'China's Warren Buffett' goes missing as spate of disappearances continues

Chinese billionaire Guo Guangchang, chairman of investment behemoth Fosun Group and known as the 'Warren Buffett of China', has gone missing according to local media.

Guo, whose Fosun's increasing activity in Europe in 2015 included a partnership with Thomas Cook, was reported as "missing for contact" by the Caixin news agency.

His disappearance is one of many in recent months as China’s securities regulator investigates "malicious" short-selling, market manipulation, insider trading and other supposed causes of the summer’s stock market crush.

Last week, two more directors from Citic Securities disappeared, taking the number of missing top brass from China’s largest brokerage and new Manchester City investor to six out of eight, with authorities also recently arresting billionaire hedge fund investor Xu Xiang as part of the probe.

At the end of November, authorities launched investigations into the country’s largest stockbroker, Citi Securities Co, and its third largest broker, Guosen Securities, for alleged violation of securities regulations.

Guo's Fosun has been making large steps in Europe this year, making an offer to acquire German private bank Hauck & Aufhäuser (H&A) for €210m in July and reportedly mulling a move into property via consultancy group Cushman & Wakefield.

This followed its big splash in the continent's travel sector with the acquisition of France's Club Med and a major minority stake in Thomas Cook.