Analysts warn China stock rout may worsen
Eonomy, yuan weakness and trade feud rattle investors
HONG KONG: Chinese stocks sunk into a bear market yesterday, and analysts expect losses to deepen as concern over China’s economy, yuan weakness and a trade feud with the United States continue to rattle investors.
The Shanghai Composite Index closed at 2,844.51 points, 20% below a January high, denoting a bear market.
A Hang Seng measure of Chinese companies in Hong Kong is down 19% from five months ago. The yuan weakened 0.3% to its lowest since Dec 28.
Hao Hong, chief strategist at Bocom International Holdings Co: “There’s still a lot of selling pressure. Investors are rushing to exit to avoid risk.
“Lots of people listened to brokers’ advice to build positions around 3,000, betting on a rebound. They are now under big pressure to sell”.
The main reason for the plunge in Chinese stocks is slowing economic growth rather than pledged shares or the trade war.
“The key thing is that fundamentals in China are very bad. The market started to correct even before the trade war flared up.
“Hard to say shares have hit a bottom. And it’s hard for the government to solve the issue as it can’t flood the markets with new money.”
Tai Hui, JPMorgan Asset Management Inc. chief APAC market strategist: “Market volatility in China is brought about by combination of factors: US-China trade tension, concern over corporate bond defaults and uncertainty on the growth outlook.
“Corporate bond defaults are arguably biggest worry at this point. Sentiment toward equities is likely to remain cautious for rest of this year. Many onshore investors are mindful that authorities have deleveraging and financial risk reduction as a long-term objective, despite their willingness to provide liquidity near term.
“Trade dispute impact is probably exaggerated. Many Chinese companies focus domestically and don’t have direct trade links with the United States. Consumer sentiment in China remains positive.
Sun Jianbo, China Vision Capital president in Beijing: “This is a typical bear market where the index keeps falling below supportive levels. Not the bottom yet. Pessimism will keep growing as many companies are on the edge of margin calls and bond defaults.
“Those will cause further selloffs Shanghai Composite could fall at least another 10%. Some long-term funds, including the so-called national team, may be interested in buying in the bear market zone.”
Qian Qimin, Shenwan Hongyuan Group Co strategist based in Shanghai: “Plunge in US stocks overnight hurt confidence. S&P 500 fell 1.4% Monday, biggest loss since April 6.
“Liquidity usually very tight in banking system as end of June approaches. Weakening yuan is hurting companies with high levels of dollar debt and exporters, dragging down some large caps such as airlines.
“Chinese airlines become collateral damage in trade war with US.
“Don’t see the bottom yet. The market may keep falling since it’s still hard to gauge the impact of trade tensions and investors will keep cutting risk.”
Catherine Yeung, investment director at Fidelity International: “Markets initially rose Monday following RRR cut, but the trade issue overhang is taking centre stage and will probably see a lot more volatility China may do more to support market, potentially ramping up fixed asset investment, though it still needs to go through the deleveraging process.
“The People’s Bank of China is in a better place than other central banks because it still has the tool set. Consumers are still spending. Not beyond the realm of possibility for China long term to do bilateral deals with everyone else outside of the United States, which surely isn’t good for American consumers.
“China could still be an outperforming market this year because we’ve already seen it down, and maybe developed markets will see some outflows due to ongoing tensions. The Chinese government has a flexible approach in terms of policy tools. Data show economic slowdown, but coming from a very high base.”