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☆ General signs of stabilization in China except for the property sector, economist says
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailGeneral signs of stabilization in China except for the property sector, economist saysZhiwei Zhang, president and chief economist at Pinpoint Asset Management, says "we haven't seen any signs of stabilization" in the property sector.

Persons: Zhiwei Zhang Locations: China

☆ China economy: All-important property market shows no sign of rebound in new year
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New property sales reached a total of 1.06 trillion yuan ($147 billion) in the first two months of this year, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Monday. The drop also marks a much faster pace of decline from the year-ago period, when new property sales dipped just 0.1%. Property investment fell 9% in the January-to-February period, which was faster than the 5.7% decrease registered during the same period last year. “The correction in property construction is still in its early stages,” Capital Economics analysts said in a research note on Monday. The growth in factory output might be driven by strong exports demand.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, “, ”, Louise Loo, ” Loo, Zhiwei Zhang Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, National Bureau of Statistics, Capital, Catering, “, Oxford Economics Locations: China, Hong Kong

☆ China’s consumer inflation rate rises for first time in six months. But the holiday boost is likely to fade
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-11 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Hong Kong CNN —China’s consumer inflation turned positive for the first time in six months, largely supported by the Lunar New Year holiday, when a spending boom pushed up prices. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by 0.7% in February from a year earlier, government data showed on Saturday, versus a rise of 0.3% forecast in a Reuters poll. This was the first increase in the inflation rate since August 2023. Last Tuesday, Premier Li Qiang said the government had set this year’s growth target at around 5% and inflation target at 3%. But the key to growth and rising prices will be how Beijing implements its policy to stimulate demand and boost confidence, analysts said.

Persons: “, ”, Zhiwei Zhang, ” Nomura, Price, Li Qiang, Gongsheng, Zheng Shanjie Organizations: Hong Kong CNN —, Index, “, People’s Bank of China, Getty, National, ” Citi Locations: China, Hong Kong, Nanjing, Jiangsu province, Beijing

☆ Economist explains the gap between China's official PMI and Caixin numbers
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailEconomist explains the gap between China's official PMI and Caixin numbersZhiwei Zhang, president and chief economist at Pinpoint Asset Management, says "the survey done by Caixin may be more tilted towards the coastal area and private enterprises … whereas the official PMI is more broadly spread out over the country."

Persons: Zhang, Caixin Organizations: PMI

☆ China misses fourth-quarter GDP estimates, resumes posting youth unemployment data
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

BEIJING — China missed fourth-quarter GDP estimates on Wednesday, while it resumed reporting the unemployment rate for young people. GDP for the last three months of 2023 rose by 5.2%, according to China's National Bureau of Statistics. Excluding people still in school, the unemployment rate for young people aged 16 to 24 was 14.9%, while the rate in cities in December was 5.1%. Online retail sales of physical goods rose by 8.4%, accounting for nearly 28% of overall retail sales. Retail sales for December saw a 29% surge in jewelry and 26% increase in purchases of clothes and shoes.

Persons: Zhiwei Zhang Organizations: China Vanke Co, National Bureau of Statistics, Investment Locations: China, Hefei, BEIJING

☆ China's annual exports drop for the first time in seven years
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-12 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Aly Song | ReutersBEIJING — China's annual exports fell for the first time in seven years in 2023, even as shipments in December beat expectations, customs data showed Friday. But for 2023, exports fell 4.6%, the first such annual drop since a 7.7% decline in 2016, according to Wind Information. By country, the U.S. remained China's largest trading partner. Russia was a rare bright spot, with China's exports to the country climbing nearly 47% in 2023, and imports rising almost 13%. China's exports in most product categories fell in 2023, with machinery, boats and home appliances among the few exceptions.

Persons: Aly Song, Caixin, Larry Hu, Zhiwei Zhang Organizations: Reuters, Information, of Southeast, Nations, European Union, U.S ., China, National Bureau, Statistics Locations: Yangshan, Shanghai, China, Reuters BEIJING, U.S, Russia

☆ China PMI: Factory activity unexpectedly contracts in October as demand drops
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN —China’s massive manufacturing sector has contracted once again amid weak demand, fueling calls for stronger policy support to boost growth. Fewer working days in October due to the Golden Week holiday, which spanned September 29 to October 6, affected the manufacturing PMI, according to the NBS. “The unexpected decline of manufacturing PMI shows the recovery in China is a bumpy road as domestic demand is still quite weak,” said Zhiwei Zhang, president and chief economist for Pinpoint Asset Management. The NBS survey showed that new factory orders declined in October from the previous month, pointing to a drop in demand. Overall, “the weak PMI reinforces the case for stronger fiscal policy support,” Zhang said.

