People's Bank of China

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October 24, 2024

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China Big Banking System: Lessons from Japan/GFC
Paying Article

October 24, 2024 10:50 AM UTC

The proposed Yuan1trn capital injection for the six largest banks would be pre-emptive, while China is also quick to merge weaker/failing small to mid-sized banks. However, rising NPL’s; plus, low net interest margins with low policy rates; low nominal GDP and pressure to rollover LGFV/SOE debt wi

October 21, 2024

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China Corporate Debt Deleveraging
Paying Article

October 21, 2024 10:45 AM UTC

Private companies ex property developers have seen a small pay down of debt, but the largest remaining portion of non-financial debt ex LGFV is central and local SOE’s.  They have low profitability and have shown few signs of increased leverage.  This leaves the onus on fiscal policy.  

October 18, 2024

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China September Data Rotates Higher, But
Paying Article

October 18, 2024 7:30 AM UTC

Q3 GDP and September monthly figures were slightly better than expected. Combined with a speed up of local government spending in Q4 and more completion of uncompleted homes, we change our 2024 GDP forecast to 4.8% v 4.6%.  However, despite a further Yuan1.5-2.0trn of fiscal stimulus to come, we st

October 15, 2024

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U.S. Tensions for China: Protected by BRICS and BRI?
Paying Article

October 15, 2024 9:30 AM UTC

BRICS can provide a political buffer but not economic, as BRICS are still searching for practical areas for cooperation.  However, Donald Trump universal tariffs threats could focus BRICS on more intra EM trade. BRI has already helped to redirect China exports to EM countries, despite the slowdown

October 14, 2024

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China Fiscal Stimulus: Details to Follow
Paying Article

October 14, 2024 8:37 AM UTC

Further details of the size of extra central government spending/scaled up local authority purchases of unsold complete homes for affordable housing should be seen late October/early November from the National People Congress.  We estimate Yuan1.5-2.0trn in total of extra spending, which leads us t

October 10, 2024

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China and Japan Debt Compared
Paying Article

October 10, 2024 1:35 PM UTC

China housing crisis will likely mean that household debt/GDP flat lines in the coming years like Japan after 1990 and be a headwind for consumption.  Meanwhile, the downturn in residential construction is already greater than that experienced by Japan after 1990 and in itself will be remain a stru

October 03, 2024

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China: Any Lessons from the 1997-98 Asian Crisis?
Freemium Article

October 3, 2024 1:30 PM UTC

Overall, the warning from slow real credit growth on reduced credit supply and demand is the main lesson from the Asia crisis 1997-98.  China High FX reserves; low borrowing overseas and dominance of domestic investors in Yuan markets argues against a currency crisis.  Asia widespread banking cris

September 24, 2024

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China Outlook: Unbalanced Growth and Slowing
Freemium Article

September 24, 2024 8:54 AM UTC

      Growth is benefitting from momentum in public investment/exports and high tech production.  However, domestic demand is slower and this is a drag on H2 2024 and 2025 growth prospects.  Aside from the ongoing negative drag from the residential construction crisis, consumption is also softe

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China Steps Up Support, But Not a Game changer
Freemium Article

September 24, 2024 8:39 AM UTC

China has surprised and cut the 7 day reverse repo rate by 20bps to 1.5%, with a 50bps cuts in the RRR rate.  Combined with other measures this is a step-up in support and could help GDP on the margin, but the measures are not game changers as monetary policy is currently ineffective.  While furth

September 18, 2024

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China Banking Stress Tests: The Good, The Bad and the Ugly
Freemium Article

September 18, 2024 8:05 AM UTC

The good news is that China’s 19 major domestic systemically important banks (D-SIB’s and 72% of loans) hold up well under most solvency and liquidity tests, though some capital shortfalls start to appear with a moderate or severe NPL sensitivity shock scenario.  The safety net would likely be

September 16, 2024

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China: Weak August Data
Freemium Article

September 16, 2024 6:58 AM UTC

China August data was worse than expected and confirms the weak trend in H2, with retail sales a real worry. The government risks missing the 5% growth target for 2024 and targeted fiscal policy moves are likely, but need to be implemented quickly.  10bps cut in the 7 day reverse repo rate is also

September 09, 2024

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China Equities: More of the Same or Game changing Policies
Paying Article

September 9, 2024 9:15 AM UTC

 We remain strategically underweight China Equities in global and EM equity baskets, due to the structural slowing of growth and low EPS prospects. Event risk around the U.S. presidential election will also start to be considered.  Further targeted policies from China authorities could cause inter

September 02, 2024

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China Harder Landing Scenario
Paying Article

September 2, 2024 10:55 AM UTC

 We see a 30% probability of a harder landing in China GDP growth in 2025, which we most likely be in the 3-4% region but could persist into 2026 (Figure 1).  A large than projected slowdown in consumption would be a key concern, alongside persistently moderate negative deductions from residential

August 28, 2024

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China Consumer Volatility
Paying Article

August 28, 2024 1:30 PM UTC

China consumption patterns are divergent; slowing and becoming more volatile at a sub sector level.  Less certainty over new employment and wage growth, plus wealth worries over housing are some of the causes.  We forecast GDP to slow in H2 and be 4.0% in 2025.

