@Pkoli, The world Economy will continue to wobble occasioned by artifically induced recovery and the resultant weakening of the green back USD. For now the way forward to me is investment in commodity stocks and this decision has produced salutory results in hard currency. Short supply of agric commodoties will open also open opportunities in grains wheat, sugar, corn oil and ethanol derivative stocks. As a rule of thump, as the major currencies weaken, commodity prices tends to inch up and there wil be more demand for gold in particulr as a store of wealth.

Many thanks Mzee Young. If I could know where George Soros is investing I could surely follow him. You are absolutely right on agric commodities. The current evolution of La Nina weather phenomenon will have a major impact on major agric commodities. Worst drought in Brazil in decades, drought in Russia and other counties will mean short supply of coffee, sugar, wheat etc.

The following is a press release from the Hong Kong Monetary Authority: The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) announced today (September 30) that the total assets of the Exchange Fund amounted to HK$2,276 billion on August 31. The figure is included in the Exchange Fund Abridged Balance Sheet, which is released monthly together with the Currency Board Account. At the end of August the total assets of the Exchange Fund, at HK$2,276 billion, were HK$43.9 billion higher than at the end of July. Foreign currency assets increased by HK$24.2 billion and Hong Kong dollar assets increased by HK$19.7 billion. The rise in foreign currency assets was mainly due to an increase in unsettled purchases of securities and valuation gains on foreign currency investments. The rise in Hong Kong dollar assets was mainly due to an increase in Exchange Fund Bills and Notes issued but not yet settled, which was partly offset by valuation losses on Hong Kong equities and fiscal drawdowns. The Currency Board Account shows that the Monetary Base at the end of August was HK$1,025.1 billion, an increase of HK$0.2 billion, or 0.02%, from the end of July. The rise was mainly due to an increase in market value of Exchange Fund Bills and Notes outstanding which was substantially offset by a decrease in Certificates of Indebtedness. The Backing Assets increased by HK$5.3 billion, or 0.48%, to HK$1,111.5 billion. The increase was mainly attributable to revaluation gains and interest from investments which were partly offset by the redemption of Certificates of Indebtedness. The backing ratio increased from 107.93% at the end of July to 108.43% at the end of August.

Hong Kong shares soared to a more than 10-month high Monday, led by Chinese energy companies and local property developers, as robust economic data from mainland China reassured investors of the continued strength of the region's economy. The blue-chip Hang Seng Index rose 260.49 points, or 1.2%, to 22,618.66, its highest closing level since it hit 22,643 on Nov. 19 last year. The benchmark index traded between 22,542.36 and 22,734.88 during the session. Market volume totaled HK$96.03 billion, up from HK$85.95 billion Thursday. Hong Kong's financial markets were closed Friday for the Chinese National Day holiday. Analysts said investors are turning more positive on the market's outlook, after the release of strong Chinese manufacturing data for last month. However, they said the Hang Seng index will likely face strong resistance at 23,000 this week because of a lack of fresh news while mainland markets remain closed for the National Day holiday until Friday. China's official manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index for September rose to 53.8, from 51.7 in August, the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing said Friday, showing steady expansion in manufacturing activity. 'Ongoing anticipation that the U.S. government is likely to implement more quantitative easing measures have put pressure on the dollar and led to recent fund flows into emerging markets,' said Linus Yip, a strategist in First Shanghai Securities. There were broad gains in blue chips, with index heavyweight China Mobile rising 1.1% to HK$80.30, and banking giant HSBC gaining 0.6% to HK$80.20. Surging oil prices gave Chinese oil producers a strong boost, with PetroChina advancing 5.5% to HK$9.53 and Cnooc rising 4.9% to HK$15.78. The front-month November oil contract on the New York Mercantile Exchange rose to a new seven-week high of US$81.10 earlier Friday, on the back of continued dollar weakness. Sinopec also rose 1.2% to HK$6.96, because of news its state-owned parent, China Petrochemical Corp., plans to buy a 40% stake in Repsol's Brazilian assets for US$7.1 billion, as the downstream-focused Chinese oil company further diversifies its business into upstream segment. Hong Kong property developers were boosted by strong home sales over the long weekend. Sun Hung Kai Properties rose 1.3% to HK$135.70 and Cheung Kong gained 1.0% to HK$118.80. Home sales by Cheung Kong and Sun Hung Kai Properties totaled more than HK$11.0 billion over the long weekend, the South China Morning Post reported Monday, citing executives from the developers. 'Besides a weaker U.S. dollar that buoyed the local stock market, an anticipation of further yuan appreciation has also led to recent fund flows into Hong Kong,' said Francis Lun, a general manager at Fulbright Securities. BOC Hong Kong, a major beneficiary of yuan liberalization, rose 2.4% to HK$25.20, after Morgan Stanley raised its target price to HK$29.50 from HK$25.00, on expectations of a better loan growth outlook and an increasing contribution from its yuan-related businesses. The unit of Bank of China is the only yuan-clearing bank in Hong Kong

HNK stocks opened 86 points lower on Tuesday and traded within narrow range afterwards. Hang Seng Index finished the day 20 points higher at 22,639 while H share index gained 68 points to 12,682. Market turnover was HK$79.7bn reflecting positive market sentiment. Local property plays were weak, SHK (0016) plunged 2.4% on its trust restructuring, Cheung Kong (0001) slumped 2.9%. China Life (2628) has seen buying interest, surged 6.9%. Ford Glory (1682) rallied 108% from its offer price on the first trading day, the largest first day gain for IPO stocks this year, Victory City (0539), holding 37.3% of Ford Glory, soared 2.6%. Sportswear plays performed mix, Peak (1968) soared 9.3% whereas Anta (2020) tumbled 5.5%