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.
Weekly Monitor Global
- The BoJ stood pat last week , placing greater emphasis on the price impact of currency moves.
- Governor Ueda’s dovish tone on Friday suggests an October rate hike is off the table.
- Mr. Ueda recognises that inflation risks have receded, despite the rise in August national inflation.
Duncan WrigleyChina+
- Recent BoJ policymaker statements signal intent to keep raising rates if warranted by inflation.
- The carry trade appears to have largely unwound, but lower oil prices could slow the pace of rate hikes.
- Revised Q2 GDP growth was partly bolstered by short-term factors; Q3 growth is likely to slow.
Duncan WrigleyChina+
- A PBoC official on Thursday hinted that an RRR cut is imminent...
- ...even though the bond market’s performance in August indicates ample liquidity.
- A likely cut to existing-mortgage rates won’t move the needle on consumption.
Duncan WrigleyChina+
- China’s controversial ‘housing pension’ scheme rollout highlights the cost of an aging housing stock.
- Homeowners worry they will have to foot more of the bill for maintaining housing; another reason to save.
- Q2 credit data suggest the game plan to hit “about 5%” GDP growth this year is running into obstacles.
Duncan WrigleyChina+
- China's July retail sales bounce is misleading; it is simply a recovery from June's unexpected fall.
- Consumption has been beset by socioeconomic factors: jobs, income, policies, social norms.
- Demand-side policies will remain targeted; Western- style handouts to consumers are unlikely.
Kelvin Lam (Senior China+ Economist)China+
- Japan’s Q2 GDP surprised to the upside; economic recovery is on a firmer footing than expected.
- Consumption ended four consecutive quarterly falls in Q2 on the back of first real wage gains since 2022.
- The BoJ is delighted to see more evidence of wage-price spiral; it provided the basis for July’s hike.
Kelvin Lam (Senior China+ Economist)China+
- China’s headline consumer inflation rose in July, but this was due to weather-related food inflation.
- Domestic demand still looks sluggish, based on core consumer inflation.
- A jump in auto trade-in subsidy applications, despite overall falling sales, offers a ray of hope for H2.
Duncan WrigleyChina+
- China’s new urbanisation action plan, announced last week, has largely flown under the radar...
- ...But, if properly implemented, it should go a long way to rebalancing China’s economy...
- ...By unleashing the full domestic demand potential embedded in the unfinished urbanisation project.
Duncan WrigleyChina+
- The BoJ will probably placate currency investors by cutting back bond-buying on Wednesday...
- ...But will likely stay put on the policy rate, in order to prop up growth and foster demand-pull inflation.
- Tokyo headline inflation edged down in July, though core inflation excluding fresh food inched up.
Duncan WrigleyChina+
- The summary document from China’s Third Plenum hints at further short-term growth support.
- The reform strategy prioritizes manufacturing and high-tech development.
- But bold reforms to fill the demand hole left by the tanking property sector seem unlikely.
Duncan WrigleyChina+
- Japan’s consumer inflation rose in May, due to the phasing out of household energy subsidies.
- Cost-push inflation is set to return in H2, reflecting the lagged impact of the weak JPY.
- But the June flash PMIs point to flagging domestic economic activity; what a headache for the BoJ!
Duncan WrigleyChina+
- The BoJ left its policy rate targets unchanged and committed to paring back bond purchases.
- Details of tapering will be revealed in July after consulting the market; the amount is likely “significant”.
- We still expect only one rate hike this year, as consumption will likely take longer to recover.
Duncan WrigleyChina+
- China’s exports picked up the pace a notch in May, mainly thanks to stronger trade with ASEAN.
- High-tech exports, such as cars and electronics, are outperforming fading trade in traditional goods.
- A modest recovery in global demand should help China’s growth this year, despite protectionist risks.
Duncan WrigleyChina+
- The US has proposed new tariffs on Chinese imports, which will have limited impact, in our view.
- Lithium batteries likely will be most affected, among other items targeted, with the US more exposed to it.
- China’s manufacturing activity shrank unexpectedly in May, suggesting more stimulus might be needed.
Kelvin Lam (Senior China+ Economist)China+
- China’s new property-market measures aim to stabilise the sector, rather than return to the boom times.
- The focus on housing-inventory reduction is the right direction, but the funding so far is too small.
- First-tier cities will probably bottom out first, but overall a drawn-out rebound is still on the cards.
Duncan WrigleyChina+
- China’s industrial profit growth was unchanged in April; the recovery is weaker than previously thought.
- A slowing reflation cycle is to blame, but also excess capacity and rising input costs.
- Manufacturing profits remain solid, but expect more policy support for the economic recovery.
Kelvin Lam (Senior China+ Economist)China+
- Japan’s consumer inflation continued to slow in April, with a notable cooling in food inflation.
- The phased removal of energy subsidies, then higher import costs, will lift inflation in the rest of the year.
- Japan is still far from seeing sustained inflation based on consumption growth; no rate hike until Q4.
Duncan WrigleyChina+
- China’s April retail sales were hit by falling auto sales; the trade -in incentives should provide support.
- Industrial output regained its vim in April, led by high-tech manufacturing.
- Renewed government-bond issuance should restore infrastructure investment growth, after the April dip.
Duncan WrigleyChina+
- China’s industrial output likely picked up steam in April, thanks to a modest export rise.
- Falling auto sales probably hit overall retail sales growth, with buyers waiting for further price cuts.
- Government bond issuance should be stepped up from May, heeding clear top-down policy direction.
Duncan WrigleyChina+
- China’s Q1 GDP grew solidly, thanks to vigorous manufacturing output and services growth.
- Services growth is broadening to business services, but the consumption recovery is relatively lacklustre.
- China will follow its own reform path at the Third Plenum, rather than adopting Western prescriptions.
Kelvin Lam (Senior China+ Economist)China+
