China’s recovery is gathering strength, say Finbarr Bermingham and Amanda Lee in the South China Morning Post. Industrial production continues to lead the way, rising by 5.6% in August on a year before. There are also signs of a consumer rebound: retail sales advanced by 0.5% on the year in August, the first growth recorded this year.
China is the only big economy the International Monetary Fund thinks will expand this year. The encouraging economic backdrop means the bulls are out in force. The benchmark CSI 300 stock market index has gained 12% so far this year and is up by 32% since 23 March.
The rally has brought plenty of signs of excess. Shares on the Star market, a technology-focused equivalent to America’s Nasdaq, have been trading at “huge premiums” to “near-identical” stocks listed in Hong Kong, says Xie Yu in The Wall Street Journal. The fact that local investors are willing to pay up to five times as much as offshore buyers for the same assets suggests a speculative frenzy. However, regulators intervened to cool excesses over the summer, with the CSI 300 now off 3% from a mid-July high. The Star market froth makes more sense than you think, says Shuli Ren on Bloomberg. Too often foreign investors think China is “just another growing emerging market” with a rising middle class.
Subscribe to MoneyWeek
Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE
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
That prompts them to buy into consumer stocks such as Luckin Coffee (which later turned out to be a fraud). Locals, by contrast, know that nothing is as solid as a sector that has almost unconditional government backing: pricey technology firms. Chinese markets are driven by retail investors and can provide a wild ride. But authorities tend to step in if they fall too far. In a lousy year for the global economy, China’s markets are a rare bright spot.
-
Barclays begins paying up to £100 compensation to customers after banking outageBarclays will pay up to £7.5 million in compensation to customers after its banking services were disrupted by an IT outage
-
Review: Shangri-La Paris – an ode to the world’s best foodNatasha Langan enjoys fine French and Chinese cuisine at the Shangri-La Paris
-
Falling revenues and mounting debt spell trouble for Jumia TechnologiesStruggling African e-commerce platform Jumia Technologies looks headed for the exit, says Dr Matthew Partridge.
-
Next reports £1 billion in annual profits for the first time – what's next for the retailer?Clothing retailer Next has become only the fourth member of its sector to surpass £1 billion in annual profits. What does this mean for the company's future?
-
Best of British bargains: cash in on undervalued companies in the UK stock marketOpinion Michael Field, Chief Equity Market Strategist, EMEA, Morningstar, selects three attractive UK stocks where he'd put his money
-
Building firm Keller presents low debt and ample scope for growthGeotechnical contractor Keller, which supports vital global infrastructure, boasts rising profits and a cheap valuation
-
PZ Cussons share price down 75% in last decade – why it's one to watchOpinion Once-strong consumer-goods business PZ Cussons is out of favour with the market. That spells opportunity for investors, says Jamie Ward
-
Cash in on the biotech sector with specialist trust BioPharmaOpinion BioPharma has an attractive niche in lending to asset-rich biotechnology companies
-
India's stock market decline wipes out $1.3 trillion in market value – can investors stay optimistic?More than $1 trillion has been wiped off from India's stock market after investors turn to China. Has the emerging-market darling hit rock bottom?
-
Pensions revolution: how to profit from the trends shaping the UK pension systemThe UK pension system is one of the biggest in the world. Big changes are under way, says Rupert Hargreaves
