China moves to reassure global investors who have been drawn to country’s strong growth, booming tech industry
American investors are asking whether China Inc. is still worth the risk following a widening series of regulatory crackdowns that have wiped some $400 billion off the value of U.S.-listed Chinese companies.
Investors ranging from pension fund Orange County Employees Retirement System in California to money manager William Blair & Co. are rethinking their portfolios following Beijing’s decision last week to curtail the operations of China’s for-profit tutoring industry along with its ongoing campaign to rein in tech companies. The moves fueled large declines across sectors of China’s stock markets and hammered Asia-focused funds stateside.
The investor retreat sent tutoring firm TAL Education Group ’s American depositary receipts down some 70% in a matter of days to $6.19 Friday morning. TAL traded above $90 in February. American depositary receipts, or ADRs, are certificates issued to U.S. investors that represent a specified number of shares in a foreign company.
New Oriental Education & Technology Group Inc. has fallen roughly 66% since July 22 and was at $2.24 Friday morning.
It was the latest of regulatory crackdowns that have hit the value of Chinese firms as large as Tencent Holdings Ltd. , even as U.S. indexes have risen to records. Earlier regulatory moves that had rattled companies such as Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. , its unlisted sister company Ant Group Co. and Didi Global Inc., which is considering going private again to placate authorities, had already caused concern among western investors.
By Juliet Chung, Justin Baer and Dawn Lim