Persons: ”, Zhiwei Zhang, ” Zhang, Xi Jinping, “, Zhaopeng Xing Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, National Bureau of Statistics, PMI, Nomura, Authorities, ANZ Research, Bank of Locations: Hong Kong, China, Beijing, Hangzhou, Liuzhou, Bank of China

☆ China signals more support for struggling local governments
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Future Publishing | Future Publishing | Getty ImagesBEIJING — China on Tuesday took steps toward easing financing conditions for local governments, which have been at the crux of recent economic difficulties. The central government said it formalized a process allowing local governments to borrow funds for the year ahead — starting in the preceding fourth quarter, according to an announcement published by state media. The measure was adopted at a meeting of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, according to state media. The move helps stabilize fiscal policy, said Xu Hongcai, deputy director of the Economics Policy Commission at the China Association of Policy Science. On Tuesday, Chinese authorities also announced the issuance of 1 trillion yuan ($137 billion) in government bonds for natural disaster relief, according to state media.

Persons: —, Xu Hongcai, Zhiwei Zhang Organizations: Workers, Future Publishing, Getty, State Council, National, China Association of Policy, CNBC, International Monetary Fund, IMF, Xinhua Locations: Suzhou, China's Jiangsu, BEIJING, China

ON TRACK FOR GOVT GDP TARGETThe recovery momentum suggests the government's full year 2023 growth target of around 5.0% is likely to be achieved. The key issue is what growth target the government will set and how much fiscal easing will take place." The statistics bureau said China would be able to hit the 2023 growth target if the fourth quarter growth tops 4.4%. Moody's Analytics has also raised its 2023 growth projection to 5% from 4.9%. The faltering property sector has hit some of the biggest developers in the country.

Persons: Matt Simpson, Zhiwei Zhang, Tingshu Wang, Frederic Neumann, Louise Loo, Ellen Zhang, Joe Cash, Kevin Yao, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: Gross, National Bureau, Statistics, Reuters, Index, New, REUTERS, Nomura, JPMorgan, Analysts, Country Garden Holdings, HK, Global Research, HSBC, Oxford Economics, Monetary Fund, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, Brisbane, U.S, Beijing, China, New Zealand, Asia

☆ China's Q3 GDP growth, Sept activity show economic recovery gaining momentum
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

On a quarter-by-quarter basis, GDP grew 1.3% in the third quarter, accelerating from a revised 0.5% in the second quarter and above the forecast for growth of 1.0%. "It seems that all of that stimulus is finally beginning to take effect, with a broad beat from growth, retail sales, industrial production and unemployment," said Matt Simpson, senior market analyst at City Index in Brisbane. The economy faltered in the second quarter after a brief post-COVID recovery, dragged by a property downturn and huge debt due to a decades-long infrastructure binge. The recovery momentum suggests the government's full year 2023 growth target of around 5.0% is likely to be achieved. Growth of retail sales, a gauge of consumption, also beat expectations, rising 5.5% last month, and accelerating from a 4.6% increase in August.

Persons: Tingshu Wang, Matt Simpson, Zhiwei Zhang, Ellen Zhang, Joe Cash, Kevin Yao, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: REUTERS, Gross, National Bureau, Statistics, Index, Analysts, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, BEIJING, Brisbane

☆ China's consumer prices stall, factory deflation persists
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Oct 13 (Reuters) - China's consumer prices faltered and factory-gate prices shrank slightly faster than expected in September, with both indicators showing persistent deflationary pressures in the world's second-largest economy. "The damage from the property sector slowdown on consumer confidence continues to weigh on household demand." Food prices dropped 3.2% from a year earlier, extending a decline by 1.5 percentage points from August and dragging down the CPI. While signs are emerging that China's economy is stabilising, concerns over the sustainability of the recovery persist. China's property sector has yet to emerge from a deep slump despite a raft of policy support measures.

