英文: China market-boosting measures seen offset by faster fund-raising - analyst ( i/ O: ?6 ^7 a1 k! p
The motives behind apparent government attempts to stimulate the domestic stock market remain obscure, but it is clear that the government is not just aiming to generate a short-term speculative rally, DBS Securities analyst Wu Jian said.
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% A+ W6 N% ~9 a3 ?- z0 D* [! ~Consequently, it is likely that the recent implementation of fresh market-boosting measures will quickly be followed by a marked acceleration in the pace of fund-raising, Wu said.
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Share prices in both Shanghai and Shenzhen are sharply higher today on further signs that the government is stepping up its efforts to boost the market. , ]+ Q3 g/ ], `3 I
At 2.21 pm, the Shanghai A-share index was up 145.84 points to 1,776.86, while the B-share index was up 13.44 points at 155.19. The Shenzhen A-share sub-index was up 320.26 points at 3,839.30, while the B-share sub-index was up 132.54 points at 1,460.46. 9 |5 ~& w. l2 @0 y9 X1 t# X6 a; V
, \: [$ n q; Y e+ u' ^" N$ }Shares gained strongly on Friday following publication of an editorial in the official China Securities Journal which was apparently aimed at boosting investor confidence. 9 L! w8 N: ^0 o+ k1 I: X
2 g7 E! Y( j9 \6 C3 P+ q5 f, L3 e9 b5 rThis has since been followed by the publication of a similar editorial on Saturday, as well as the publication of reports that the government has given up a plan to sell off state shares via the stock market and the publication of provisional regulations raising the threshold for listed companies seeking to launch additional share offers.
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# Q6 ^0 ]2 U1 \( F$ G6 nAll of these actions appeared to confirm rumours that the government is implementing a ten-point package of market-boosting measures.
7 D1 Q1 x Z0 S; d, d0 D+ xWu said he believes retail investors have accounted for most of the buying since Friday, while institutions are likely to have been more sceptical about the government's motives. * |3 W; B7 a4 q l: n% z$ F
0 J' {# Y: s* X/ Y( xHe said the government has effectively made a 180-degree turn on its policy towards the market, and although there is widespread speculation that the motive is to prevent a market correction in the run-up to the Communist Party's 16th Congress -- due sometime this autumn -- the actual motive may be to boost the market's ability to channel funds to cash-strapped state firms.
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On one hand, the government is keen for the market to provide funds to state firms in order to help these enterprises "get out of difficulties".
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On the other, the government is keen for securities investors to take over burdens currently being carried by the state commercial banks.
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The government wants to achieve a rapid reduction in the commercial banks' non-performing loans, and an acceleration in the pace of share offers will help the country reach this target.
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Wu noted in particular that several Hong Kong-listed companies, including PetroChina, China Unicom and China Southern Airlines are slated to launch major A-share offers in the second half of the year. ; r! }: L @' r+ B7 d9 ^
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He said institutions are likely to have realised that the government's motive is not to create an environment for speculative gains. , t' G" b+ F. a, y# S
Although share prices are likely to trend higher, shares are unlikely to see the kind of overheating that usually follows major government attempts to ramp up share prices, he said.. |