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China+ Publications

Below is a list of our China+ Publications for the last 6 months. If you are looking for reports older than 6 months please email info@pantheonmacro.com, or contact your account rep

Please use the filters on the right to search for a specific date or topic.

Daily Monitor

23 February 2024 China+ Monitor Japan's flash PMIs point to sagging economic activity

  • The two Japanese flash PMIs point to a flagging recovery, despite long-term optimism.
  • A drop in service sector new export orders is a warning sign for the tourism sector.
  • January national CPI, due Monday, will likely be sub- 2%, adding to the case for the BoJ to delay a rate rise.

Duncan WrigleyChina+

22 February 2024 China+ Monitor North Asian exports benefiting from semiconductor 'up-cycle'

  • Korean 20-day export annual growth fell sharply in February, due to the holiday effect...
  • ...Working-day-adjusted data show exports actually increased, led by semiconductor shipments.
  • Japan’s exports rose in January due to base effects, tallying with the chip ‘up-cycle’ in Korean trade.

Kelvin Lam (Senior China+ Economist)China+

21 February 2024 China+ Monitor China's big five-year LPR cut signals focus on boosting home demand

  • The PBoC announced no change to the one-year LPR yesterday, in line with market expectations...
  • ...But the surprisingly large 25bp cut to the five-year LPR is a clear signal of property-market support.
  • China is finally taking bigger steps to boost the ailing property market, but more will likely be needed.

Duncan WrigleyChina+

16 February 2024 China+ Monitor Japan enters technical recession as Q4 GDP shrinks unexpectedly

  • Japan’s economy enters technical recession as it saw two successive quarters of negative growth.
  • Despite lacklustre domestic demand, growth was supported by nascent recovery in external demand.
  • BoJ is likely to remove negative rates in Q2 after the Shuntō wage rounds despite weak fundamentals.

Kelvin Lam (Senior China+ Economist)China+

13 February 2024 China+ Monitor Chinese credit demand still sluggish, but M1 bounce is cause for cheer

  • China’s social financing growth slowed a notch in January, due to less government-bond issuance.
  • The jump in January net long-term new household loans is probably a blip; new-home sales are weak.
  • The increase in M1 growth is a likely sign of stimulus funds improving business cash flow.

Duncan WrigleyChina+

8 February 2024 China+ Monitor China's foreign reserves whiplashed by dollar strength and stock market

  • China’s foreign-exchange reserves reversed the rising trend and fell in January, thanks to a valuation effect.
  • The favourable external conditions that drove increases in Q4 have taken a breather.
  • We expect modest capital inflows in H2, thanks to narrowing interest rate differentials with the US.

Kelvin Lam (Senior China+ Economist)China+

7 February 2024 China+ Monitor Waiting for a meaningful improvement in Japanese wage trends

  • Japanese nominal wage growth rose slightly in December but remains well below earlier highs..
  • The continued decline in real wages, albeit easing, is dragging down real household spending.
  • Disappointing tourism wages raise questions about the hoped-for transition to demand-push inflation.

Duncan WrigleyChina+

6 February 2024 China+ Monitor Caixin services PMI pointing to slower growth, while output prices are falling

  • China’s January Caixin services PMI fell short of market expectations and signalled slower growth.
  • Output prices fell for the first time in 21 months; firms are facing more market competition.
  • Japan’s service industry is expanding faster than expected, but growth is largely based on tourism.

Kelvin Lam (Senior China+ Economist)China+

2 February 2024 China+ Monitor Caixin manufacturing index still outperforming official gauge

  • China’s January Caixin manufacturing PMI is still outperforming the official index.
  • Rising investment goods output probably anticipates stimulus effects after the Lunar New Year holiday.
  • The Caixin services PMI should see a holiday bump, despite consumer caution over costly purchases.

Duncan WrigleyChina+

1 February 2024 China+ Monitor Restocking cycle indicates measured optimism over demand outlook

  • China’s January official manufacturing PMI points to an encouraging restocking cycle...
  • ...Rising output and inventory readings suggest firms expect stimulus to boost domestic demand.
  • Targeted funds for property support are arriving, but the recovery will still be protracted.

