Macau industry sees gain after year-end dip

The industry’s gross gaming revenue for table games rose 6 percent for the week ending Jan. 25 from a week earlier, which “could further indicate stabilization” after President Xi Jinping’s Macau visit last month, Bank of America Merrill Lynch analysts led by Billy Ng wrote in a note. The number still fell 7 percent compared with a year ago.

Xi’s visit coincided with government efforts that included plans to crackdown on illicit funds funneled through Macau amid his anti-graft campaign, leading to seven straight months of declines that peaked at a 30 percent plunge in December. Union Gaming analyst Grant Govertsen upgraded the sector to a buy rating yesterday, writing that evidence is mounting “that we’ve finally reached the bottom,” and Macau gaming names “are poised for a rally”.

Shares of Wynn Macau Ltd. (1128) jumped 8.4 percent to end at HK$21.90 by the close of trading, the biggest increase since last April. MGM China Holdings Ltd. (2282) and Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd. (27) both gained 6.5 percent, Melco Crown Entertainment Ltd. (MPEL:US) was up 5.6 percent, and Sands China Ltd. (1928) increased 3 percent. The benchmark Hang Seng index fell 0.4 percent.

The Bloomberg Intelligence Macau (China) Gaming Market Index slumped almost 40 percent last year, amid policies that included restrictions on the use of  UnionPay’s debit cards at casinos, making it harder for bettors to buy pricey items that they exchange for cash to gamble with. The index closed 1.8 percent higher yesterday, and gained a further 5.9 percent today.