CHINA DAILY | HONG KONG EDITION Monday, May 6, 2019 | 17 MARKETS Consumption upgrade bolsters Demand from China and India buoys LNG long­term outlook for A shares SHANGHAI — Global natural plan,” Pouyanne said. gas market is undergoing substan­ The IEA predicted that from tial changes as demand from 2017 to 2023, China alone would emerging economies such as Chi­ account for a third of global gas Makers of Chinese na and India is increasing at a rap­ demand growth, thanks in part to id pace, according to industry the country’s “Blue Skies” policy liquor, appliances, observers. and the strong drive to improve air foods, beverages At the 19th International Con­ quality. ference and Exhibition on Lique­ In 2018, China’s natural gas con­ and interior decor fied Natural Gas in Shanghai sumption totaled 280.3 billion earlier this month, industry cubic meters, a robust growth of 18 to benefit big time experts said rising LNG supply percent from a year ago. Driven by and growing demand are injecting the growing gas consumption, Chi­ By SHI JING in Shanghai dynamism into the market. na imported 90 million metric tons [email protected] The LNG conference, first held of natural gas in 2018, a year­on­ in 1968, is a triennial industry­ year growth of almost 32 percent. Investors holding a long position in event. This year marks the first The growth rate was higher than stocks of consumption­related com­ time that the conference was held the 27­percent increase in 2017. panies in China’s A­share market will in China, the world’s fastest­grow­ “Global LNG industry is under­ likely reap rich dividends over the ing LNG market. going substantial changes,” Yang long term, given such companies’ out­ “Natural gas is playing a crucial said, adding that with the rising standing sales and strong financials in role in global energy transition. As LNG production capacity, the the first quarter, market insiders said. an efficient and clean fossil fuel, global LNG trade is expected to A long position refers to the buy­ natural gas is considered an exceed 500 billion cubic meters by ing of securities such as a stock, cur­ important ‘bridge energy’ toward 2030, an increase of about 30 per­ rency or commodity in expectation low­carbon world,” said Yang Hua, cent from 2017. that their value will appreciate. chairman of China National Off­ Within the next five years, the In the first quarter, shares of leg­ shore Oil Corporation, the largest global natural gas liquefaction endary Chinese liquor baijiu­maker offshore oil and gas producer in capacity is expected to increase by Kweichow Moutai soared more than China. 50 percent from the 2015 level as 42 percent year­on­year, far more As countries around the world new LNG development and expan­ than the 24­percent year­on­year Visitors admire bottles of Wuliangye white spirit at the 89th China Food & Drinks Fair, held at the are pushing ahead with energy sion projects in the United States, rise in the benchmark Shanghai Wuhan International Expo Center in Hubei province. SUN XINMING / FOR CHINA DAILY transition policies to reduce car­ Australia, Qatar and Russia Composite Index. bon emissions, many institutions become operational, according to Data from Shanghai­based mar­ becomes more international, there Chinese home appliance­makers increased weighting of A shares in forecast that the global LNG Young­Doo Kim, acting president ket tracker Wind Info showed shares is still much room for growth for have accelerated their overseas the MSCI. demand will continue to rise. of Korea Gas Corporation, one of of companies in the food and bever­ established liquor brands, she said. mergers and acquisitions. With Chinese stocks likely to be By 2040, global natural gas the world’s largest LNG importers. age sector rose more than 43 percent Home appliance­makers also saw The M&A activity has helped included in the FTSE Russell, and demand will increase more than With the rising supply, fierce year­on­year on average, the third­ robust growth in the first quarter. them to exploit the acquired compa­ given the highly anticipated stock 40 percent from the 2017 level, competition is expected in the largest rise after IT and agriculture. Wind Info data showed that shares nies’ distribution channels and connect between Shanghai and Lon­ according to the International global LNG market, which will Shenwan Hongyuan Securities of companies in the sector surged technologies. In this sense, Chinese don, consumption­related stocks in Energy Agency. By that time, natu­ offer more options for buyers and tracked 23 F&B companies and more than 34 percent year­on­year manufacturers can scale up by seiz­ the A­share market will remain ral gas will become the second foster more flexible ways for LNG found net profits of 13 of