* EM stocks set to end the week around 2% lower<\/p>\n
* Evergrande should not bet on govt bailout – Global Times editor<\/p>\n
* Indian shares mark eight straight session of highs<\/p>\n
* Russian stocks hit by possible new tax; citizens head to polls<\/p>\n
Sept 17 (Reuters) – Emerging market stocks rose on Friday for the first time this week, as Chinese equities recovered after a bruising week, although worries about a likely default by indebted property developer Evergrande kept a lid on gains.<\/p>\n
MSCI\u2019s index of EM shares hit a three-week low earlier in the session before recouping. It was last up 0.4% as heavyweight Chinese blue-chips and Hong Kong tech stocks rose 1% and 3.2%, respectively.<\/p>\n
For the week, the EM index is set to lose around 2%, its worst weekly show in a month, as fears of a contagion from a likely Evergrande default, worries over global growth, and Beijing\u2019s tightening grip on businesses hammered risk sentiment.<\/p>\n
The editor of a Chinese state-backed newspaper warned Evergrande, saddled with more than $300 billion in total liabilities, that it should not depend on a government bailout. Its shares were set for their worst week ever, down almost 30%.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe suspect it would take a policy misstep for (an Evergrande default) to cause a sharp slowdown in (China\u2019s) economy,\u201d said Simon MacAdam, senior global economist at Capital Economics.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn a hard-landing scenario, several emerging markets are vulnerable.\u201d<\/p>\n
Indian shares marked their eighth straight session of record highs, thanks to fiscal measures.<\/p>\n
Russia\u2019s MOEX was now more than 1% away from all-time highs, with losses on the day being led by some miners after sources said Russia\u2019s finance ministry proposed setting a mineral extraction tax.<\/p>\n
Russia\u2019s rouble was 0.3% higher against the dollar in the interbank rate, while it traded flat on the Moscow exchange , as citizens go the polls to elect a new parliament. Ruling United Russia party is expected to win despite a ratings slump.<\/p>\n
Russian central bank chief Elvira Nabiullina warned on Friday that inflation in the country could hit 7% this month and move back towards the target of 4% only in the second half of 2022. The bank is considering more interest-rate hikes in the upcoming meetings, Nabiullina said. Last month saw the fifth rate hike this year to 6.75%.<\/p>\n
Turkey\u2019s lira hit a five-week low, down 0.6%, extending previous session\u2019s 1% slide. President Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey will bring inflation down as soon as possible. Annual inflation currently stands at 19.25%, above the main interest rate at 19%.<\/p>\n
The central bank meets next week, with investors worried about a premature easing in the policy rate as Governor Sahip Kavcioglu recently struck a dovish tone amid pressure from Erdogan to cut rates.<\/p>\n
For GRAPHIC on emerging market FX performance in 2021, see tmsnrt.rs\/2egbfVh For GRAPHIC on MSCI emerging index performance in 2021, see tmsnrt.rs\/2OusNdX<\/p>\n
For TOP NEWS across emerging markets<\/p>\n
For CENTRAL EUROPE market report, see<\/p>\n
For TURKISH market report, see<\/p>\n
For RUSSIAN market report, see<\/p>\n