The financial turmoil that is becoming more and more intense has shaken Asia, affected Europe and the United States, endangered the global financial market and even the world economy, and hundreds of millions of assets have been dumped, how many rich people have been reduced to abject poverty, the stock market and foreign exchange market are turbulent, and the economic world is falling apart......

Thailand has changed from an ambitious tiger to a sick tiger, hundreds of billions of dollars have been reduced to nothing, and from an international star who never borrows money from world financial institutions to an international beggar who wants $150 billion. The president of Malaysia degraded his dignity, changed his chic demeanor, and scolded the financial predator Soros; The Philippines is getting worse and worse, and it is said that it is still far from the bottom; Indonesia's currency has inexplicably disappeared by a third; Hong Kong's stock market plummeted, Taiwan's foreign exchange reserves fell sharply, and Myanmar was in turmoil.

Like a virus, the turmoil hit the Brazilian stock market and the Polish currency, the zloty, causing the US market to enter a sensitive period, and the London market to cough. Deutsche Bank's chief economist for Asia Pacific even predicted: "This is just the beginning. What we see now is nothing more than a few small firecrackers before the fireworks."

Contrary to the praise of the Asian economy two years ago, the world is now watching the development of the situation in Southeast Asia with tension and regret: is the East Asian miracle really gone?

Where are the boundaries of this storm?

When will this nightmare end?

Has the world entered an eventful autumn since then, and is it impossible for every country and region and every person to be spared?

Today, with the globalization of the financial market, the integration of global capital and the high development of information technology, international capital can flow at a high speed around the world, the world does not seem to have "a stable oasis".

However, the situation in the neighboring countries is in a precarious and deteriorating situation. Singapore, a small country with a predominantly Chinese population, is much more calm. The Singapore dollar remains strong. The storm has only caused a little shock to the stock market, but Nguyen Shaojing, president of NB Electric (Asia Pacific) Company, is still worried.

The company's financial management is extremely strict, and almost all of the business below $5 million is cash on delivery or cash on delivery, and it has been prepared in advance, and there is no big problem in accounts receivable.

He is concerned about the few power plant projects signed on the eve of the financial crisis and the impact of the crisis on the entire Southeast Asian market. At the current state of the economy, Asia-Pacific companies will see a significant decline in sales in the coming years. As a result, the ranking of companies in all regions will change from the first place to the bottom.

"Mr. Ruan, why are you alone, Mrs. Ruan?"

In the past few years, the big boss has passed through Singapore more than once, but he has never stopped like this time, and he has not even been to the headquarters of the Asia-Pacific company.

Early this morning, I received the news that three old customers had to cancel their orders because of financial problems, with a total contract value of more than 3 million US dollars, and the manpower was irresistible. Such things will continue to happen, and Ruan Shaojing is under a lot of pressure. How could he be in the mood to bring his wife here, he carefully put aside a basket of fruits, and showed a very reluctant smile.

"Mrs. Zhang, I'm really sorry, the hometown association has an event today, and she really can't pull out."

"It's okay."

Xia Yao was dressed in a white cheongsam, with an emerald green jade bracelet on his wrist, a slight flush on his cheeks, and he let go of his body and said softly: "He is talking to Professor Wang from Nanyang Technological University, and it is estimated that he will wait for a while." Then he took Xiao Zhanghan's hand and smiled and motioned to his son and daughter to call him uncle.

Xiao Zhanghan looked at him curiously with a pair of bright big eyes, which made Ruan Shaojing can't help but think of his youngest son who was born when he first joined NB Electric.

At that time, the small company that produced and sold switch and socket panels has developed into a multinational group with assets of nearly 100 billion US dollars. And he, the former overseas external business manager, also became the president of NB Electric's regional company.

"Hanhan, let Uncle hug me."

He hugged Xiao Zhanghan to his thigh, stroked the little guy's forehead, and asked with a smile: "Qingqing, are you used to living in the United States?" ”

When I was transiting in Singapore before, I had a lot of dealings with their family. Especially the beautiful sister of his family is no stranger, put down the tea just made, and smiled excitedly: "I feel similar to Hong Kong, there is nothing unaccustomed." ”

"Yes, my Ruan Ling also wants to go, but it's just to go to college."

"Really?"

