China tells financial executives to boost loans, cut debt risks
CHINA’S central bank and financial regulators met with bank executives and told lenders to boost loans to support a recovery, adding to signs of heightened concern from policymakers about the deteriorating economic outlook.
Officials from China Life Insurance Co and stock exchanges were also at the same meeting last Friday (Aug 18), where authorities discussed measures with the financial sector in preventing and reducing local government debt risks, indicated a statement from the central bank on Sunday.
The People’s Bank of China last week unexpectedly reduced a key interest rate by the most since 2020 to bolster an economy that is facing fresh risks from a worsening property slump and weak consumer spending. The surprise move came shortly before the release of disappointing economic activity data for July showing growth in consumer spending, industrial output and investment sliding across the board and unemployment picking up.
Major financial institutions, especially big state-owned banks, must increase loan disbursements and avoid big fluctuations in lending, said the statement. Chinese banks extended the smallest amount of monthly loans since 2009 in July, a further sign of weak demand in the economy that raises the risk of prolonged deflation pressure.
Regulators and financial institutions must coordinate in reducing risks associated with local government debt and strengthen such monitoring, the central bank said.
China must firmly avoid systemic risks, the statement added. The central bank reiterated that authorities will optimise home mortgage policies, without providing details.
Officials have signalled concern about the real estate market, where another major property developer now faces a debt crisis and home sales continue to decline. Risks are also spreading to the financial sector, where an affiliate of a major financial conglomerate, which had exposure to the real estate sector, missed payments on some investment products. BLOOMBERG
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