ZTE's shares slide on trade war jitters, lost 30 percent of market value this week

Reuters  |  HONG KONG 

By Sijia and Anne Marie Roantree

U.S. is due to unveil revisions to his initial tariff list targeting $50 billion of Chinese goods on Friday, reigniting concerns of a full-blown trade war.

ZTE was crippled when the imposed a seven-year supplier ban on it in April after it broke an agreement to discipline executives who conspired to evade U.S. sanctions on and

The stock slid as much as 10 percent in both Kong and Shenzhen, bringing its total market value loss to $5.8 billion since trade resumed on Wednesday in the wake of a deal with

ZTE late on Wednesday proposed a $10.7 billion financing plan and nominated eight board members as it seeks to rebuild its business, helping it briefly regain some ground.

"I think the market is concerned about a resumption of a U.S.-trade war that could lead to this deal being off," Jefferies said, adding, however, that he did not think that would be the case.

If adopts tariffs, is expected to hit back with its own duties on U.S. imports, including soybeans, cars, and planes, according to a list it released in early April.

The supplier ban, which has prevented ZTE from buying the U.S. components it relies on to make and other devices, will not be lifted until ZTE pays a fine and places $400 million more in an escrow account in a U.S.-approved

ZTE's Kong-listed stock fell to as low as HK$13.38, while its shares fell by their daily limit of 10 percent to 22.82 yuan. Its current market value is around $13.5 billion.

Hong Kong stock exchange data showed ZTE was the second-most traded stock in the Shenzhen-connect southbound trading on Thursday, with turnover of HK$240 million. It was the most traded stock in trading on Wednesday with a turnover of HK$1.45 billion.

On Friday, Nomura cut ZTE's target price to HK$16 from HK$27, saying it expects it will take a long time for the company to recover, and that its consumer business in particular could see loss of market share to competitors.

The case has become a focus of bargaining talks as and look to avert a trade war.

U.S. lawmakers have attacked Washington's agreement with ZTE and plan legislation to roll it back, citing intelligence warnings that ZTE poses a national security threat.

(Reporting by Sijia and Anne Marie Roantree; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Fri, June 15 2018. 12:46 IST