Skip to main contentAccess keys help

[an error occurred while processing this directive]
BBC News
watch One-Minute World News
Last Updated: Thursday, 23 June, 2005, 06:31 GMT 07:31 UK
Chinese bank shares jump on debut
Trader at the Hong Kong stock exchange
Chinese share sales have been putting a smile on traders's faces
Shares in China's Bank of Communications surged 14% on their first day of trading in Hong Kong.

The bank, known as BoCom, is China's first to list in a foreign market and investors have been reassured by global giant HSBC buying a 20% stake.

BoCom had earlier raised $1.9bn (�1.04bn) in a share sale that was 25-times oversubscribed and the second biggest in the world this year.

On Thursday, the company's shares rose 35 Hong Kong cents to HK$2.85.

Industry cleanup

China is overhauling its banking industry, which is weighed down by huge amounts of bad loans to inefficient state-backed companies.

Financial regulators have made modernising the banking system a policy priority and international share listings are part of this process.

BoCom is China's fifth-biggest lender. China's other top four state-run banks are also preparing for international listings - however, the emergence of scandals have put back many of those plans.

Until now only Bank of China has listed in Hong Kong - and that was only through its local unit.

BoCom is planning to boost its retail banking operations and the company is forecasting profits of almost $1bn this year, up fivefold from the previous 12 months.


SEE ALSO:
Chinese bank to list in Hong Kong
13 Jun 05 |  Business
Greenspan adds to yuan pressure
07 Jun 05 |  Business
China races towards bank sell-off
07 Apr 05 |  Business
China banks told to act on fraud
28 Mar 05 |  Business
China bank boss in surprise exit
16 Mar 05 |  Business


RELATED INTERNET LINKS:
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites


PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia
UK | Business | Entertainment | Science/Nature | Technology | Health
Have Your Say | In Pictures | Week at a Glance | Country Profiles | In Depth | Programmes
AmericasAfricaEuropeMiddle EastSouth AsiaAsia Pacific