For Immediate Release Chicago, IL – December 21, 2015 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog includeTrina Solar Limited (TSL), Ctrip.com International, Ltd. (CTRP), Priceline Group (PCLN), PetroChina Co. Ltd. (PTR) and China Petroleum & Chemical Corp. ( SNP). Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Get #1Stock of the Day pick for free. Here are highlights from Friday’s Analyst Blog: China Stock Roundup Markets enjoyed a week of strong gains following positive economic data and assurances from the government that sector specific steps would be taken to boost the economy. The Shanghai Composite increased on Monday as mining stocks surged following indications that production would be cut to push up prices. The benchmark index moved up on Tuesday as property stocks rallied following assurances that measures would be taken to boost the real estate sector. The benchmark index gained again on Thursday as the fund flow crunch caused by the resumption of IPOs ceased. Trina Solar Limited (TSL) received a non-binding buyout offer from a group comprising its CEO Jifan Gao and a private equity firm, Shanghai Xingsheng Equity Investment & Management Co., Ltd. Ctrip.com International, Ltd. (CTRP) has said that The Priceline Group ( PCLN) has agreed to invest an additional $500 million through a convertible bond along with an unnamed "long-term equity investment firm." Last Week’s Developments Last Friday, the Shanghai Composite Index declined 0.6% following reports that billionaire Guo Guangchang was untraceable. This development piled onto concerns that the slump in economic growth, the decline in the yuan and anti-corruption measures are negatively impacting earnings forecasts. Reports about Guo follow several previous incidents where other senior managers have also gone missing. This is why it had a grievous impact on markets. Additionally, the yuan declined 0.27% against the dollar, which took the weekly loss to 0.8%. This was its sharpest weekly loss since its value was lowered in August. The Hang Seng plummeted 1.1%. The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index lost 1.5% falling to its lowest point since Sep 29. The CSI 300 lost 0.4%. Meanwhile, data released after the close revealed that new credit had staged a rebound in November. Aggregate financing increased 1.02 trillion yuan ($158 billion) last month. New yuan loans increased to 708.9 billion yuan. Meanwhile, M2 money supply increased 13.7% year-over-year. Markets and the Economy This Week The Shanghai Composite surged on Monday, increasing 2.5%. Gains were led by mining stocks following indications that production would be cut to push up prices. Measures of material and financial companies garnered the highest increase among all the industry groups. Materials stocks declined 3.3% on the mainland exchanges. Additionally, data on fixed asset investment, retail sales and industrial output released over the weekend have exceeded forecasts. This is a clear signal that fiscal and monetary measures taken to boost the economy have proved to be effective. Industrial output increased 6.2% in November. Retail sales surged 11.2%, posting its best reading for the year. Fixed asset investment moved up 10.2% over the preceding 11 months of 2015. The CSI 300 gained 2.9%. The Hang Seng and Hang Seng China Enterprises Index lost 0.1% and 0.7%, respectively, snapping a series of losses. The benchmark index moved up 0.3% on Tuesday as property stocks led gains. This rally was a result of an assurance from the Communist Party’s politburo that it would take measures to prop up the real estate sector. The politburo recommended measures to decrease inventories in the sector. Meanwhile, materials and brokerages stocks fell and the yuan continued to decline. The CSI 300 declined 0.5%. A sub-index of materials stocks with the index declined 0.9%. The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index gained 0.3%, cutting the yearly decline to 22%. The Hang Seng moved 0.2% lower, marking the longest series of losses in more than thirty years. The Shanghai Composite gained 0.2% on Wednesday following gains made by energy stocks. PetroChina Co. Ltd. (PTR) and China Petroleum & Chemical Corp. ( SNP) or Sinopec gained 1.1% and 2.3%, respectively after the government indicated that it would not reduce prices of fuel. Meanwhile, developers took losses even as other sectors showed weaknesses ahead of an imminent rate hike from the Fed. However, the decline in real estate stocks was primarily due to profit taking. The CSI 300 declined 0.2% following losses made by telecom and consumer stocks. The Hang Seng increased 2%, ending the longest series of losses in more than thirty years. The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index increased 2.1%, marking its sharpest increase in one and a half months. The benchmark index gained 1.8% on Thursday as the fund flow crunch caused by the resumption of IPOs ceased. Meanwhile, the yuan declined for the tenth consecutive day, boosting the prospects of exports. This decline came even as the U.S. Federal Reserve finally announced a rate hike. Gains were led by real estate and consumer discretionary companies. The Shanghai property index surged 4.6%, emerging as the highest gainer among the industry groups. The CSI 300 increased 1.9%. The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index rose 1.3%, completing its highest gains over two days since October. The Hang Seng added 0.8% as bank stock gains outweighed the decline in oil stocks. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report >> About Zacks Equity Research Zacks Equity Research provides the best of quantitative and qualitative analysis to help investors know what stocks to buy and which to sell for the long-term. Continuous coverage is provided for a universe of 1,150 publicly traded stocks. Our analysts are organized by industry which gives them keen insights to developments that affect company profits and stock performance. Recommendations and target prices are six-month time horizons. Zacks "Profit from the Pros" e-mail newsletter provides highlights of the latest analysis from Zacks Equity Research. Subscribe to this free newsletter today. Find out What is happening in the stock market today on zacks.com. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report TRINA SOLAR LTD (TSL): Free Stock Analysis Report CTRIP.COM INTL (CTRP): Free Stock Analysis Report PRICELINE.COM (PCLN): Free Stock Analysis Report PETROCHINA ADR (PTR): Free Stock Analysis Report CHINA PETRO&CHM (SNP): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
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