Chinese developer Shimao Group said it has failed to make payment on a $1 billion bond that matured Sunday, one of the biggest such defaults so far this year in the country's troubled property sector.

China's real estate sector has been struggling since authorities began a crackdown on excessive debt and rampant consumer speculation in 2020, with giants such as Evergrande and Sunac scrambling to make payments and renegotiate with creditors.

The crisis has sparked fears that the industry's struggles could spread to the wider economy, and the latest jolt came Sunday when Shimao said it had not paid the principal and interest on a $1 billion offshore note.

In a filing to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, where it is listed, Shimao said it has experienced a noticeable decline in contracted sales due to "significant changes to the macro environment of the property sector in China since the second half of 2021 and the impact of Covid-19".

The firm added that it had attempted to negotiate refinancing and waivers but was unable to make some payments because of "challenging" market conditions.

It said it has not received notice from creditors for accelerated repayment, and that lenders have indicated they will not take enforcement action at this point.

Shimao develops residential, hotel, office and commercial properties in China, with projects in major cities such as Beijing and Shanghai.

It was China's 14th biggest developer by contracted sales last year, according to Bloomberg News.

China's developers have been struggling as homebuyers tightened their purse strings owing to an uncertain economic outlook.

One company in the eastern city of Nanjing said it would accept truckloads of watermelons as downpayment from local farmers, according to Chinese media.

"The contagion has spread from Evergrande to Sunac and now Shimao," said Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Kristy Hung.

"That raises our concerns that the extent of the debt crisis is beyond any market watcher's imagination."

Asia stocks mixed, oil down as traders fret over recession
Hong Kong (AFP) July 4, 2022 - Asian markets were mixed and oil fell as traders fret over a possible recession caused by central bank interest rate hikes aimed at fighting soaring inflation.

Data showing a flare-up of fresh Covid-19 cases in China revived concerns about the government's policy of locking down towns and cities to eradicate the disease, despite the economic cost.

After the S&P 500's worst January-June since 1970, Wall Street got the second half off to a healthy start Friday as a below-forecast reading on US manufacturing provided hope banks will not go on an extended period of monetary tightening.

That followed a drop in confidence among consumers -- a key driver of the world's top economy.

However, National Australia Bank's Rodrigo Catril said the Federal Reserve and other global financial chiefs might not ease back on their rate hikes too soon as inflation remains elevated.

"While the data is suggesting a US economic slowdown is coming, we are not yet seeing signs of an ease in inflationary pressures, an important distinction given the Fed will continue with its aggressive tightening approach until it sees evidence of the latter," he said in a commentary.

In a sign of the struggle officials will have in controlling rising prices, figures showed eurozone inflation hit a record 8.6 percent in June. The European Central Bank is due to lift rates this month for the first time in more than a decade.

Still, while surging prices remain a huge problem, Chris Weston, at Pepperstone Group, said the psychology is "shifting radically from inflation concerns to one now where we're firmly focused on growth".

While New York provided a strong lead, Asia struggled.

Hong Kong dropped as investors returned from a long weekend to play catch-up with Friday's losses, while Shanghai, Seoul, Taipei and Jakarta were also down.

However, Tokyo, Sydney, Singapore, Taipei and Wellington rose.

A rise in new Covid cases in China over the weekend weighed on sentiment among investors who fear a return to the painful lockdowns in major cities including Shanghai, which hammered the world's number two economy.

The country saw more than 700 new infections Saturday and Sunday, having held below 50 a day for the previous two weeks.

Macau saw its first two Covid deaths at the weekend and authorities said they would consider a city-wide lockdown to fight the disease. The comments sent Hong Kong-listed shares in Macau casinos plunging.

Concerns about recession weighed on oil prices Monday as traders bet on a drop in demand, while the head of Asia at crude trading giant Vitol said he saw signs consumers were beginning to feel the pressure of high commodity costs.

"There's very clear evidence out there of economic stress being caused by the high prices, what some people refer to as demand destruction," said Mike Muller. It is "not just oil, but also liquefied natural gas".

- Key figures at around 0230 GMT -

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 0.6 percent at 26,085.07 (break)

Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: DOWN 0.5 percent at 21,742.83

Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.3 percent at 3,378.54

Dollar/yen: DOWN at 135.01 yen from 135.28 yen Friday

Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2095 from $1.2098

Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.0431 from $1.0433

Euro/pound: UP at 86.25 pence from 86.21 pence

West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 0.1 percent at $108.32 per barrel

Brent North Sea crude: DOWN 0.1 percent at $111.55 per barrel

New York - Dow: UP 1.1 percent at 31,097.26 (close)

London - FTSE 100: FLAT at 7,168.65 (close)

-- Bloomberg News contributed to this story --

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Asian markets drop with traders gripped by recession fear
Hong Kong (AFP) July 1, 2022
Asian markets struggled again Friday following another selloff on Wall Street fuelled by recession fears, with warnings of a bleak outlook for the global economy as central banks slam on the brakes to battle soaring inflation. Data showing US consumers - the backbone of the world's top economy - were growing increasingly reticent about spending dealt a fresh blow to equities Thursday, with the S&P 500 suffering its worst January-June since 1970. With the war in Ukraine showing no sign of endin ... read more