Persons: Tingshu Wang, Economists, Zhiwei Zhang, Qiaoyi Li, Ellen Zhang, Ryan Woo, Sam Holmes Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, National Bureau of Statistics, Reuters Graphics, CPI, IMF, Central Huijin Investment, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Rights BEIJING

☆ CNBC Daily Open: Inflation reports take center stage
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Shreyashi Sanyal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

In this article JPMCWFCGOOGL Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNTA pedestrian passes a Wall Street subway station near the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, U.S., on Monday, June 27, 2022. Photographer: Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesThis report is from today's CNBC Daily Open, our new, international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. This pushed U.S. markets lower, renewing fears of what lies next for the Federal Reserve, which has stuck to its goal of 2% inflation. Investors may now want to take a deep breath to brace themselves before the barrage of earnings reports take markets by storm.

Persons: Michael Nagle, Steven Blitz, Zhiwei Zhang Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, Bloomberg, Getty Images Bloomberg, Getty, CNBC, Labor Department, Federal Reserve, GlobalData, JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, Wells, Bank Locations: New York, U.S

An employee works on the production line at Jingjin filter press factory in Dezhou, Shandong province, China August 25, 2022. China's non-manufacturing PMI, which incorporates sub-indexes for service sector activity and construction, also rose, coming in at 51.7 versus August's 51.0. PROPERTY RISKSMore stable economic indicators will be welcomed by policymakers as they continue to grapple with a property sector debt crisis that has rattled global markets. Analysts say more policy support will be needed to ensure China's economy can hit the government's growth target of about 5% this year. "China's economy stabilised partly driven by the loosening of property sector policies," said Zhiwei Zhang, chief economist of Pinpoint Asset Management.

Persons: Siyi Liu, Zhou Hao, Zhiwei Zhang, Ryan Woo, Tina Qiao, Joe Cash, Michael Perry, William Mallard Organizations: REUTERS, National Bureau of Statistics, PMI, Guotai, China Evergrande, HK, Asian Development Bank, Analysts, Thomson Locations: Dezhou, Shandong province, China, BEIJING

☆ Reaction to China inflation data
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Below are comments from analysts on the inflation data:XING ZHAOPENG, SENIOR CHINA STRATEGIST, ANZ, SHANGHAI"Both CPI and PPI in year-on-year terms fell into negative territory and confirmed economic deflation. "With destocking and credit expansion, we expect PPI and CPI will rebound from the bottom in the fourth quarter. The CPI deflation may put more pressure on the government to consider additional fiscal stimulus to mitigate the challenge." XIA CHUN, CHIEF ECONOMIST, YINTECH INVESTMENT HOLDINGS, HONG KONG"The lower inflation data reflects weak demand on the mainland, which is biggest challenge facing China's economy. It also shows China's slower-than-expected economic rebound is not strong enough to offer the weaker global demand and lift commodity prices."

Persons: XING ZHAOPENG, CHUAN, FRANCES CHEUNG, Rather, ZHIWEI ZHANG, MARCO SUN, XIA CHUN, GARY NG, Liangping Gao, Ellen Zhang, Winni Zhou, Samuel Shen, Li Gu, Sam Holmes Organizations: ANZ, CPI, PPI, OCBC, SHANGHAI, MUFG BANK, ASIA PACIFIC, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, CHINA, SHANGHAI, China, SINGAPORE, HONG KONG, Japan, Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong

☆ China's consumer prices fall for the first time in 2 years, as fears of deflation grow
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The consumer price index fell by 0.3% in July from a year ago, but was up by 0.2% when compared with June, according to the National Bureau of Statistics Wednesday. The year-on-year CPI print for July was slightly better than expectations for a 0.4% decline, according to analysts polled by Reuters. It was still the first year-on-year decline since early 2021, according to official data accessed via Wind Information. The producer price index fell by 4.4% in July from a year ago, better than the 5.4% decline in June, the data showed. However, the year-on-year PPI read was worse than the 4.1% forecast by a Reuters poll.

Persons: Zhiwei Zhang Organizations: National Bureau, Statistics, Reuters, Information, CPI, PPI Locations: BEIJING, China

☆ Instant View: China's Q2 GDP growth slows to 0.8% q/q, raises stimulus expectations
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +11 min

"Consumers are not spending, mainly driven by the bleak outlook for the property market. Disappointing retail numbers and property market sales show it doesn't seem that the boost from rate cuts is sufficient. ..the property market is beginning another slowdown - the government will have to come up with more stimulus for property." "Nonetheless, we think more stimulus is required to stabilise and restore confidence in the property market." ZHIWEI ZHANG, CHIEF ECONOMIST, PINPOINT ASSET MANAGEMENT, HONG KONG"Nominal GDP growth turns out to be lower than real GDP growth in Q2, the first time since comparable data are available in Q4 2016.