"Really." The eldest daughter is Ruan Shaojing's pride, and when she mentions this, she shows a knowing smile, "Actually, I prefer her to go to France, after all, we are more familiar with it and have many friends, but this is her choice, I can only support it, and more importantly, she has already received an admission letter from Harvard." ”

"Mommy, Sister Ruan is so amazing, she was admitted to Harvard!"

The relationship between the United States and Vietnam has been getting better and better in recent years, and the Ivy League schools have a tradition of recruiting the children of political leaders and business celebrities from other countries, and the relationship between NB Electric and NB Real Room is special.

Despite this, Xia Yao still didn't want to miss this opportunity to motivate his daughter, so he sat opposite and said with a smile: "So you have to work hard, don't just know how to play all day long." ”

Without waiting for Zhang Qing, who had become a big girl, to speak, Ruan Shaojing picked up the teacup and said, "Qingqing is the most sensible, and she will definitely be able to pass the exam." ”

The Zhang family will not leave much property to the children, but will try their best to create a good environment for the children to grow up and educate, such as taking them to participate in various public welfare activities from an early age, so that they can truly participate in the operation of every donation and donation, and in the process, it is inevitable to deal with political leaders from various countries and scientific circles, education circles and business people, not only to receive the best edification, but also to have connections that children from ordinary families cannot imagine.

If you want to engage in scientific research and become a scientist, you can enter the best universities and learn from world-class scientists; If you want to enter politics, you have a large group of friends who are presidents, prime ministers, ministers, and even the children of royal families; If you want to do business, you can also get help that you don't want to imagine.

Therefore, both the charter and Xia Yao believe that if the children will live on the charity annuity of the two foundations in the future, it means that their education has failed to the extreme.

chatted with their family of three for a while. Ruan Shaojing couldn't help but ask, "Mrs. Zhang." Is His Royal Highness the Prince still in Singapore? ”

"Went to Indonesia. I left last night, I heard that I was going to attend the birthday party of Sultan Hamengubwono X, Yogyakarta Special Region on the island of Java, and after the party, I was going to visit the Kanorman royal family. ”

Unlike the Saudi royal family, after Indonesia's independence in 1945, many royal sultans were stripped of their political powers, although the government made an exception to allow them to continue to live in their original royal palaces, hold the title of sultan, and have some influence in Indonesia.

Switch to usual. Metbhu, the wealthy and famous prince, was too lazy to deal with those indigenous princes, and even if he attended the party, he would attend a party at the level of Buckingham Palace, but for the sake of the close partner of the charter, he still put down his body and made some preparations for the possible Indonesian Chinese exclusion.

Ruan Shaojing didn't know this, thinking that it was just a normal entertainment, so he didn't ask any more. As he looked back at the small reception room in the presidential suite, he saw that he was walking out chatting and laughing with a professor in his fifties.

"Professor Wang, Mr. Ruan, you must have seen it. I don't think I need to introduce it. ”

Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and National University of Singapore (NUS) have cooperated with Hong Kong's NB Real Yàn Office, NB Heavy Industries, a subsidiary of NB Electric. It has a close relationship with Nanyang Technological University. More than S$8 million per annum is provided specifically for research in the marine and offshore sectors.

Professor Wang is not only the third tutor of the graduate students of the Mechanical Center of the NB Real Room, but also the person in charge of the cooperation project, Ruan Shaojing did not dare to slack off, and quickly got up and said: "Professor Wang, I didn't expect you to come earlier than me, Zhang Gong is rare to come once, how about getting together at noon?" ”

NB is not only the pride of Hong Kong, but also the pride of Chinese scientists.

Professor Wang clasped his hand and smiled sideways: "Mr. Ruan, it is appropriate to gather, but there is definitely no time today, not only no, but also Mr. Zhang, because he is going to the Polytechnic University and will give a speech at the National University in the afternoon." ”

"So you're here to hire someone?"

"Obviously, there's not much opportunity to know about it."

The fact that charters rarely come to Singapore does not mean that Singapore is not taken seriously. NB has a lot of cooperation with the Singapore academic community, and NB Electric also has a lot of investment in Singapore, especially Huaxing Electronics, a Hong Kong-listed company controlled by NB Electronics, which not only built a joint venture with Orient Siemens in Singapore, but also set up a research and development center here.

