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☆ Global trade: China's economy suffers new blow as exports drop 14% in July
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN —China’s exports suffered their biggest drop in more than three years in July as global demand slowed, adding further pressure on Beijing to find ways to reinvigorate the world’s second largest economy. For the first seven months of the year, China’s exports decreased 5% from a year earlier. But since last October, those shipments have shrunk as surging inflation and rising interest rates dampen global demand. Weakening exports deal a fresh blow to the Chinese economy, which lost momentum recently after a strong start to the year. The weak trade figures and lower yuan fixing triggered a drop in the Chinese currency in foreign exchange markets.

Persons: ”, Justin Sullivan, Ken Cheung Organizations: Hong Kong CNN —, Capital Economics, Port, Getty, Exports, Analysts, People’s Bank of China, Mizuho Bank, “ Locations: Hong Kong, Beijing, United States, Port of Oakland, Oakland , California, China

☆ China real estate: Home sales by top 100 developers plunged further in July
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The drop in new home sales in China is the steepest monthly decline since July 2022. For the first seven months of this year, new home sales by the 100 developers fell 4.7% from a year earlier. China’s huge property industry was long an important engine of economic growth, accounting for as much as 30% of the country’s GDP. As a result China’s property industry has been mired in a historic downturn in the past two years. And late last year Beijing unveiled a 16-point plan to ease a liquidity crisis in the real estate sector.

Persons: —, …, ”, Nomura, “, Li Qiang, ” Nomura Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, China’s, Hong, Estate Information Corp, People’s Bank of Locations: Hong Kong, China, Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, People’s Bank of China

☆ Pan Gongsheng: China's new central bank governor faces daunting tasks
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Hong Kong CNN —China has a new central bank governor. He replaced Yi Gang, who took office in March 2018, when China’s longest-serving central banker Zhou Xiaochuan stepped down after a 15-year tenure. He was previously a deputy governor of the PBOC and has served as head of China’s foreign exchange regulator since 2016, managing currency reserves worth $3.18 trillion. In China’s political system, the Communist Party boss is usually the top official in the relevant organization, be it a level of government or a public institution. In March, Beijing created a powerful financial watchdog run by the Communist Party, named the Central Financial Commission, as part of a broad reform of governing bodies to strengthen the party’s oversight of economic affairs.

Persons: Pan Gongsheng, Yi Gang, Zhou Xiaochuan, Xi Jinping, Xi, ”, Ken Cheung, Zhou Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, People’s Bank of China, Communist Party, Renmin University of China, Cambridge University, Harvard University, Xinhua, Mizuho Bank, Central Financial Commission, Financial Regulatory Locations: Hong Kong, China, Beijing

☆ China’s New Central Banker Once Fixed a Crisis. He May Need to Again.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( Keith Bradsher | More About Keith Bradsher | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

For nearly eight years Pan Gongsheng has overseen one of the world’s biggest pots of money: China’s $3 trillion in foreign currency reserves. Now he will run the country’s central bank, playing an even more powerful role in the Chinese economy. Mr. Pan, a prominent economist, was named on Tuesday as governor of the central bank, the People’s Bank of China. The appointment of Mr. Pan comes at a delicate time for China. Foreign currency reserves are effectively a country’s emergency fund to be used at times of financial stress.

Persons: Pan Gongsheng, Pan, Mr Organizations: People’s Bank of China, bank’s Communist Party, Administration of Foreign Exchange Locations: China, bank’s

☆ Alipay and WeChat Pay now accept Visa and Mastercard for all payments in China
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The move marks a revival of efforts by Alipay and WeChat Pay to accept foreign credit cards after they provided some limited access in late 2019. WeChat Pay is officially known as Weixin Pay in China. Alipay and WeChat Pay are dominant in digital payment services, accounting for a combined 91% market share. In 2019, Alipay and WeChat started allowing the use of foreign credit cards on their apps as Chinese regulators eased restrictions. A week later, an executive from Tencent said at a forum that the company would open wider its WeChat Pay system to international card organizations, such as Visa, starting in July.

