to close at 24,939.15 on Tuesday after a technical rebound in mainland shares in Shanghai helped to erase more than 1 percent early losses.
The China Enterprises Index of Hong Kong-listed mainland companies .HSCE, or H shares, finished up 3.1 percent.
STOCKS TO WATCH:
* China Merchants Bank (3968.HK: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), China's sixth-largest lender, on Tuesday posted a 157 percent rise in its quarterly net profit to 6.3 billion yuan ($901 million) based on Chinese accounting standards due to net interest margin expansion. [ID:nHKF079109]
* China Railway Group (601390.SS: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz)(0390.HK: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) said it plans to set up a joint venture to invest in a copper and cobalt mining project in Congo that needs total investment of $2.9 billion. For story please read [ID:nSHA296730]
Huaneng Power International (0902.HK: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) on Tuesday posted a 90 percent fall in first-quarter earnings on surging coal costs. [ID:nHKG292999]
China COSCO Holdings (1919.HK: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz)(601919.SS: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), the listed flagship of the country's premier shipping conglomerate, said late on Tuesday its 2007 earnings jumped 134.9 percent as China's heavy demand for raw materials helped lift freight rates for dry bulk ships to records.
For result details please read here
The company also said it plans to spend $2.3 billion to build in 8 container vessels and 17 dry bulk cargo ships.
For full statement please read here
* San Miguel Brewery (0236.HK: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) posted a HK$262.38 million loss for 2007, compared with HK$70.14 million loss a year ago as a reduction of excise duty of both beer and wine encouraged growing preference for wine challenging its share of the alcoholic beverage market. For full statement please click here
* Angang Steel Co (0347.HK: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) said it would buy land use rights of a parcel of land for use by its Bayuquan project at Bayuquan Port in Liaoning province from controlling shareholder Angang Holding in a deal worth 1.27 billion yuan. For details please see here
* Foxconn International Holdings Ltd (2038.HK: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) said its profit attributable to equity holders rose to US$721.42 million in 2007 from US$718.04 million a year ago. For details please see here
* Jiangxi Copper (0358.HK: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) said its profit for the first quarter of 2008 rose 46.92 percent year-on-year to 1.26 billion yuan. The results were unaudited and prepared in accordance to Chinese accounting standards. For details please see here
FACTORS TO WATCH: * Nikkei falls 0.7 pct on stronger yen, Wall Street [.T] * Surging oil, disappointing outlooks hit Wall Street [.N] * Record oil, bleak outlook may hit Asian shares [STXNEWS/AS] * Oil rallies to record near $120 on supply worries [O/R] * Euro rallies through $1.60 as ECB eyed [USD/] * For upcoming Hong Kong events, click on [HK/DIARY] * For Hong Kong press digest, click on [PRESS/HK]
KEY HK ADR MOVERS (by % change)
China Eastern Air (CEA.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz)(0670.HK: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) +7.50
Sinopec Corp (SNP.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz)(0387.HK: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) +5.93
Yanzhou (YZC.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz)(1171.HK: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) +5.31
Chalco (ACH.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz)(2600.HK: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) -1.97
SEMIC Manfc Intl (SMI.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz)(0981.HK: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) -1.92
China Mobile (CHL.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz)(0941.HK: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) -0.98
CNOOC Ltd (CEO.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz)(0883.HK: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) -0.63
(US$1=HK$7.8) (Reporting by Alison Leung; Editing by Anne Marie Roantree)
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