Duncan WrigleyChina+

30 January 2024 China+ Monitor China's industrial profits continue to improve amid slow economic recovery

  • Chinese industrial profits have been recovering on a year-to-date basis since August 2023...
  • ...On improvements in profit margins and industrial value-added, as well as easing producer deflation.
  • Industrial profits will likely benefit from further stimulus measures slowly trickling through in H1.

Kelvin Lam (Senior China+ Economist)China+

25 January 2024 China+ Monitor China's RRR cut is about accommodating fiscal stimulus

  • The PBoC yesterday announced an RRR cut; we see this as mainly to facilitate government-bond issuance.
  • Governor Pan said RRR adjustments would drive down the LPR; a Q1 cut still seems likely.
  • The big picture: China is relying on fiscal support to prop up growth, 2024 is likely to see token rate cuts.

Duncan WrigleyChina+

24 January 2024 China+ Monitor BoJ stands fast again; Governor Ueda trains spotlight on wage talks

  • The BoJ maintained its easy policy settings yesterday, while raising hopes for a change...
  • ...Governor Ueda sees more chance of attaining the price target, given events in the spring wage talks.
  • Q2 seems the most likely timing for negative rates to end, even if unwarranted by fundamentals.

Duncan WrigleyChina+

23 January 2024 China+ Monitor Korean exports' rising trend hits a bump in the road

  • Korean 20-day exports fell in January, defying our expectation for a continued rise.
  • But this is likely a blip; exports to the US slowed sharply, despite still-strong consumption there.
  • A surge in AI-related chip demand is likely to drive a gradual recovery in Korean exports this year.

Duncan WrigleyChina+

19 January 2024 China+ Monitor China's property sector still looking for the light at the end of the tunnel

  • China’s developer financing fell further in December, despite a new round of regulatory support.
  • Residential property-price declines also worsened, as investors offloaded excess properties.
  • More homebuyer support will likely be needed to drive a property-sector recovery.

Duncan WrigleyChina+

18 January 2024 China+ Monitor China's recovery lost steam in Q4, despite targeted stimulus

  • China’s real GDP growth slowed in Q4, hit by property-sector woes and soft consumption.
  • Targeted stimulus is giving a modest lift to manufacturing and fixed asset investment.
  • Industrial output is holding up relatively well, with carmakers bullish about prospects for this year.

Duncan WrigleyChina+

16 January 2024 China+ Monitor No rate cut for China, as fiscal stimulus anchors credit demand

  • The PBoC left the MLF rate unchanged yesterday, as policymakers assess the impact of recent easing.
  • Headline consumer inflation improved slightly in December, but core inflation remains sluggish.
  • Excess capacity is likely to weigh on manufactured goods prices in 2024.

Duncan WrigleyChina+

12 January 2024 China+ Monitor BoK Tweaks its Messaging, while Keeping Rates on Hold

  • The BoK left the policy rate unchanged yesterday, while hinting at future easing in its statement...
  • ...But Governor Rhee played down the likelihood of near-term rate cuts, worried about household debt.
  • The BoK is likely to start easing in Q3; but a sharp KRW appreciation could bring forward that shift.

Duncan WrigleyChina+

10 January 2024 China+ Monitor Cooling Tokyo Inflation Gives the BoJ Breathing Space

  • Tokyo consumer headline inflation continued to fall in December, as food inflation cooled.
  • Core inflation is slowing, as high import costs pass through the system gradually.
  • The BoJ will probably still exit its negative rate policy in Q2, despite slowing inflation and mediocre growth.

Duncan WrigleyChina+

9 January 2024 China+ Monitor China's Foreign Reserves Continue to Rise, as Yield Pressure Eases

  • China’s foreign reserves posted a second straight strong rise in December, as U.S. yields fell.
  • Both valuation effects and improved capital inflows drove the marked increase in reserves.
  • China’s pro-growth policy tilt is seen in the firing of an official, after new gaming rules hit stock prices. 

Duncan WrigleyChina+

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