Investor Resources
China’s Private Investment Picking Up
- October 28, 2009
Our friend Andy Rothman from research firm CLSA sent out an interesting chart last week following the release of China’s macroeconomic data for the month of September.
As you can see from the chart, private investment (Non State-Owned Enterprises) growth accelerated to 37 percent on a year-over-year basis, a more rapid rate than that of state-owned enterprises. This is the first time we’ve seen this happen since October of last year and it is the fastest rate of growth since November 2007.
A more confident private sector should not only make China’s ongoing recovery more sustainable in a time of diminishing government-mandated stimulus, but also facilitate the structural transition of the Chinese economy toward private consumption.
The private investment revival is largely driven by the real estate sector, which has seen inventory levels drop in major cities like Beijing and Shanghai. CLSA’s on the ground survey revealed that 50 percent of middle-class families surveyed said they were considering buying an apartment.
Activity has also picked up in the business sector. Out of more than 100 small- to medium-sized enterprises surveyed, 32 percent added staff during this past quarter and more than that expected to do so this quarter. Even more telling is that more than two-thirds of the small- to medium-sized enterprises expect the business environment to improve over the next six months.
It’s still too early to call but this could mark a shift in China in which the government’s economic assistance is reduced and economic growth is sustained by the private sector.
All opinions expressed and data provided are subject to change without notice. Some of these opinions may not be appropriate to every investor. #09-756
Net Asset Value
as of 09/02/2010
- Global Resources Fund
PSPFX $8.72 +0.08 - Gold and Precious Metals Fund
USERX $17.25 +0.18 - World Precious Minerals Fund
UNWPX $19.21 +0.13 - China Region Fund
USCOX $8.50 No Change - Eastern European Fund
EUROX $9.05 +0.03 - Global Emerging Markets Fund
GEMFX $8.15 +0.01 - Global MegaTrends Fund
MEGAX $7.67 +0.03 - All American Equity Fund
GBTFX $19.86 +0.15 - Holmes Growth Fund
ACBGX $15.79 +0.19 - Tax Free Fund
USUTX $12.61 No Change - Near-Term Tax Free Fund
NEARX $2.27 No Change - U.S. Government Securities Savings Fund
UGSXX $1.00 No Change - U.S. Treasury Securities Cash Fund
USTXX $1.00 No Change