August 21, 2024

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China Housing Bailout: More Needed
Freemium Article

August 21, 2024 9:00 AM UTC

Though China’s authorities have taken some action to help the residential construction sector, the negative drags from the huge excess completed housing and uncompleted projects continues to weigh directly on the construction/steel and cement sector and consumer confidence. Aggressive policy actio

August 15, 2024

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China Data: Soft Start to Q3
Freemium Article

August 15, 2024 6:40 AM UTC

Overall, the July data is consistent with our forecast of a weaker H2 and we still look for 4.7% GDP growth for 2024.  The data is also consistent with our forecast of 4.0% in 2025 GDP growth.  Consumption behavior could stall further and cause more of a drag than we anticipate and we now see a 30

July 23, 2024

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China: The Squeezed Middle and Bottom 50%
Paying Article

July 23, 2024 8:15 AM UTC

Uncertainty over income and employment, adverse wealth effects from lower house prices, plus growing risk aversion, will likely mean that consumption continues to struggle. This is one of the key reasons why we forecast slower H2 GDP growth and look for 4% in 2025.

July 22, 2024

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China: Surprise 7 Day Reverse Repo Rate Cut
Freemium Article

July 22, 2024 8:41 AM UTC

China 10bps cut in the 7 day reverse repo rate and 1 and 5yr Loan Prime Rate (LPR) was sooner than expected, as a move had not been anticipated until the Fed cuts rates.  However, this is not the start of a new aggressive policy phase, but rather a tactical move given the targeted nature of easing.

July 15, 2024

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China: Retail Sales Drags Q2 GDP
Paying Article

July 15, 2024 7:33 AM UTC

We are revising down our 2024 GDP forecast from 4.9% to 4.7%, both due to the weaker than expected Q2 GDP figure but also the weak underlying momentum of consumption.  Some further targeted policy measures are likely in the coming months, but will struggle to lift economic momentum.

July 10, 2024

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China: Weak CPI and M2 Trends
Paying Article

July 10, 2024 7:27 AM UTC

China disinflation process is clear in the June CPI data, with excess production and soft consumer spending producing a lower than expected outcome.  Combined with weak M2 money growth, parts of China economy remain weak and point to a softening of GDP growth in H2.  However, policy action will li

July 02, 2024

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China: 3rd Plenum Incremental Not Game Changing
Paying Article

July 2, 2024 8:10 AM UTC

The 3 plenum July 15-18 will likely see some additional measures that will support or stimulate China economy.  However, they are unlikely to be game changers, such as a Yuan2-4trn program of buying most unsold homes or structural increase in the unemployment/health and pension safety nets to free

June 19, 2024

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China Outlook: 2024 on Track, but 2025 Headwinds
Paying Article

June 19, 2024 9:35 AM UTC

Public investment and industrial production in high tech and renewables are helping to support growth and should get the economy close to 5% in 2024.  However, underneath the surface, consumption is slowing, private sector investment and employment growth is sluggish, and residential property inves

June 17, 2024

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China Data: Mixed Momentum and No MTF Cut Until October
Paying Article

June 17, 2024 6:59 AM UTC

Overall the May data suggests that enough momentum exists for Q2 GDP to be above 5.0% Yr/Yr, which given the Q1 GDP figure means that the odds are good that the 2024 5.0% GDP target can be meet.  However, we see a softer of H2 GDP and 4.0% GDP in 2025, given weak domestic demand is unlikely to chan

June 12, 2024

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China CPI: Core Slows and 10bps June 17 MLF Cut?
Paying Article

June 12, 2024 7:34 AM UTC

 China disinflation is clear in the latest numbers for May, with core falling 0.2% on the month.  Further stimulus will likely arrive in the form of monetary easing.  While it is a close call, we look for a 10bps cut in the medium-term lending facility rate (MLF) from 2.50% on June 17.    

