China Cuts Bank Reserve Requirements to Bolster Fragile Recovery
In a surprise move, China's central bank announced a significant cut to bank reserves on Wednesday, injecting around $140 billion into the banking system. The People's Bank of China (PBOC) declared a 50-basis point cut, the largest in two years, effective from February 5th, aiming to support a fragile economy and counter-plunging stock markets. This announcement, made as stock markets were closing, prompted a positive response with benchmark stock indexes and the yuan bouncing back. PBOC Governor Pan Gongsheng indicated that the bank would unveil policies to enhance commercial property loans, providing hope for investors concerned about China's real estate sector. The move follows China's struggle for a robust post-COVID recovery amidst a housing crisis, local government debt risks, and weakened global demand. The recent cut in banks' reserve requirement ratio (RRR) is the first this year and comes as China's benchmark indexes hit 5-year lows, reflecting challenges in the $9 trillion market. Pan stated that the RRR cut would release 1 trillion yuan ($139.45 billion) into the economy, surpassing analysts' expectations. The central bank emphasized a commitment to a loose monetary stance throughout the year to ensure a strong start for the economy in the face of challenging conditions. Market reactions were positive, with Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index experiencing its largest one-day gain in two months, ending up 3.6%. However, analysts remain cautious, awaiting a comprehensive set of policy supports before determining the overall market impact. Despite several previous measures, more stimulus is anticipated in 2024 to stimulate growth and address deflationary risks. As China's leaders pledged additional steps to support recovery in December, experts suggest a focus on boosting consumption for a sustained economic rebound. The central bank faces the dilemma of ensuring effective monetary policy tools, with credit predominantly flowing to manufacturing rather than consumption, potentially adding to deflationary pressures. The economy grew by 5.2% in 2023, meeting official targets, but the recovery has been less robust than expected.
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