China Economics Update What should we make of the surge in Chinese investment? China’s reported fixed investment soared in May. But if the economy is doing so well, why did imports post an even steeper decline? 11th June 2009 · 1 min read
China Economics Update More signs that Asia’s recovery is taking its time The slight fall in China’s official PMI in May is actually fairly encouraging since the index usually falls by much more at this time of year. But Asia’s recovery is only gaining ground slowly, as... 1st June 2009 · 1 min read
China Economics Update Is investment spurring recovery in China? Chinese investment soared last month according to the official figures. Yet something doesn’t add up. Steel inventories stayed high, steel prices remained flat and sales of excavators have plummeted... 15th May 2009 · 1 min read
China Economics Update Slower loan growth good for China, bad for equities April’s sharp fall in the growth of lending in China could expose the degree to which credit growth has supported equities and broader sentiment. Slower loan growth tempers concerns about asset... 11th May 2009 · 1 min read
China Economics Update What should we make of China’s concerns over QE? China is concerned that widespread adoption of quantitative easing in major economies poses a threat to exchange rate stability. But we should be wary of jumping to conclusions on what this means for... 8th May 2009 · 1 min read
China Economics Update Asian recovery still needs deeper roots There was much to cheer in China’s latest PMI and April’s export data from Korea. But they are consistent with stabilisation rather than either economy springing rapidly back to life. 1st May 2009 · 1 min read
China Economics Update China stabilises, but recovery set to disappoint Growth may have bottomed out in the first quarter but with private sector and overseas demand still weak, China will not emerge from this downturn as rapidly as it went in. 16th April 2009 · 1 min read
China Economics Update Has China’s recovery begun? China’s official PMI rose above 50 in March. This is good news, but China’s economy is set for a tepid recovery at best. 2nd April 2009 · 1 min read
China Economics Update Have Chinese interest rates bottomed out? A surge in lending might increase the chances that Chinese interest rates remain on hold this year, but if the economy remains weak, as we expect, the People’s Bank will still be forced to cut again. 12th March 2009 · 1 min read
China Economics Update No new stimulus from China The renewed optimism about China’s prospects that had supported global equities earlier in the week could start to unravel on the back of today’s disappointing budget. 5th March 2009 · 1 min read
China Economics Update Seven key issues at China’s National People’s Congress China’s annual National People’s Congress (NPC) opens tomorrow with an address from Premier Wen Jiabao and the presentation of the government budget. Here are seven key issues to watch. 4th March 2009 · 1 min read
China Economics Update Is China shifting its investment strategy? The scale of China’s outward investment makes it a potentially powerful force in many markets, but also leaves China with few alternatives to foreign government debt for the bulk of its purchases. 26th February 2009 · 1 min read
China Economics Update Is China still the US Treasury’s best friend? The sustainability of China’s purchases of US Treasuries is once again being called into question. While the circumstances have shifted, much of the concern is familiar and still, we think, misguided. 4th February 2009 · 1 min read
China Economics Update Worse still to come in China Some glimmers of light in the monthly data from China are raising hopes that the world’s third largest economy may be through the worst after quarterly growth slumped in Q4. But we fear that incoming... 22nd January 2009 · 1 min read
China Economics Update China still suffering hot capital outflows Hot capital continues to flow out of China, although October’s flood has since diminished. This raises the chances of a modest renminbi depreciation against the dollar over the coming year. 13th January 2009 · 1 min read
China Economics Update Chinese exports fall off a cliff Local sources suggest that Chinese exports have experienced a sudden collapse. This may explain last week’s inter-day weakness in the renminbi. But the case for a sustained depreciation is still poor. 8th December 2008 · 1 min read