Prolonged China factory closures to weigh on Singapore firms' earnings

Market watchers say companies with a big portion of their plants in China, or which are not geographically diversified, will be hardest hit

Published Wed, Feb 5, 2020 · 09:50 PM

Hi-P

Singapore

SINGAPORE-listed companies with manufacturing plants in China have yet to register any impact on their businesses from the novel coronavirus outbreak, but analysts say they expect the earnings of these firms to take a hit from prolonged closures.

Most factories had shut for the Chinese New Year holidays, with initial plans to reopen on Feb 3. But following directives from the Chinese authorities amid the escalation of the outbreak, businesses have been instructed to resume operations in their Chinese facilities only on Feb 10.

Eve…