Asian Equities Higher on China’s Easing Measures

Asian equities were buoyant on Tuesday, tracking a more than 1 percent jump on Wall Street overnight after Beijing unleashed new policy moves to rejuvenate a wobbly property market.

According to a statement on the People’s Bank of China’s website, the required down payment for second homes was lowered to 40 percent from 60 percent. In addition, select homeowners who have held a property for two years or more will be exempted from a sales tax, the finance ministry later announced.

The new moves are part of “Beijing’s broader package of policies to stabilize economic growth and dis-inflationary pressures,” according to HSBC’s note. As policymakers become increasingly concerned, analysts expect more easing measures in the coming weeks: “A 50-basis-point cut in the policy rate, a 200-basis-point cut to the reserve requirement ratio… in the coming months, if not weeks,” HSBC said.

CNBC