Morgan Stanley star analyst Andy Xie resigns

BEIJING, Oct 1 (Reuters) Morgan Stanley's star Asia Pacific economist, Andy Xie, has resigned and is expected to embark on a new career elsewhere, the U.S. investment bank and an industry source said on Sunday.

Xie, whose widely-read reports on the Chinese economy have boosted Morgan Stanley's image in the region, tendered his resignation last week and had left the firm as of Friday, said Hong Kong-based spokeswoman Po-ling Cheung.

''An internal memo was sent out (on Friday) informing employees that he has resigned from the firm,'' she said by telephone.

''He has left the firm,'' she added.

Xie confirmed the news by telephone, but declined to say what he would do next.

A source close to Morgan Stanley said that Xie would likely join another firm in the industry in the near future.

REUTERS DKS GC1617