Caution to Chinese Stock Investors: Warning Signs in China's Credit Market
Caution to Chinese Stock Investors: Credit Market Signals Potential Danger
Written by Ye Xie, Bloomberg Markets Live reporter and strategist
Chinese Stocks: A Bull Run with a Shaky Foundation
Chinese stocks have been quietly on the rise, but this newfound market optimism may be resting on an unstable base, particularly in the realm of credit. The MSCI China Index has seen a 24% increase from its January lows, and the Hang Seng Index has also bounced back, matching the Nasdaq Composite Index with a 9% gain this year.Factors Contributing to the Bull Run
Several elements have contributed to this upward trend. First quarter economic data surpassed expectations, with stimulus measures beginning to take effect. Valuations were attractive, and investors who had been pessimistic about China were forced to close some of their underweighted positions to keep pace. Furthermore, last week's Politburo meeting hinted at potential strategies for dealing with unsold properties, which sparked some positive reactions.Persistent Structural Challenges
Despite these positive signs, numerous structural issues remain. For instance, the housing market continues to struggle, with new home sales in major cities dropping by 39% in April.The Greater Risk: The Credit Market
The broader credit market presents an even greater risk. Beijing's strategy has been to divert resources from the speculative housing market to more productive industrial sectors like electronic vehicles and renewable energy. This has led to a drastic decrease in bank loans to the housing sector, while lending to industries has skyrocketed.The Limits of Beijing's Strategy
However, there are limits to this strategy. Some industries are now grappling with overcapacity issues, and there's a growing threat of protectionism from foreign countries inundated with Chinese imports. Additionally, industrial loan growth has recently decelerated following an initial surge.China's Precarious Position
As a result, strategists at Clocktower suggest that China may find itself in a dangerous position where credit demand from both households and corporations is declining simultaneously.The Importance of Credit Stability
Why is this significant? The strategists explain that a credit collapse could be catastrophic for a highly leveraged economy like China. If the public sector fails to support credit growth in a timely manner, a sharp decline in growth could be imminent as economic agents may be forced to reduce consumption and investment to meet their debt obligations.A Warning to Chinese Stock Investors
This is a warning that Chinese stock investors may need to take into account.