Is it time to invest in Chinese A-shares?

Mainland Chinese stocks look more reasonably priced than they have in a long time, says Cris Sholto Heaton. And a slew of trackers has launched to let foreign investors take a punt. But it's not time to buy yet – here's why.

China is slowing down.

Fears of overheating have given way to concerns about the possibility of a hard landing. That looks unlikely. But it certainly isn't the best backdrop for the stock market in the short term.

Subscribe to MoneyWeek

Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE

Get 6 issues free
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/mw70aro6gl1676370748.jpg

Sign up to Money Morning

Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter

Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter

Sign up
Swipe to scroll horizontally
China A-share Funds
Exchange-traded funds (market)TERListed
Exchange-traded finds (sector/style)TERListed
Closed-end fundsTERListed
Row 3 - Cell 0
BOCI-Pru WISE CSI300 China Tracker1.39%HK
BOCI-Pru WISE SSE50 China Tracker1.39%HK
CICC SZSE 1001%HK
db x-trackers CSI3000.50%HK, SG
iShares FTSE/Xinhua A500.99%HK
iShares CSI 300 A-Share Index0.99%HK
Nikko Listed Index Fund China A Share0.95%JP
Nomura SSE 501.00%JP
Polaris WISE CSI 3001.39%TT
UOB United SSE 50 China0.95%SG
Row 14 - Cell 0 Row 14 - Cell 1 Row 14 - Cell 2
Da Cheng CSI China Consumer0.99%HK
db x-trackers CSI300 Real Estate0.50%HK
db x-trackers CSI300 Financials0.50%HK
db x-trackers CSI300 Industrials0.50%HK
db x-trackers CSI300 Energy0.50%HK
db x-trackers CSI300 Consumer Disc.0.50%HK
db x-trackers CSI300 Utilities0.50%HK
db x-trackers CSI300 Healthcare0.50%HK
db x-trackers CSI300 Banks0.50%HK
db x-trackers CSI300 Materials0.50%HK
db x-trackers CSI300 Transportation0.50%HK
iShares CSI A-Share Financials0.99%HK
iShares CSI A-Share Infrastructure0.99%HK
iShares CSI A-Share Materials0.99%HK
iShares CSI A-Share Energy0.99%HK
iShares CSI A-Share Consumer Staples0.99%HK
iShares CSI A-Share Consumer Disc.0.99%HK
Ping An PAragon CSI RAFI 501.39%HK
Row 33 - Cell 0 Row 33 - Cell 1 Row 33 - Cell 2
Morgan Stanley China A-share Fund1.74%US
Cris Sholto Heaton

Cris Sholto Heaton is an investment analyst and writer who has been contributing to MoneyWeek since 2006 and was managing editor of the magazine between 2016 and 2018. He is especially interested in international investing, believing many investors still focus too much on their home markets and that it pays to take advantage of all the opportunities the world offers. He often writes about Asian equities, international income and global asset allocation.

Cris began his career in financial services consultancy at PwC and Lane Clark & Peacock, before an abrupt change of direction into oil, gas and energy at Petroleum Economist and Platts and subsequently into investment research and writing. In addition to his articles for MoneyWeek, he also works with a number of asset managers, consultancies and financial information providers.

He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and the Investment Management Certificate, as well as degrees in finance and mathematics. He has also studied acting, film-making and photography, and strongly suspects that an awareness of what makes a compelling story is just as important for understanding markets as any amount of qualifications.