Persons: CHRISTOPHER WONG, LOUIS KUIJS, CAROL KONG, XING ZHAOPENG, KEN CHEUNG, ALVIN TAN, VISHNU VARATHAN, MARCO SUN, CHEN, TONY SYCAMORE, ZHIWEI ZHANG, JING LIU Organizations: Gross, National Bureau, Statistics, Shanghai, NBS, BANK OF, ANZ, MIZUHO BANK, OF, OF ASIA FX, RBC, MUFG BANK, IG, SYDNEY, Friday's, BANK OF SINGAPORE, HSBC, stoke, Authorities, Reuters, U.S, Thomson Locations: U.S, SINGAPORE, ASIA, HONG KONG, SYDNEY, CHINA, SHANGHAI, OF ASIA, China

BEIJING, July 13 (Reuters) - China's exports contracted last month at their fastest pace since the onset three years ago of the COVID-19 pandemic, as an ailing global economy puts mounting pressure on Chinese policymakers for fresh stimulus measures. Momentum in China's post-pandemic recovery has slowed after a brisk pickup in the first quarter, with analysts now downgrading their projections for the economy for the rest of the year as factory output slows in the face of persistently weak global demand. Outbound shipments from the world's second-largest economy slumped a worse-than-expected 12.4% year-on-year in June, data from China's Customs Bureau showed on Thursday, following a drop of 7.5% in May. Imports contracted 6.8%, steeper than an expected 4.0% decline and the previous month's 4.5% fall. With exports accounting for about one-fifth of the economy and the troubled property sector for about one-third, China's prospects have dimmed for a quick recovery after COVID-related lockdowns battered the economy in 2022.

Persons: Zichun Huang, Xu Tianchen, Li Qiang, Zhiwei Zhang, Joe Cash, Ellen Zhang, Edmund Klamann Organizations: Customs, . Imports, Reuters, Capital Economics, Administration of Customs, Exports, Economist Intelligence Unit, Management, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, China, Beijing, United States, Russia

☆ U.S.-China ties are 'getting a little bit better' overall, despite Beijing's metals export curbs
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailU.S.-China ties are 'getting a little bit better' overall, despite Beijing's metals export curbsZhiwei Zhang of Pinpoint Asset Management says the overall trend shows that relations between U.S. and China are 'getting a little bit better' with Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen's planned trip to China ahead, even though Beijing just restricted export on chipmaking metals.

Persons: Janet Yellen's Organizations: U.S Locations: China, Beijing

BEIJING, June 30 (Reuters) - China's manufacturing activity contracted for a third straight month in June, albeit at a slower pace, an official factory survey showed on Friday, as pressure builds for policymakers to release more stimulus to shore up weak demand. "Economic momentum is still quite weak in China," said Zhiwei Zhang, president and chief economist at Pinpoint Asset Management in a note. "It is not clear if the weak economic data would push the government to launch aggressive stimulus measures soon," he added. The official non-manufacturing PMI fell to 53.2 from 54.50 in May, indicating a slowdown in service sector activity and construction. The composite PMI, which includes both manufacturing and non-manufacturing activity, dropped to 52.3 from 52.9.

Persons: Zhiwei Zhang, Nomura, Li Qiang, Joe Cash, Sam Holmes Organizations: . Services, National Bureau, Statistics, Reuters, PMI, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, China, Tianjin, Beijing

Retail sales - a key gauge of consumer confidence - rose 12.7%, missing forecasts of 13.6% growth and slowing from April's 18.4%. Data ranging from factory surveys and trade to loan growth and home sales have shown signs of weakness for the world's second-biggest economy. China's stock markets rose after the rates cut, with the benchmark CSI 300 gaining 0.6% in early trade, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index climbed 1.2%. The sector is expected to grapple with "persistent weakness" for years, dragging on economic growth, Goldman Sachs analysts said this week. The country's biggest banks recently cut their deposit rates to ease pressure on profit margins and encourage savers to spend more.

