Skip to main content

SSEC falls 6.5%

The trigger for the fall is largely being attributed to PBoC draining cash from the banking system on Thursday via "back-door repos” to the tune of 100 bn yuan in 7, 14 & 28 days contract.  Bloomberg reports that PBOC likely refrained from offering repos in open-market operations to avoid signalling a tightening of policy. China’s lenders are awash with funds after the central bank reduced interest rates three times since November and eased reserve requirements to help an economy growing at the slowest pace since 2009 (update to the earlier post below)

Of note, SSEC fell 6.50% today after having risen almost 150% in a year. Couple of factors led to the fall:
  • Central Huijin holdings (state investment fund) which until recently was not allowed to sell its stake in big banks has now been allowed and offloading of big chunk lead to a massive sell off
  • A decision from index provider MSCI, due on June 9, on whether to include domestic Chinese shares in its global indices has added to the feeling of uncertainty. A green light from MSCI could force global funds to add tens of billions of dollars into the Chinese market.
  • Slew of IPOs are slated for next week
  • Steps to drain liquidity by the PBoC
  • Request from the banking regulator on the extent ofmargin lending on their books. A number of brokers have announced a tightening of margin requirements this week.
Decision to allow Huijin to sell its stake is a move in the right direction that delivers a sense of cooling off of the equity markets to the investors and paves the way for diversified ownership among state companies.

Comments