ZTE Corp. saw its shares soar yesterday after resuming trade in Shenzhen and Hong Kong. The Chinese telecommunications equipment maker announced a return to the markets after a U.S. judge ended its five-year probation following a 2017 guilty plea on Iran sales that violated U.S. sanctions and export control laws. ZTE stocks on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange reached the 10 percent upper limit at the beginning of the afternoon session, while those on the Hong Kong stock exchange hit over 50 percent before slipping to a 23-percent jump at the close. As part of its 2017 plea deal, the company was fined US$892 million. In his ruling Tuesday, the U.S. judge decided not to take any further action against ZTE, which had already reached the maximum term of probation and, as it argued, had already paid the maximum fine as well. “The company has made strides,” the judge said. ZTE in a statement said the company’s improvement in the compliance program and culture had been acknowledged over the years. (CGTN) | 