Major US investors have billions at risk in Chinese stocks

Major US fund managers have tens of billions of dollars at stake in some of the most popular Chinese stocks on Wall Street, exposing them to potential losses should the White House move to delist Chinese firms from US exchanges.

White House trade adviser Peter Navarro yesterday dismissed reports that the Trump administration was considering delisting Chinese companies from US stock exchanges as "fake news," helping Chinese stocks including JD.com and Alibaba Group Holding recover some of their declines from Friday after the reports emerged.

As Navarro's comments reduced investor fears, the S&P/BNY Mellon China Select ADR index rose 1.1 percent after tumbling more than three percent last Friday. Still, the possibility of a future US move to boot Chinese companies out of US markets remains a topic of concern for investors.

"The proposed measures would completely undermine the international ADR/GDR etc market and would harm the US's role as a conduit for international capital," Jefferies equity strategist Sean Darby wrote in a client note.

Leading US investors across Chinese companies listed on US exchanges include Blackrock, T Rowe Price Associates and the Vanguard Group, with over US$40 billion (RM167.72 billion) invested, according to Refinitiv data, based on fund filings.

Chinese markets will be closed for a week-long holiday from today, marking the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. US-listed shares of Chinese companies will continue to trade during that time, exposing them to more potential volatility.

- Reuters