In this CIO Viewpoint – China Equities: Market recovery pushed back further – we assess the impact on this asset class of domestic macroeconomic factors (e.g. deflationary trends and weak labour markets), related policy responses and Chinese export prospects. We do not see a near-term catalyst for the equities market overall, but investors may want to position in selected sectors for medium and long term opportunities.
Key takeaways:
- Deflationary trends and labour market concerns are among the issues weighing on domestic consumption. Foreign trade is a bright spot but the near-term outlook here is cautious.
- We recently downgraded our 2024 GDP forecast for China from 5.0% to 4.8% in 2024, while maintaining the 2025 GDP forecast at 4.4%.
- Chinese equities will likely move sideways in the near-term. But selected sectors could hold opportunities in the medium to long term, underpinned by pockets of growth.