June 03, 2024

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China Finance Weakest Links: Small Banks and Property Finance
Paying Article

June 3, 2024 9:19 AM UTC

China authorities appear to have the financial stability spill over from the property sector until control currently, through a combination of direct support for housing and forced mergers of weak banks (mainly rural so far).  This game plan will likely be followed for the next few years. However,

May 17, 2024

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China: Lopsided Growth and New Housing Measures
Paying Article

May 17, 2024 6:54 AM UTC

Overall, the April industrial production suggests Q2 GDP should be reasonable, but weak retail sales suggests H2 2024 can be disappointing. We stick with a 4.6% forecast for 2024 GDP growth.    

May 15, 2024

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China: Too Much Debt In Some Sectors
Paying Article

May 15, 2024 9:55 AM UTC

While part of corporate debt is quasi government (SOE and LGFV’s) and China creditors can be pursued to rollover by the authorities for larger borrowers, households and part of the private sector are focused on the previous buildup of debt.  With China authorities reluctant to aggressive ease fis

May 13, 2024

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China RRR and Rate Cuts
Paying Article

May 13, 2024 7:54 AM UTC

The latest China money supply and lending figures show that private household and business lending is very subdued.  More need to be done to boost credit demand as well as credit supply.  However, the authorities desires to avoid too much Yuan weakness will likely mean that the next move is a 25bp

May 08, 2024

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China Equities: A Tactical Play
Paying Article

May 8, 2024 2:20 PM UTC

China equities can see a tactical bounce of 5-10% in the coming months.  Cheap valuations and  underweight global fund positions means that the scale of pessimism only has to get less bad on the economy and China authorities attitude towards businesses.  While we see a tactical opportunity, we do

May 03, 2024

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EMFX: Diverging On Domestic Forces Not Less Fed Easing Hopes
Paying Article

May 3, 2024 10:45 AM UTC

While U.S. economic developments, plus Fed policy prospects, will be important in terms of EM currency developments, domestic politics and fundamentals will also be decisive. These can keep the South Africa Rand volatile in the remainder of 2024, given the risk of a coalition government and African

May 02, 2024

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China Politburo: Help for Housing, But No Game changers
Paying Article

May 2, 2024 10:50 AM UTC

Politburo statement in late April suggests extra support for residential property.  However, we see this as being incremental rather than any game changers and we still see residential investment remaining a negative drag on 2024 GDP growth.

April 29, 2024

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China: Depreciation Rather Than Devaluation
Paying Article

April 29, 2024 1:00 PM UTC

We feel that a devaluation of the Yuan is unlikely in 2024, both to avoid potentially politically destabilizing capital outflows but also to avoid upsetting the next U.S. president.  Policy is geared more towards controlled depreciation to help competiveness but reduce other risks.  The Yuan has a

April 16, 2024

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China: Q1 Upside Surprise, but March Disappoints
Paying Article

April 16, 2024 8:33 AM UTC

Q1 GDP upside surprise was driven mainly by public sector investment.  With the government still to implement the Yuan 1trn of special sovereign bonds for infrastructure spending, public investment will likely remain a key driving force.  However, the breakdown of the March data show that retail s

March 20, 2024

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China Outlook: The Struggle to Hit 5% Growth
Paying Article

March 20, 2024 11:00 AM UTC

China’s 5% growth target will likely be tough to meet with residential property investment likely to knock 1.0-1.5% off GDP and net exports a small negative. With sluggish private investment, this means some of the old engines of growth are not firing.  Some additional fiscal stimulus will likely

March 18, 2024

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China: Unbalanced Growth
Paying Article

March 18, 2024 8:28 AM UTC

The February monthly data shows unbalanced growth.  Industrial production and public investment picked up, but retail sales slowed and residential property remains a negative drag on GDP.  While H1 GDP growth will be ok, it will likely slow in H2 and we still stick to a forecast of 4.4% for 2024 a

March 15, 2024

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China: No PBOC MTF Cut and Protesting Low Government Bond Yields
Paying Article

March 15, 2024 8:51 AM UTC

Bottom Line: The PBOC decided not to cut the Medium-Term Facility (MTF) rate, but surprised by also withdrawing liquidity in what looks like a protest at the recent decline in government bond yields.  A 10bps MTF cut should still arrive in Q2, but later rather than sooner.  

March 11, 2024

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China: Lunar New Year Boosts CPI, But Disinflation Still In Place
Paying Article

March 11, 2024 8:29 AM UTC

Bottom Line: February China CPI surged to +0.7% v -0.8% Yr/Yr due to three factors.  The late lunar New Year boosted CPI seasonally, while the good lunar New Year also boosted pork/food prices and travel prices.  The bounce is unlikely to be sustained and we see a fall back to 0.3-0.4% Yr/Yr in Ma

March 05, 2024

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China: 5% 2024 Goal Tough with L Shaped Residential Property
Paying Article

