Hong Kong

The sector took a blow from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The HKD rose over 0.5% MoM in March.

This marks the third consecutive month of decline.

Around 75% of investors have retained appetite towards real estate.

But SMEs could suffer from the new measures to control the COVID-19 outbreak. Hong Kong's government will introduce a second round of financial assistance for businesses hit by the novel coronavirus outbreak, according to Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung. The government already released a first aid package last month to support affected businesses and individuals. The Epidemic Prevention Fund will be used to protect workers and stabilise the challenges the economy faces. The government also imposed strict measures to curb the effect of the outbreak, including a 14-day ban on foreign non-residents, restricting public gatherings, and closing public spaces. All international arrivals will be subjected to a 14-day self-quarantine. However, Financial Secretary Paul Chan added that these measures could worsen the condition of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and could increase the risk of layoffs and closures. Chan said he expects a massive drop in retail sales figures, and it may not be possible for the city's economy to rebound as quickly as it did following the SARS epidemic in 2003.  

Jiangsu Hengrui Medicine tops the list with a 10.7% weighting.

Thousands of employees in the industry are set to lose their jobs in the next six months.

Its $19b fiscal stimulus package might be too small and regressive, according to experts.

Not so long ago, having a business website, no matter how slapdash, was a big deal. But nowadays, customers expect the smallest of small businesses to have a website. Online shopping in Hong Kong (and around the globe) has become extremely commonplace.

Jiangsu Hengrui Medicine tops the list with a 10.19% weighting.

Rents in Central also contracted by 3.2% MoM to $116.1 psf.

Younger adults are more likely to overspend and end up in debt.

Double-digit declines were recorded in the USA, Japan, the Mainland and Taiwan.

Virtual insurers are getting out fresh products for underserved segments in the insurance market.

It will fund R&D trials related to detection, diagnosis or surveillance of the virus.

Proceeds will be used for general corporate funding purposes.