China Economics Update PBOC hints at move to tracking basket The People’s Bank appears to be shifting its management of the renminbi to tracking a currency basket rather than the dollar. While some will see this as cover for currency devaluation, we suspect the... 11th December 2015 · 1 min read
China Economics Update What to expect in 2016 Sentiment on China’s economic outlook remains downbeat with most anticipating a deeper downturn next year. In contrast, we think developments could surprise to the upside. 10th December 2015 · 1 min read
China Economics Update Broad price pressures set to rise Despite widespread concerns about deflation, consumer price inflation has remained within a narrow (positive) range over the course of this year. With credit growth rebounding and wage growth... 8th December 2015 · 1 min read
China Economics Update Fiscal deposit auctions could provide stimulus shot A report today suggesting that all local governments may soon be allowed to auction off their fiscal deposits deserves more attention than it has received. Such a move would have important... 4th December 2015 · 1 min read
China Economics Update Drag on growth from anti-graft measures easing Three years on, there is no sign that China’s anti-corruption campaign is being eased, but its drag on economic growth is fading. 4th December 2015 · 1 min read
China Economics Update Renminbi joining SDR basket won't increase demand The IMF has just confirmed that the renminbi will be added to its SDR basket. Thismay be of symbolic significance to some but we think it will make hardly anydifference to currency demand. In other... 30th November 2015 · 1 min read
China Economics Update Fiscal drag now turning to fiscal boost The debate about China’s economic outlook hinges on what caused growth to slow early in 2015. One of the main culprits, in our view, was fiscal policy, which tightened significantly in late-2014 and... 30th November 2015 · 1 min read
China Economics Update PBOC shifting monetary policy framework The main significance of today’s announcement by the People’s Bank (PBOC) that it is cutting standing lending facility (SLF) interest rates is that it is experimenting with a new monetary policy... 19th November 2015 · 4 mins read
China Economics Update SDR inclusion unlikely to boost renminbi demand The IMF’s decision to include the renminbi in the SDR basket will not directly increase demand for renminbi assets. The implicit endorsement of the renminbi as a reserve asset is unlikely to sway the... 16th November 2015 · 1 min read
China Economics Update Fading outflows ease pressure on renminbi Capital outflows from China appear to have eased while the trade surplus is at an all-time high. As a result, downward pressure on the renminbi has dissipated. We suspect, contrary to the analyst... 9th November 2015 · 1 min read
China Economics Update Deflation fears set to fade as broad price pressures rise Headline inflation is likely to have edged down in October due to a fall in food price inflation. But the bigger picture is that underlying price pressures appear to be picking up. Looking ahead, we... 5th November 2015 · 1 min read
China Economics Update The implications for China of deposit rate liberalisation When the PBOC cut benchmark interest rates late last month, it also removed the regulatory ceiling on banks’ deposit rates. This final step in liberalising interest rates came sooner than many had... 3rd November 2015 · 1 min read
China Economics Update Attention shifts to bonds as equities recover Chinese equities broke a four-month losing streak in October. Meanwhile, a contraction in spreads for corporate bonds has sparked fears that a bubble is building. But there is little that looks likely... 30th October 2015 · 1 min read
China Economics Update Plenum fails to resolve tension between reform and growth goals A communique released after the conclusion of the Fifth Plenum provides a glimpse at the contents of the upcoming Five-Year Plan. It suggests that policymakers are not wavering on their reform... 30th October 2015 · 1 min read
China Economics Update Abolition of one-child policy does not alter growth outlook The abolition of China’s controversial one-child policy may have grabbed plenty of headlines, but the economic impact of the move will be small. 29th October 2015 · 1 min read
China Economics Update Stimulus, plus a dash of reform The People’s Bank has delivered another jolt of stimulus in the form of cuts to both benchmark interest rates and the required reserve ratio. Deposit rates have also now been fully liberalised, an... 23rd October 2015 · 1 min read