Persons: Alipay, WeChat, ” Dennis Chang, Tencent, ”, Chen Qiru Organizations: Hong Kong CNN —, Mastercard, Ant Group, Visa, Club, Discover, World, Hangzhou, Alibaba, JCB, Greater China, “, Tencent Financial Technology, ”, People’s Bank of Locations: Hong Kong, China, Beijing, Chengdu, Hangzhou, Tianjin, People’s Bank of China

☆ China Keeps Benchmark Lending Rates Unchanged
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

China’s benchmark lending rates were kept unchanged, as expected on Thursday, following a hold of policy rates earlier this month. However, economists say Beijing will need to ramp up support to shore up the country’s sputtering economy. The one-year loan prime rate was held steady at 3.55%, while the five-year LPR was unchanged at 4.2%, the People’s Bank of China said. The loan prime rates are calculated monthly based on the interest rates which 18 designated commercial banks charge their best clients. Thursday’s...

Organizations: People’s Bank of Locations: Beijing, People’s Bank of China

☆ China extends some policies to support its troubled property market
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Juliana Liu | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Hong Kong CNN —China has extended some policies to bolster its ailing property market, as the country struggles to reignite economic growth. Larry Hu, chief China economist at Macquarie Group, wrote in a research note that the extension of policies on two types of loans were meant to encourage commercial banks to increase their exposure to the property sector. “[This] move will help restore confidence and bring much-needed liquidity into the property supply chain, with beneficial effects on short-term confidence,” he said. The property market is still in the midst of a historic downturn. To bolster growth, the People’s Bank of China cut its main benchmark lending rates in June for the first time in 10 months.

Persons: Larry Hu, ”, ” Stephen Innes Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, National Financial Regulatory Administration, Macquarie Group, Management, Beijing, People’s Bank of China Locations: Hong Kong, China, China’s

During her first day of meetings in Beijing, Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen criticized punitive measures the Chinese government has taken against American firms. I’ve made clear that the United States does not seek a wholesale separation of our economies. Ms. Yellen conveyed her objections to China’s top officials, including Premier Li Qiang, in what was the first visit to China by a Treasury secretary in four years. A Treasury Department official said Ms. Yellen had discussed the outlook for the economy in an informal discussion with her former counterparts that lasted more than an hour. “The United States will, in certain circumstances, need to pursue targeted actions to protect its national security,” Ms. Yellen said.

Persons: Janet L, Yellen, I’ve, Biden, Yellen’s, Li Qiang, Ms, “ I’ve, Mark Schiefelbein, Wang Yong, Wang, ”, Shi Yinhong, “, China’s, Michael Hart, “ We’ve, Mr, Hart, Liu He, Yi Gang, Li, Li’s, ” Claire Fu, Christopher Buckley Organizations: U.S, American Chamber of Commerce, Boeing, Bank of America, Cargill, Group, Bain & Company, Beijing, Biden, of, People, ., Center for American Studies, Peking University, “, Renmin University, U.S . State Department, Chamber of Commerce, Treasury, People’s Bank of China, Treasury Department Locations: Beijing, United States, China, American, Shanghai, U.S, States

Taipei/London CNN —China’s top financial regulators have fined Ant Group — the fintech firm founded by billionaire Jack Ma — about 7.1 billion yuan ($994 million) for breaking rules related to consumer protection and corporate governance. “We will comply with the terms of the penalty in all earnestness and sincerity and continue to further enhance our compliance governance,” Ant Group said in a statement. Ant Group is an affiliate of e-commerce giant Alibaba, which was also founded by Ma. In April 2021, Alibaba was fined 18.2 billion yuan ($2.5 billion) — a record for China — for behaving like a monopoly. Separately, China’s financial regulators also announced a fine of nearly 3 billion yuan ($415 million) for Tenpay, Tencent’s (TCEHY) online payment platform, according to information posted on the PBOC website on Friday.

Persons: London CNN —, Jack Ma —, Alibaba, Guo Shuqing, Ma Organizations: London CNN, Ant, China Securities Regulatory Commission, People’s Bank of China, National Financial Regulatory Administration, Ma, Communist Party, China, People’s Bank of, Xinhua, Ant Group Locations: Taipei, London, China, People’s Bank of China

CNN —US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen arrived in Beijing Thursday ahead of high-stakes meetings with senior Chinese officials. The treasury secretary intends “to talk about the bilateral economic relationship, raise issues of concern, and discuss ways we can work together on global challenges” during her meeting with Li, a senior Treasury official told reporters traveling with Yellen. On Friday, Yellen will also meet with her former counterpart, Liu He, in what the Treasury official said could be “seen as a meeting of old friends.”“They were former counterparts. I will say that definitively,” the official told reporters. Yellen will be in China until July 9, according to the Department of the Treasury.