March 5, 2024 9:43 AM UTC

Bottom Line: China’s 5% growth target will likely be tough to meet with residential property investment likely to knock 1.0-1.5% off GDP and net exports a small negative. With sluggish private investment, this means the old engines of growth are not firing.  Some additionally fiscal stimulus will

March 04, 2024

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Taiwan Speaker Reduces China/Taiwan War Risk
Paying Article

March 4, 2024 10:30 AM UTC

Bottom Line: Taiwan new speaker, Han Kuo Yu, has a willingness to open dialogue with China. This does not stop China likely undertaking large scale military exercises in the spring around Taiwan, as it still seeks to pressure the incoming DPP president.  However, we see the new Taiwan speaker elect

February 28, 2024

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China: Authorities Views and Policy Changes
Paying Article

February 28, 2024 10:15 AM UTC

Bottom Line: China authorities leave the impression that further policy stimulus will likely be measured rather than aggressive.  We feel that they are not pessimistic enough on the medium-term hangover from the residential property sector and this is why we are downbeat on 2024 GDP growth and beyo

February 21, 2024

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China: Yuan Outflow Fears Versus Net Exports
Paying Article

February 21, 2024 11:00 AM UTC

Despite a still overvalued Yuan, China authorities are reluctant to accept too much Yuan weakness for fear of causing domestic capital outflows and discontent with China’s government. At some stage, if GDP growth surprises on the downside, China authorities could decide that a controlled Yuan decl

February 20, 2024

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China: 5yr LPR Cut But Not 1yr LPR
Paying Article

February 20, 2024 9:17 AM UTC

A larger than expected 25bps cut in the 5yr Loan Prime Rate (LPR) has been delivered, but the 1yr LPR rate was unchanged given that PBOC reluctance to cut the 1yr Medium-Term Facility rate (MTF) this month.  The 5yr LPR rate is not a game changer for residential property, as bigger policy moves are

February 13, 2024

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China: 5% or 4.5-5.0% Growth Target
Paying Article

February 13, 2024 10:34 AM UTC

Though economics would argue for a 4.5-5.0% growth target for 2024, politics will likely mean that a 5% growth target is chosen in March.  With the residential property overhang, weak net exports with a shift of global supply chains and sluggish private sector business investment growth, this will

January 17, 2024

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China: GDP 5.2% for 2023, but 2024 To Struggle
Paying Article

January 17, 2024 9:24 AM UTC

Quarterly GDP is interesting and came in at 1.0% after the 1.3% quarterly gain in Q3.  The trend in quarterly GDP (Figure 1) is also not consistent with 5% growth and the Yr/Yr will dip in Q1 2024 when the large gain in Q1 2023 drops out (due to the end of zero COVID policies).  We maintain the 4.

January 12, 2024

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China: January MTF and March RRR Cut?
Paying Article

January 12, 2024 9:25 AM UTC

Pressure is growing for a medium-term Facility rate cut and a high chance exists on a 10bps cut on either January or February 15 to 2.40%.  We also pencil in a PBOC RRR cut of 25bps for March. Currently negative inflation will swing positive, but only to 0.9% for 2024 and we also see GDP growth at

January 05, 2024

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China: Five Headwinds To Long Term Growth
Paying Article

January 5, 2024 9:00 AM UTC

The catch-up productivity argument would point towards 4-5% growth in China in the 2025-2030 period.  However, we are concerned that the residential property downturn and rewiring of global supply chains will be persistent headwinds for China GDP growth in the coming years and that the adverse popu

December 27, 2023

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USD Reserve Status: Slow Slippage
Freemium Article

December 27, 2023 1:23 PM UTC

Latest IMF COFER data shows that the USD reserve status is not slipping away quickly, but only slowly.  Two themes to watch in 2024 is the pace of China’s ongoing switch from U.S. Treasuries to other assets including gold and also G7 ideas of confiscating Russian FX reserves.  

December 15, 2023

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China Outlook: Headwinds To Growth
Paying Article

December 15, 2023 10:06 AM UTC

Bottom Line: Two of the normal drivers of China growth will continue to falter.  Residential property investment will be restrained by the overhang on unsold properties; weakness of property developers and a sceptical household sector.  Meanwhile, exports are being hurt by a shift of global supply

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China Data: Retail Sales and Industrial Production Diverge, but No PBOC Cut
Paying Article

December 15, 2023 7:48 AM UTC

With the Yr/Yr distorted upwards by the weakness in Q4 2022, the monthly fall of 0.1% in retail sales contrasts with a 0.9% rise in industrial production.  Though this is mixed in November, the domestic demand picture is the most crucial as industrial production growth is dependent on demand.  Thu

December 08, 2023

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2024 Policy Easing in China
Paying Article

December 8, 2023 3:52 PM UTC

Further policy easing from China's authorities is likely in 2024.