Persons: China's, Zhiwei Zhang, Bruce Pang, Jones Lang LaSalle, Pang, Hong, Julian Evans, Pritchard, Yi, Goldman Sachs, Albee Zhang, Sam Holmes Organizations: National Bureau of Statistics, Jones, CSI, Capital Economics, Investment, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, Beijing, China, outflows

Economists polled by Reuters had expected new yuan loans would jump to 1.6 trillion yuan last month, versus 718.8 billion yuan in April and against 1.89 trillion yuan a year earlier. Outstanding yuan loans in May grew 11.4% on year compared with 11.8% growth the previous month. Household loans including mortgages were up 367.2 billion yuan in May, versus a contraction of 241.1 billion yuan in April. Corporate loans rose to 855.8 billion yuan in May from 683.9 billion yuan in April, central bank data showed. In May, TSF rose to 1.56 trillion yuan from 1.22 trillion yuan in April.

Persons: Zhiwei Zhang, Yi Gang, Nomura, TSF, Qiaoyi Li, Judy Hua, Kevin Yao, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: People's Bank of China, Reuters, PMI, Capital, Analysts, U.S, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, Shanghai, Beijing, U.S . Federal, TSF

☆ China's producer prices plunge the most in seven years as deflation hangs over economy
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( Jihye Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

People walk past buildings in Shanghai, Shanghai, China, on Friday, April 21, 2023. Producer price index in May fell 4.6%, marking the steepest year-on-year drop in seven years, when producer prices saw a year-on-year drop of 7.2% in May 2016. China's low consumer inflation and deflation in its producer prices come in contrast to relatively high inflation in major economies around the world. The mining and raw material industries led declines in producer prices, while food, tobacco and alcohol prices led consumer price gains, the data showed. Nearing bottomDespite the softness in the latest price indexes, one China market watcher seemed to be holding on to an optimistic "long China" call.

Persons: Zhiwei Zhang, Zhang, Andrew Maynard of Organizations: Bloomberg, Getty, Reuters, CPI, U.S . Federal Reserve, U.S ., CSI, China's National Bureau, Statistics Locations: Shanghai, China, Canada, Australia, Shenzhen, Andrew Maynard of China

BEIJING, June 9 (Reuters) - China's factory gate prices fell at the fastest pace in seven years in May and quicker than forecasts, as faltering demand weighed on a slowing manufacturing sector and cast a cloud over the fragile economic recovery. "The risk of deflation is still weighing on the economy," said Zhiwei Zhang, chief economist at Pinpoint Asset Management, in a note. China's economy grew faster than expected in the first quarter, but recent indicators show demand is rapidly weakening with exports, imports and factory activity falling in May. Food price inflation, a key driver of CPI, slowed to 1.0% year-on-year from 2.4% in the previous month. On a month-on-month basis, food prices fell 0.7%.

Persons: Zhiwei Zhang, Julian Evans, Pritchard, Dan Wang, Joe Cash, Sam Holmes Organizations: National Bureau of Statistics, Australia, Reuters, Capital Economics, Hang Seng Bank China, Bank of China, China's, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, United States, Europe, China

☆ China's big banks cut deposit rates, signaling monetary easing ahead
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesBEIJING — China's largest banks cut interest rates for savers on Thursday in a bid to boost growth in an economy where consumption has been slow to recover. The country's six state-owned commercial banks' websites all showed updated yuan-denominated demand deposit interest rates of 0.2%, down from 0.25% last year, according to CNBC checks. The banks cut rates for other deposit products, including reducing the interest rate for five-year time deposits to 2.5% from 2.65%, according to their websites. The state-run Securities Times reported the deposit rate cuts in the Thursday edition of the newspaper. However, it's not a given that lower deposit rates will translate immediately into greater spending.

Persons: Nomura, Ting Lu, Zhang, it's Organizations: of, Bloomberg, Getty, BEIJING, CNBC, Securities Times, People's Bank of China, China, Management Locations: of China, China, Shanghai

Imports contracted at a slower pace, dropping 4.5%, a slower pace of decline 7.9% than the previous month. The Australian dollar , a commodity currency that is highly sensitive to swings in Chinese demand, fell after the trade data. "The weak exports confirm that China needs to rely on domestic demand as global economy slows," said Zhiwei Zhang, chief economist at Pinpoint Asset Management. "There is more pressure for the government to boost domestic consumption in the rest of the year, as global demand will likely weaken further in the second half." The PMI subindexes showed factory output swung to contraction from expansion while new orders, including new exports, fell for a second month.

Persons: Zhiwei Zhang, Joe Cash, Sam Holmes Organizations: Imports, Reuters, PMI, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, China

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