China GDP growth slowed to 6.4% yoy in Q4, down from 6.5% yoy and matched expectation. For the whole year of 2018, growth slowed to 6.6%, lowest in 28 years since 1990. National Bureau of Statistics head Ning Jizhe said the impacts from trade war with the US are manageable. There were signs of stabilization in the economy over the past twos months. And he added the country has confidence and the capacity to achieve reasonable growth in 2019.
Other December data released today are positive though. Retail sales grew 8.2% yoy, up from 8.1% yoy and beat expectation of 8.1% yoy. Industrial production rose 5.7% yoy, up fro 5.4% and beat expectation of 5.3% yoy. Fixed assets investment grew 5.9% yoy, unchanged from November, but missed expectation of 6.0%.
While there were signs of improvements in Decembers, it’s generally expected that the Chinese economy will face downward pressure ahead. In particular, the risks of escalation in trade war with the US remains. Chinese Vice Premier Liu He is set to visit Washington on January 30-31 for another round of trade talks. At this point, little sign of progress is seen regarding the core concerns of the US, including intellectual property theft, forced technology transfer and dominance of state-owned enterprises.
More stimulus is expected from the authority to support the economy. The PBoC has already injected CNY 560B into the economy last Wednesday. The RRR was also lowered again earlier this year to free up Monday for small companies. Yet, it’s reported that Beijing was planning to lower its growth target to 6-6.5 percent this year.
UK May pledged change in Brexit approaches, oppose to second referendum
UK Prime Minister Theresa May’s statement on Brexit plan B yesterday was rather uninspiring. In short, she finally acknowledged the need to have in change in her approach and laid out three areas. Those include, being “more flexible, open and inclusive” in engaging the parliament, embedding the “the strongest possible protections on workers’ rights and the environment”. And finally, ensuring the “commitment to no hard border in Northern Ireland and Ireland”. They’re hardly anything new.
Meanwhile, she continued to oppose to a second referendum as that would “damage social cohesion by undermining faith in our democracy.” And she doesn’t believe there is a majority for a second referendum. On Article 50 extension, she claimed that EU would not approve it unless UK had a plan for approving a deal. And the only way to avoid a no-deal Brexit would be to revoke Article 50.
May will continue cross-party talks and provide further update next Tuesday.