China's muted diplomatic stance - calling for de-escalation but stopping short of condemning Hamas - has also added to investors' nervousness
The surprise move, which was part of a slew of measures to bolster the stock market and investor sentiment, threatens to close one of the few bright spots in the country's financial sector this year
China’s blue-chip CSI300 Index has dropped to nine-month lows, and is down 11% from an April peak
A fresh crackdown on the country's medical and pharmaceutical sectors, set to last a year, has convinced investors that it may be best to buy the state and sell private sector holdings
Recent net selling of Chinese equities was the largest over any 10-day period since October 2022 and one of the steepest moves in the past five years
Goldman Sachs analysts project a 15% 12-month return for the CSI300, which is now down 0.5% for the year, in stark contrast to the 16% rise in world stocks.
After a smaller-than-expected interest rate cut raised doubts on whether Chinese policymakers would act forcefully enough to support the economy, investors are positioning for a longer game
The move is China's latest effort to enable the internationalisation of the yuan and protect its economy from capital outflows and geopolitical risks
The Nasdaq Golden Dragon China Index of New York-listed mainland companies, consisting mainly of internet giants such as Alibaba Group, Baidu.com and JD.com, lost 5.6% this month
Stocks of China's semiconductor companies have seen large gains since March with NAURA Technology Group up 14%, Piotech up 45% and ACM Research Shanghai up 19%
The sale is part of a series of similar moves by Berkshire, which started selling its BYD shares in late August last year
At least one WeChat group with several hundred members has been formed by anxious Chinese clients of SVB seeking to safeguard their interest