The market was closed!

Hong Kong investors spread the news, collectively breathing sighs of relief.

Except for those who had taken large short positions like Xia Xiaolan, nobody wanted stock prices to continue their crazy decline.

“I heard the Stock Exchange Chairman called the Hong Kong Financial Secretary at midnight requesting the market closure – is that true?”

“True or false, what does it matter? The market’s closed!”

“When the market reopens next Monday, will it stabilize?”

“It definitely will…”

Such discussions weren’t limited to company break rooms – even housewives and grandmothers at the markets could comment on it.

Everyone hoped for good news when trading resumed next Monday after the four-day closure.

Zhang Bailun felt somewhat regretful, not expecting the Exchange to play this card. He couldn’t help cursing the Exchange Chairman as cowardly, yet knew this decision was an active response.

“If we had known-“

Known what?

The market would close for four days, so they should have closed positions yesterday, taking 58 million in profits and leaving them satisfied.

Xia Xiaolan shook her head, “Baron, I didn’t take such a big risk just to earn 58 million.”

“President Xia, do you think Hong Kong stocks will continue falling next Monday?”

“Whether they’ll fall or not, pay attention and observe – you’ll easily conclude.”

Observe what? Naturally, the US stock market.

This shock affecting global stock markets all stemmed from American stocks.

After the Hong Kong Exchange announced the four-day closure on October 20th, some questioned whether this move would damage Hong Kong’s “free economy port” image. The Exchange Chairman strongly retorted, saying he was protecting Hong Kong’s financial security to the greatest extent!

This statement received support from the Financial Secretary.

Needless to say, those questioning either didn’t trade stocks and could watch from the sidelines without pain or were short-sellers like Xia Xiaolan who hoped for the market to fall as much as possible.

Although Xia Xiaolan had large short positions, she remained silent about the Exchange’s four-day closure.

Profits were guaranteed – why attract attention and draw fire?

Making money quietly was Xia Xiaolan’s basic strategy this time.

The Exchange Chairman wasn’t wrong – while he took the blame for the closure, it gave Hong Kong stocks breathing room and the government time to devise rescue measures.

On October 20th, global stock markets continued falling.

Not just stock prices – global commodity prices were falling too, from precious metals and copper to industrial materials, coffee, sugar, and textiles – nothing was spared!

Criticism of the Hong Kong Exchange Chairman immediately diminished.

If Hong Kong hadn’t avoided it, wouldn’t the impact have been even greater?

It wasn’t just Hong Kong stocks seeking rescue – in America, many listed companies promptly released their latest financial reports and operating data, trying to inject confidence into investors:

Look here, don’t miss out, our company is profitable, and our stock is worth holding long-term, so don’t rush to sell!

Ha, useless – even consistently profitable listed companies saw falling stock prices.

This was frustrating.

Large companies had to use their trump card – they began buying back their shares from investors to support Wall Street prices.

The big companies dipped into their own pockets, not just rescuing the market but also preventing their shares from falling into the hands of opportunistic financial speculators.

These measures were effective – on October 21st, US stock indices rose 120 points. Thank heavens, finally not falling! Just needing to stabilize, US stocks could recover!

With US stocks stable, global markets would naturally stabilize.

In Hong Kong, the government announced its “rescue” plan for this stock market crisis: arranging a 2 billion Hong Kong dollar loan to the futures exchange, with 1 billion directly from government funds and the other 1 billion shared by futures exchange shareholders and stock brokers.

This was hugely positive news.

Yu Li didn’t quite understand:

“President Xia, why give loans to the futures exchange when stock prices fall?”

“Let Manager Ji explain.”

Before Manager Ji could speak, Zhang Bailun eagerly educated the beautiful secretary: “Because on the 20th, Hong Kong Futures Exchange accounts suffered massive losses. The exchange’s reserves weren’t enough to handle this financial storm. If Hong Kong’s futures market collapsed, futures brokers would massively sell their stocks for cash, driving prices down further. The futures market collapsed first, then the stock market, then all of Hong Kong’s finances would collapse!”

It was just a pity – with the stock market not continuing to fall, Qihang would earn less.

President Xia was so steady, showing no sign of worry.

A woman who could lose or gain tens of millions without changing expression truly couldn’t be underestimated!

“…Director Xia, that’s the situation.”

Xia Ziyu also didn’t understand why the Hong Kong government’s “rescue” involved lending to the futures market.

But CR Investment had people who understood and could explain it to her.

“So next week, on October 26th when the Exchange reopens, will stock prices rise again?”

Xia Ziyu’s question was tricky. While there were many rescue measures now, whether prices would rise depending on actual conditions after reopening. Her assistant could only vaguely say:

“At least they won’t fall so quickly. Besides the 2 billion loan to the futures exchange, the Hong Kong Banking Association along with Standard Chartered and HSBC announced that on the 26th, loan interest rates would drop from 8.5% to 7.5% – the rate cut will stimulate the market. Moreover, Mr. Li expressed intent to spend 1 billion buying back stocks – this is positive news!”

Mr. Li was the tycoon who, before the crash, had raised over 10 billion in cash from the stock market through rights issues at four of his companies.

Not yet Hong Kong’s richest man, but soon would be.

His pledge to spend 1 billion Hong Kong dollars buying back stocks matched the measures of large American listed companies – all “rescuing the market.”

With so many supporting forces, the 26th reopening was indeed worth anticipating.

If not immediate rises, at least the downward trend should be stopped, right?

Xia Ziyu still felt uncomfortable.

If Xia Xiaolan closed positions right at the reopening on the 26th, she’d still earn tens of millions.

Xia Ziyu wanted to hear her subordinates conclude the market would rise, but they dared only say it wouldn’t continue crashing.

Xia Ziyu also felt headaches – losing over ten million a day, CR couldn’t last many days.

Earlier she’d felt heaven was on her side, but the market’s sharp fall on the 19th seemed to favor Xia Xiaolan again.

Initially pressured by Xia Xiaolan, the Exchange’s four-day closure gradually helped Xia Ziyu regain rationality.

If stocks had continued falling on the 20th, Xia Ziyu would have had to cut losses and close positions. Fortunately, the Exchange announced the closure, giving Xia Ziyu breathing room. With various rescue measures announced during this period, Xia Ziyu hesitated:

“If the market performs well tomorrow and Lu Family Media’s price rises a bit from the 19th, we can limit our losses to 8 million and immediately close positions!”

Director Xia finally showed rationality, delighting her assistant.

Escaping with an 8 million loss would be fine – that’s called cutting losses in time!