Looking at Ruan Shaojing's suspicious look, he smiled casually: "Mr. Ruan, if the company is not busy, I want to ask you to accompany me." By the way, you must have been invited to the event of several major local chambers of commerce in the evening. ”

Wilmar International, Great Eastern Holdings, United Overseas Bank, OCBC Bank, Venture Group, Hong Leong Asia, City Developments Berhad Limited, Jiajie Technology ...... As the president of NB Electric (Asia-Pacific) Co., Ltd., headquartered in Singapore, Ruan Shaojing of course could not be absent, and immediately smiled: "No problem, it's not very busy today anyway." ”

At the same time as the charter prepares for a potentially deteriorating political situation in Indonesia, the Hong Kong government is facing its toughest test since the crisis erupted.

International speculators officially hit the Hong Kong financial market, and the Hang Seng Index fell sharply by 9% for two consecutive days, with a cumulative decline of nearly 1,200 points, which was described as a small stock market crash by market participants; Immediately after, the Hang Seng Index closed at 10,426.3 points, down 1,211.5 points, a drop of more than 10%, and it was even thought that the day's decline could be compared to that of Black Monday in 1987.

Mr. Li held a 33.59% stake in Cheung Kong Industrial, with a peak share price of HK$98 and a price of HK$30 on the day, a drop of 69%! The market value of the stocks held also shrank from HK $75.68 billion to HK $23.461 billion, and suddenly "evaporated" HK $52.22 billion.

The real estate sector has been hit hard.

Some people say that this is only a temporary phenomenon, and when the real estate market is booming again, the wealth that has been "evaporated" will return to the cage, as long as the people are still there, the house is still there, and there is no fear of a day when there is no re-expansion.

Others say it could be another turning point in Hong Kong's redistribution of wealth. Feng Shui takes turns, and this group of Chinese-funded real estate developers who have risen since the 80s have reached the time of decline.

Compared with the real estate stocks that have fallen sharply. Manufacturing stocks, led by the NB department, are much better.

Although the same is falling. But the drop wasn't that big. What's more, NB Electric even announced that it would spend $3 billion to buy back the shares of NB Electrician, NB Electric Complete and Huaxing Electronics at the same time as the overall plummet. Red chips such as "Jiangnan Road and Bridge" have also begun to protect their disks with the full support of the China Y government.

Although he clearly understood that it was inappropriate to come to the Yangtze River Building at this time, Zhang Botao, the president of Baiqinfu, who had reached the critical moment of life and death, still came, and as soon as he walked into the office, he said worriedly: "Mr. Li, if the Hong Kong government doesn't take action again, we really can't stand it!" ”

Baiqin Investment Group was born in September 1988 on the ruins of the 1987 stock market crash. In less than 10 years since they set up their own business, Pak Kink has grown from a small company to the largest securities group in Hong Kong with total assets of HK$24 billion, a market value of HK$12.6 billion, including financing, investment, securities, commodity futures and foreign exchange brokerage and asset management, and is also the most powerful and influential investment bank in the Asian market outside Japan, and is among the Fortune Global 500.

They assisted in arranging the listing of Hujiang Industrial, the window unit of Hujiang in Hong Kong, and implemented the large-scale introduction of capital into Hujiang through fund-raising, the issuance of new shares, which led to the red-chip boom in Hong Kong. raised a lot of funds for state-owned enterprises, and Zhang Botao is also known as the "father of red chips".

He was also Mr. Lee's "Queen's Banker". He has handled most of the spin-offs and financings of Hutchison over the years, and Mr. Li has publicly said, "I will support him wherever he goes."

But now it is the mud bodhisattva crossing the river, every penny has to be used on the blade, how can there be spare strength to help Bai Qinfu, Mr. Li glanced at the stock market on the monitor again, and beckoned him to sit down, while whispering: "Don't worry, sit down and say." ”

"Mr. Li, as you know, our business in the Asia Pacific region is mainly aimed at the Indonesian and Thai markets, which account for more than 50% of the Group's turnover! The Thai baht has depreciated sharply, the Indonesian rupiah has plummeted, and interest rates are soaring, and the bonds and stocks we have invested in Thailand and Indonesia have plummeted, and as of yesterday's close, we have lost hundreds of millions! ”

Looking at Mr. Li's thoughtful appearance, Zhang Botao continued: "These are nothing, we can cope with it ourselves, the key is to provide a transitional short-term loan of 260 million Hong Kong dollars to an Indonesian taxi company, which is equivalent to 15% of our capital, but the taxi company's income is all rupiah."