Persons: Janet Yellen, Yellen, China’s Premier Li Qiang, Xi Jinping, “, ”, Li, Liu He, They’ve, Zhou Xiaochuan, Joe Biden’s “, Xi Organizations: CNN, China’s Premier, Treasury, Yellen, People’s Bank of China, Treasury Department, Department of, Biden Locations: Beijing, China, PRC

☆ China plays it safe with new central bank chief
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, July 3 (Reuters Breakingviews) - The new boss of the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) is probably a relief to those anxiously watching the future of the most meritocratic regulator in the country. The ruling Communist Party on Saturday appointed Pan Gongsheng, who has been deputy governor for the past 11 years, as party secretary – the de facto boss that supervises the institution. The Wall Street Journal said that would be a prelude to Pan becoming governor next, citing unnamed sources. The appointment of Pan, who has since 2015 also run the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE), is a surprise. It’s unlikely Pan will deviate much from the current monetary policy trajectories, even if he helms both the party secretary and governor roles.

Persons: Pan Gongsheng, –, Pan, Yi Gang, helms, Yawen Chen, ’, George Hay, Pranav Kiran Organizations: Reuters, People’s Bank of China, Communist Party, Saturday, Street Journal, State Administration of Foreign Exchange, Committee, Cambridge, Harvard, Agricultural Bank of China, U.S ., Twitter, KKR, Thomson Locations: United States, Hong Kong, Shanghai, China

Pan Gongsheng was appointed Saturday as the new Communist Party chief at the People’s Bank of China (PBOC), in a surprise move as Beijing bolsters its drive to arrest the country’s economic slowdown and stem a slide in its currency. Pan currently serves as the deputy governor of the PBOC. “My initial reaction is this suggests Xi [Jinping] is more concerned about China’s economy than before the 20th Party Congress,” Thomas said. Since then, he has spent nearly two decades working at large state-owned banks, including the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) and the Agricultural Bank of China (ABC). After returning to China, he was promoted to deputy governor at the PBOC in 2012.

Persons: Yi Gang, Pan Gongsheng, Janet Yellen, Pan, Yi, didn’t, Guo Shuqing, Neil Thomas, wasn’t, ” Thomas, Xi, Mao, Thomas, China’s, Biden, ” Organizations: Beijing CNN, Cambridge University, Harvard University, Communist Party, People’s Bank of China, Securities Times, CNN, Ant, Asia Society, Center for, Communist Party’s, Committee, 20th Party Congress, Wall Street Journal, Treasury Department, Renmin University of China, Industrial, Commercial Bank of China, Agricultural Bank of China, ABC, Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, State Administration of Foreign Exchange, Beijing, P Global, PMI Locations: Hong Kong, Beijing, China, Shanghai, Center for China, United States, West

☆ Dollar holds near 7-month high vs yen on policy split; Swedish crown record low
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( Samuel Indyk | Kevin Buckland | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Japanese yen and U.S. dollar banknotes are seen in this illustration picture taken June 15, 2022. The ministry of finance and BOJ intervened in the currency market last autumn when the dollar strengthened beyond 145 yen. “They’re expressing confidence that a faster rate of QT is going to deliver a stronger crown and I think that’s a bit unproven,” ING’s Turner said. The dollar added 0.1% to 7.2492 yuan in the offshore market, taking it close to the previous day’s 7-1/2-month low of 7.2694. The Russian rouble weakened past 87 against the dollar to a 15-month low, hampered by domestic political risk concerns after an aborted mutiny over the weekend.

Persons: Florence Lo, Jerome Powell, Kazuo Ueda, Ueda, “, BOJ, ”, Chris Turner, ING’s Turner, hasn’t, Russian rouble Organizations: U.S, REUTERS, Bank of Japan, ING, Reuters, People’s Bank of, Citi Locations: U.S, there’s, Spain, tomorrow’s, North Rhine Westphalia, Germany’s, People’s Bank of China, Russian

☆ Asia shares fall on China's modest rate cut
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( Selena Li | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

HONG KONG, June 20 (Reuters) - Stocks in Asia fell on Tuesday as investors worried China's latest rate cut was not enough to boost confidence in the weakening economy and awaited a wider stimulus package by Beijing. China, in a highly anticipated move, cut two key benchmark lending rates for the first time in 10 months on Tuesday, with its one-year loan prime rate (LPR) lowered by 10 basis points to 3.55% and the five-year LPR cut by the same margin to 4.20%. "I don't think they (the LPR cuts) are going to move the needle at all," said Redmond Wong, Greater China market strategist at Saxo Markets. He said a 15 basis-point cut would be a "stronger message" to boost China's property sector. The People’s Bank of China lowered the medium-term lending facility rate on Thursday last week.

