China stocks rally on reported treasury bond launch

Chinese stocks are up on reports that Beijing is due to launch a record amount of special Treasury bonds in a bid to stimulate the economy ahead of Donald Trump’s return to the White House. U.S. President Joe Biden opens a probe into Chinese chip makers in what is the latest salvo against the country’s trade practices. Honda, Nissan and Mitsubishi all see shares surge, with Honda issuing a $7bn share buy-back and confirming merger talks with Nissan. French Prime Minister François Bayrou picks the head of the state-backed financial group Caisse des Dépôts Éric Lombard as his new finance minister.