Positive Numbers Out of China Supporting Risk Assets

Risk assets are surprisingly stable at the open on Sunday night, in spite of the news out of Europe (see post). Key development providing support to markets is the positive economic news coming out of China. Here are some of the recently released indicators:

1. Inflation rate seems to be at the lowest level since early 2010.

Source: Tradingeconomics.com

2. The official manufacturing PMI shows expansion - quite modest, but expansion nevertheless (>50 = expansion, <50=contraction)

China (official) Manufacturing PMI, seasonally adjusted (source: Li & Fung Research Center)

Source: Markit/HSBC

4. Industrial production is up some 10% YoY. Not great relative to recent history, but still an improvement.

China Industrial Production YoY

5. The equity market, which has become too scary for retail investors (see discussion), had its biggest rise in 13 months.

The Shanghai Composite (source: WSJ)

Clearly there are still some major problems. For example a "wealth management product" sold at a branch of Huaxia's Shanghai Branch defaulted last week. There is certainly more to come (see this story). People have been talking for some time now about China's shadow banking and Huaxia's product should be a wake up call.

There are also problems with the property bubble, as housing now grinds higher for a sixth straight month. So much for making housing cheaper.

In spite of these issues, at least for now it looks like China has been able to avoid "hard landing" and is beginning to show some recovery.

Source: Sober Look