With the rupiah falling sharply and the Indonesian government imposing foreign exchange controls, they were unable to repay the loan at all, and the loss of bonds and stocks had caused the group's financial situation to plummet, and there was no hope in sight. ”

The Hong Kong government can't even save Hong Kong companies, and it doesn't have the ability to do so, so how can it save their investments outside Hong Kong? Mr. Li sighed secretly and asked again: "Bo Tao, tell me the truth, how many bad debts do you have so far?" ”

It's really an unspeakable question, thinking that the group did not have a correct estimate of the risks of emerging markets, so that the guide zhì such a huge loss, Zhang Botao regretted it, and was silent for a while before he wanted to say again: "It is about 6.3 billion Hong Kong dollars, accounting for 36% of current assets and more than 46% of current liabilities. ”

The overextension of the Asian bond market has left them in financial trouble. Mr. Li really couldn't help, and after thinking about it, he asked solemnly, "What are your plans next?" ”

"We want to find some partners to solve the urgent need, after all, the group still has a lot of businesses that are profitable, and only needs a very short emergency fund, just like an energetic young man who is stuck in his throat by a mouthful of phlegm, as long as he can spit it out, he will not suffocate."

"Are there any companies or powerful banks that have any intention of doing this?"

Zhang Botao took off his glasses, rubbed his temples and said helplessly: "The Zurich Group is interested, but seeing that our financial situation is getting worse and worse, it seems that we have retreated. ”

At this time, who dared to make a blind move, Mr. Li sat in a trance for a while, decided to go to the window to breathe first, looked at the HSBC building not far away, weighed it and turned around and said: "Bo Tao, you know the situation on my side, I really can't help, I can only give you a proposal." ”

"Mr. Li, you say."

"We can't put all our hopes on the Zurich Group, we must find a few more powerful and interested partners. It's best to contact Li Xiaoshan, 'Jiangnan Road and Bridge' is operated and listed by you, the relationship is good, and you have a Chinese-funded and NB electrical background, as long as you show enough sincerity, I believe they will not die without help. ”

Jiangnan Road and Bridge is buying back aggressively, and the Yangtze River Bridge and Expressway they have invested in and built in the mainland have no income for a while, Zhang Botao does not think that Li Xiaoshan has this spare power, and can't help but shake his head and say: "Mr. Li, Jiangnan Road and Bridge and NB Electric are protecting the disk, do they have this strength?" ”

"Jiangnan Road and Bridge and NB Electric do not, it does not mean that Xinsheng and Diamond Capital do not, believe me, go to the International Building, it will definitely not let you go home empty-handed."

Xinsheng Investment is indeed wealthy, but Dante Wenming is not so easy to deal with. Zhang Botao pondered for a moment and said hesitantly: "Mr. Li, I'm not worried that they won't help, but about their conditions. ”

Mr. Li walked to the computer, pointed to the constantly updated stock market quotes, and said lightly: "In the past few days, they have been sweeping the stocks of HSBC and Standard Chartered. Bo Tao, when is it, are you still worried about this and that? ”

HSBC and Standard Chartered are the main constituents of the Hang Seng Index, and Xinsheng's move at this time is in a sense a kind of disk protection. It is precisely because of this that the articles of association have been able to acquire HSBC and Standard Chartered shares in a disguised way to stabilize Hong Kong stocks.

"Okay, I'll try."

Zhang Botao really had no better choice, and when he walked to the door, he couldn't help but turn around and remind: "Mr. Li, if nothing else, the NB department may be the biggest winner in this crisis, they have enough cash and bank support from Arab countries, you should also pay more attention." ”

After so many years of dealing, Mr. Li knows the magical young man too well, and he smiled bitterly with self-deprecation: "Don't worry, he is not interested in us, maybe in their opinion, Cheung Kong has not fallen hard enough." ”

As early as a few years ago, people pointed out more than once that there were too many bubbles in Hong Kong's real estate, and it endangered the entire Hong Kong economy. Thinking that the Hong Kong government has been watching coldly during this time, Zhang Botao sighed: "People have changed, times have changed, if we can get through this hurdle, we must also make a little change." ”

Mr. Li nodded slightly, and said quietly: "That person went to Singapore, and it is said that he had a good conversation with those entrepreneurs who are engaged in business in Singapore, and they do have more common language than us." It's a pity that Hong Kong is not Singapore, and his dreams are difficult to achieve with just one Wu Jinhua. (To be continued......)