Persons: China's, Redmond Wong, Xi, Rodrigo Catril, Goldman Sachs, Antony Blinken, Saxo's Wong, Brent, Selena Li, Sonali Paul Organizations: CSI, Saxo Markets, People’s Bank of, National Australia Bank Senior, U.S, Japan's Nikkei, Treasury, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, Asia, Beijing, China, Pacific, Japan, U.S, Greater China, People’s Bank of China, United States, Hong Kong

☆ China cuts loan prime rate as economic recovery fizzles out
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The rate cuts come as Wall Street banks, including Goldman Sachs, slash their forecasts for China’s economy. The People’s Bank of China on Tuesday trimmed its one-year loan prime rate (LPR) by 10 basis points from 3.65% to 3.55%, and reduced the five-year rate by the same margin to 4.2%. This is the first time the PBOC has cut both LPR rates since August 2022, when renewed Covid lockdowns and a deepening property downturn were pummeling the economy. “The 10 bps rate cut[s] are unlikely to stimulate business confidence and housing demand,” said Ken Cheung, chief Asian foreign exchange strategist at Mizuho Bank. Hong Kong and mainland Chinese stocks slid after Tuesday’s rate cuts.

Persons: Goldman Sachs, Goldman, Covid, ”, Ken Cheung, “, ” Goldman Sachs, Fu Linghui Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, People’s Bank of China, Mizuho Bank, Shanghai, National Bureau, Statistics, NBS Locations: Hong Kong, Beijing

☆ China Cuts Key Interest Rates, Hoping to Kick-Start Flagging Economy
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-19 | by ( Keith Bradsher | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

China’s central bank cut key interest rates on Tuesday for loans issued by the state-controlled banking system, in the clearest sign yet of mounting concern in the Chinese government and corporate sector that the country’s economy is stalling. The interest rate cut was small — a tenth of a percentage point for the country’s benchmark one-year and five-year interest rates for loans. But because almost all of the country’s corporate lending and mortgages are linked to the two rates, the reductions could have some effect on the overall pace of economic growth. The move by the central bank, the People’s Bank of China, puts China at odds with policies in the West. The European Central Bank has also been pushing up interest rates in response to inflation.

Organizations: People’s Bank of China, Federal Reserve, European Central Bank Locations: China, West

☆ Chinese Stocks, Yuan Rise After Central-Bank Rate Cut
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

China’s central bank lowered a key interest rate on Thursday, as a raft of data made clear that the world’s second-largest economy is struggling to return to health. The People’s Bank of China reduced the one-year medium-term lending facility rate by 0.1 percentage point, bringing it to 2.65% on Thursday. The cut was widely expected before this week, and became even more likely after the central bank reduced its reverse-repo rate.

Organizations: People’s Bank of Locations: People’s Bank of China

☆ China cuts medium-term lending rate as youth unemployment hits new record high
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

The People’s Bank of China lowered its key policy rate — the medium-term lending rate — from 2.75% to 2.65%. It was the first such rate reduction since last August, and largely expected following a surprise cut by the central bank Tuesday to China’s seven-day reverse repo rate. The trimming of the repo rate — also by 0.1 percentage points to 1.9% — marked its first since August. Urban youth unemployment — already at record levels — hit another new high in May, reaching 20.8%. “They need [economic] growth.”The youth unemployment rate could get even worse when a record 11.6 million college students enter the job market this summer, as estimated by the education ministry earlier this year.

Persons: —, Jamie Dimon, “, ”, Larry Hu Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, People’s Bank of, Urban, JPMorgan, Bloomberg Locations: Hong Kong, China, People’s Bank of China, China’s

☆ China makes surprise rate cut as economic recovery loses steam
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The rate will drop to 1.9% from 2%, according to the People’s Bank of China. The rate cut reveals “growing concerns among policymakers” about the health of China’s recovery, Capital Economics analysts said on Tuesday. “The … rate cut came earlier and sharper than our and market expectations, highlighting the sense of urgency to alleviate economic momentum and business confidence,” said Becky Liu, head of China macro strategy for Standard Chartered Bank. That rate cut also came as a surprise and followed a week of turmoil in global financial markets triggered by the failure of some regional US banks. In the language of China’s policymakers, that implies a bias towards easing monetary policy, said Larry Hu, chief China economist for Macquarie Group.