them rose on average in the first quarter. ing a higher market share, both strong in the long term, he said. largest energy source in global trade. by 20 to 50 percent year­on­year. Analysts from GF Securities wrote domestically and overseas. Yin suggested that leading manu­ energy mix, and its share in global “With more market players and Another nine companies registered in a note that the market valuations Using stock connect mechanisms facturers that make consumer prod­ primary energy demand will increased market liquidity, the positive but less­than­20­percent of Chinese home appliance compa­ between Shanghai, Shenzhen and ucts related to the property increase to about 25 percent from global LNG market is expanding growth in profits. Only one compa­ nies are at a similar level as that of Hong Kong, overseas investors have industry, like home furnishings, less than 23 percent in 2017. and taking on some positive ny is expected to report a loss. their overseas counterparts. targeted China’s A­share market. bathroom vanities and household “Most of this rising demand for changes, such as the emergence of So, investors holding stocks of But the A­share listed home appli­ The F&B sector has been the most textiles, are likely to show more natural gas will come from fast­ new and flexible business modes consumption­related companies ance companies have shown better heavily invested one — overseas growth this year. growing economies whose energy and contract terms,” said Wang should continue to do so, given the asset quality, given their rapid investors hold more than 20 percent Michelle Qi, chief investment offi­ systems still rely heavily on coal, Yilin, chairman of China National prospects of a further rise in their growth, higher productivity and of the sector’s floating stock. cer for equities at Eastspring Invest­ such as China, India and other Petroleum Corporation. value in the future, analysts said. management efficiency. Shares of home appliance­makers ments in China, said the Asian countries,” Patrick Pouy­ However, Wang said the flexi­ Lyu Chang, senior analyst at Stocks of leading A­share home come in second with overseas inves­ consumption sector will show anne, chairman and chief execu­ bility of LNG trade should be fur­ Shenwan Hongyuan, said the ongo­ appliance companies are better tors holding nearly 11 percent of the robust growth in the long run as a tive officer of Total, said. ther enhanced. “More flexible ing consumption upgrade and con­ investment targets in a global con­ sector’s floating stock. result of the economic restructuring “One of the most striking exam­ contract terms and business solidation of brands are shaping text, and in terms of value as they Yin Wentao, senior investment going on in the country. ples is the massive promotion of modes could inject more liquidity growth prospects of Chinese liquor promise more room for growth. consultant at China Galaxy Securi­ “As people’s incomes increase, they natural gas by the Chinese govern­ into the market.” companies. Analysts from Shanxi Securities ties, said overseas capital inflows will attach greater importance to ment within the framework of the As the Chinese A­share market further explained that the leading have remained stable, thanks to the food safety and product diversity.” ‘Beautiful China’ development XINHUA Stock Market Performance GainersGainers and andLosers Losers International Stock Markets Weekly YTD Weekly Weekly Weekly YTD % Chg Index Close % Chg % Chg GAINERS Close % Chg LOSERS Close % Chg Close % Chg –20% 0% +20% Shanghai Stock Exchange Composite Index 3078.34 –0.3 +23.4 Hang Seng Index Shanghai Stock Exchange 30,081.55 1.6 3300 Guangxi Wuzhou Comm 4.92 26.80 Greattown Holdings Ltd 6.66 –33.33 Hang Seng China Ent Index 11,575.05 0.6 Tianjin Realty Dev 4.55 22.64 Tianjin Songjiang Co 3.71 –31.80 TAIEX Taiwan Stock Index 11,096.30 1.3 3000 Jiangsu Lopal Tech Co 13.70 20.39 TianJinGlblMagneticCrd 6.40 –30.81 Nikkei 225 22,258.73 0.0 HenanThinkerAutoEqpmnt 54.00 19.89 ShandongHuifaFoodstu 9.38 –28.94 Sensex 38,963.26 –0.3 2700 Beijing Teamsun Tech 10.43 18.66 GuangdngMynJxngHydrpwr 4.23 –28.43 KOSPI 2,196.32 0.8 Sichuan Teway Food 36.81 17.91 ZhejngXnnngSlrPhtvltcT 11.72 –26.38 S&P/ASX 200 6,335.80 –0.8 2400 Guangzhou Kingmed Diag 35.30 17.20 Cangzhou Dahua Co Ltd 18.00 –25.74 New Zealand 50 Gross Index 10,058.08 0.6 JiangsuLibaEnterprsJSC 16.76 15.83 IReader Technology Co 17.57 –25.23 Straits Times Index STI 3,392.29 1.1 Jiangsu Sainty Corp 7.58 15.73 Shanghai DZH Ltd 7.88 –24.81 Bangkok SET Index 1,679.05 0.7 Bursa Malaysia KLCI Index 1,637.30 –0.1 Shenzhen Stock Exchange Component Index 9674.53 –1.1 +33.6 ZhenhaiPetrochemiclEng 20.59 15.67 Wuhan DDMC Culture Co 11.35 –24.63 VN-Index 974.14 –0.6 11,000 Shenzhen