Shares in Prudential PLC have been boosted by reports that a Chinese stimulus is on the cards to support the flagging economy.
Bloomberg reported that authorities in China are considering taking steps to stabilize the slumping Chinese stock market.
Bloomberg said that policymakers are seeking to mobilize about 2 trillion yuan ($278 billion), mainly from the offshore accounts of Chinese state-owned enterprises, as part of a stabilization fund to buy shares onshore through the Hong Kong exchange link
They have also earmarked at least 300 billion yuan of local funds to invest in onshore shares through China Securities Finance Corp. or Central Huijin Investment Ltd., citing familiar with the situation said.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index, jumped by 2.6%, after the reports.
JPMorgan also gave its support for the Asia-focused insurer.
The investment bank notes Prudential is trading at a valuation that "we last saw at the start of the pandemic when one of its main markets, Hong Kong, saw a closure of a vast proportion of its business, and at a time when there was deep investor scepticism about the separation of its US life insurance business."
This largely reflects concern about the Chinese economy, it explained, as well as a number of other factors such as the growth outlook, asset, and capital risk.
However, JPM thinks many of these concerns reflect "fear rather than fundamentals."
It keeps its 'overweight' rating and 1,500p price target.
Shares in Prudential are up 2.2% at 813.80p.