BEIJING | April 30, 2015 | Caixin Editorial | China’s stock market is on a roll, giving rise to a view that it could help revive the slowing economy. The two have an interesting relationship, and there are advantages and disadvantages to using the market to boost growth. Yet, in the current circumstances, the stock market will be hard pressed to perform that role.
The Corner | April 16, 2015 | For the first time since the beginning of the financial crisis, Japan overtook China as first holder of U.S. treasuries. Low rates and other monetary policy instruments carried out by Japan have prompted local investors to move their money to the US.
The Corner | April 13, 2015 | Current account deficit widens in France, but the euro zone’s second largest economy has retained its AA rating for the time being.
BEIJING | March 28, 2015 | By Zhang Yuzhe via Caixin | Alibaba is betting on biometrics as the next step for secure online financial transactions and bank account business.
A fourth wave of Chinese investors keen to explore growth opportunities is emerging, according to a recent report from the consultancy firm Knight Frank. And experts predict that the trend will grow further in the coming years, fostering greater synergies between Chinese real estate agents and overseas Chinese investors. The goals and strategies of this new investor are more diversified; with a special focus in new and secondary markets, and away from major cities such as London, New York. Countries like Spain and Portugal are able to provide additional perks, such as programmes through which investors can obtain residence permits.
BEIJING | March 13, 2015 | By Fan Bi via Caixin | The country has the second-most think tanks in the world, but their weak research reports are not much use to policymakers.
Iris Mir | China aims to recover the ancient Silk Road to create an unprecedented trade link between Asia and Europe. Least developed Chinese provinces would also benefit largely from the ‘one belt, one road’ project as Beijing will need to invest greatly in infrastructure and high-speed railways. Local governments see the project as a golden opportunity to revive stagnating growth.
ZURICH | UBS analysts | We expect reforms to accelerate in 2015. As the government moves toward systematic “rule by law” and the property downturn persists, more space will open up and pressure increase for economic reforms to accelerate. We see three themes for China’s reforms this year: growth support, risk containment and rebalancing. In other words, reforms that can unlock new sources of growth and bolster domestic demand, reduce economic and financial risks, or diminish/remove structural imbalances should advance most.
SHANGHAI | By Qi Bing via Caixin | The smooth opening of the Hu-Gang Tong, the Shanghai-Hong Kong bourse linkage, marked the entrance of the Chinese capital market to a new era and was a major global event. It follows on progress China has made in opening up its markets after joining the World Trade Organization, and will hopefully greatly boost the country’s economic and social reforms in the years to come.
Iris Mir | China’s real state market is cooling down. Rampant investment in the past few years has caused lingering oversupply and a drop in investment prices. Property developers suffer a very risky lack of liquidity and limited access to credit that prevents them from being able to repay previous loans. China’s real state sector represents a 15% of the national GDP; and it plays a crucial role in other sectors. The government is very keen on lending all the necessary support to maintain the speculative frenzy. But analysts believe that recent measures will not solve the structural problems of the housing market.