Persons: ”, Becky Liu, Zhaopeng Xing, Betty Wang, Yi Gang, Larry Hu, “ Governor Yi Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, People’s Bank of China, Capital, Standard Chartered Bank, PMI, ANZ Research, Macquarie Group, “ Locations: Hong Kong, China

☆ China, Its Economy Flagging, Prods Consumers to Save Less and Spend More
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( Daisuke Wakabayashi | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

Why It MattersA reduction in the deposit rates is one lever that policymakers can use to stimulate spending. The hope is that the lower rates will give consumers an incentive to spend or invest money instead of parking their savings in the bank. After China scrapped its Covid restrictions late last year and reopened the economy, there were expectations that pent-up demand would push consumers to start spending freely — but that has not played out in many sectors of the economy. In the first three months of the year, China’s economy grew at 4.5 percent, helped by a pickup in spending on dining out and luxury goods. Betty Rui Wang, senior China economist at the Australia-based bank ANZ, said confidence in the economy is weak across Chinese households and private-sector businesses.

Persons: Larry Hu, Betty Rui Wang, “, ”, Wang, Li You Organizations: China, Macquarie Group, People’s Bank of China, ANZ, Communist, Commerce Locations: China, Australia, Beijing

☆ China's deflation worries deepen as consumer prices rise only 0.1% in April
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-11 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The producer price index, which measures factory-gate prices, declined by 3.6%, marking the biggest contraction in three years. The weak property sector recovery likely has exerted “persistent” downward pressure on the factory-gate prices, they added. A slump in the property sector affects demand for key raw materials such as steel and cement, which are key parts of the producer price index. Producer deflation will likely deteriorate, with the PPI expected to drop further by 3.9% on falling global commodity prices. Deflation is bad for the economy because, in such an environment, consumers and companies may put off spending in anticipation of prices falling further, which would only exacerbate economic problems.

☆ Take Five: Sell in May?
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The services component of the price data can gauge demand, but consumer and producer price data broadly paint a picture of deflation. April inflation data is out Thursday. At 10.1%, UK inflation is the highest in Western Europe. Reuters Graphics Reuters Graphics4/ SELL IN MAYConventional wisdom has it that May is the ideal point to take profit on equities and lay low until later in the year. "Sell in May and go away" is based on the premise that the best six-month period of the year for stock market returns is November to April, while the leanest is May to October.

☆ China has an inflation problem. It’s way too low
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-24 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

That’s raising the specter of a tailspin of falling prices and wages from which the economy may struggle to recover. “Our core view is that China’s economy is deflationary,” wrote Raymond Yeung, chief economist for Greater China at ANZ Research, last week, soon after China released its first-quarter GDP growth figures. Instead of spending money, people are hoarding cash at a record rate. “Even with a conservative estimate, 500 billion yuan in consumption vouchers will drive one trillion yuan in overall consumption, ” Li said in a video posted on his Weibo social media account on Tuesday. In return, the government could receive at least 300 billion yuan through taxes generated by the increase in spending, he said“So it only takes 200 billion yuan in spending for the central government to drive one trillion yuan in consumption,” he said.

☆ China makes major push in its ambitious digital yuan project
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-24 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Like cryptocurrency, the digital yuan incorporates some elements of blockchain technology: Every transaction is recorded and traceable in a digital ledger. Since last October, Changshu has been paying the transit subsidies for some government employees in digital yuan. It has also asked privately-owned apps to actively promote the digital yuan. Alipay began trialing digital yuan payments in 2021, and Tencent (TCEHY) announced last year that it would also start supporting the digital yuan in its WeChat Pay wallet. After all, industry leaders Alipay and WeChat Pay already have hundreds of millions of users who are familiar with their services.

☆ Opinion | China’s Lending Practices Are Not a Good Look
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Peter Coy | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

This is undoubtedly a factor in China’s diminished standing in the world. Playing ball really would promote “peace and development for all humanity” while winning China some badly needed friends in the world. The explanation for China’s tough stance is discouraging for the short term but possibly encouraging for the long term. But there are signs that China’s leaders will eventually come around to seeing the value of working with the I.M.F. “In more and more countries, Suriname and elsewhere, we’re starting to see more coordination between the People’s Bank of China, the I.M.F.

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