Antler Capital

Stanley Tsai, CFA

Macroeconomics

Monthly Newsletter | Jun 2021
Total social financing (TSF) data for May reinforce our view that China's credit impulse is set to dive deeper into negative territory. This may put a lid on the commodities rally in the coming months and we expect the PPI to edge down in 2H21.
Net TSF flow fell 40% y/y. Adjusting for the blip in 2020, the CAGR for May would have been a less alarming +6% y/y. Beijing has done its part by greenlighting CNY4.27tn of local government bond issuance in the remainder of the year. But we fear credit growth in the private sector may remain subdued.
Headline loan growth was in line with our expectation. That said, corporate loan originations might have been buoyed by the unwinding of off-balance sheet activities and delayed bond sales. Meanwhile, new mortgages have continued to fall, but perhaps still not fast enough to rein in the runaway property market.
Deposit growth saw a sharp rebound from last month, mainly from non-sticky sources. New deposits from households and corporates were close to zero. Fiscal deposits, non-bank financial institutions and the interbank made up for the difference. 
Looking ahead, we see limited room for significant monetary maneuvers by the PBOC in either direction. In our view, any incremental policy shifts will likely be targeted at small businesses and real estate. Our base case is for the loan prime rates to hold steady at 3.85% and 4.65% for one-year and five-year tenors, respectively. However, we would begin to price in an increasing probability of a rate hike on the long end as a last resort to deal with the property bubble.
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<td style="width: 100%;">Exhibit 1: China TSF-based Credit Impulse (%)</td>
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<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/212/524/original/image_72331103621623410270234.png?1623410270" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="212524"></figure>
Note: Index value = 12M change in new system credit / Nominal GDP
Source: PBOC, National Bureau of Statistics, Our analysis

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</tr>
</tbody>
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Related Insights
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<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/china-macro-ppi-peaks-while-cpi-eases-tightening-fears" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:52778" rel="noopener">China Macro: PPI Peaks, while CPI Eases Tightening Fears</a> </li>
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Monthly Newsletter | Jun 2021
Total social financing (TSF) data for May reinforce our view that China's credit impulse is set to dive deeper into negative territory. This may put a lid on the commodities rally in the coming months and we expect the PPI to edge down in 2H21.
Net TSF flow fell 40% y/y. Adjusting for the blip in 2020, the CAGR for May would have been a less alarming +6% y/y. Beijing has done its part by greenlighting CNY4.27tn of local government bond issuance in the remainder of the year. But we fear credit growth in the private sector may remain subdued.
Headline loan growth was in line with our expectation. That said, corporate loan originations might have been buoyed by the unwinding of off-balance sheet activities and delayed bond sales. Meanwhile, new mortgages have continued to fall, but perhaps still not fast enough to rein in the runaway property market.
Deposit growth saw a sharp rebound from last month, mainly from non-sticky sources. New deposits from households and corporates were close to zero. Fiscal deposits, non-bank financial institutions and the interbank made up for the difference. 
Looking ahead, we see limited room for significant monetary maneuvers by the PBOC in either direction. In our view, any incremental policy shifts will likely be targeted at small businesses and real estate. Our base case is for the loan prime rates to hold steady at 3.85% and 4.65% for one-year and five-year tenors, respectively. However, we would begin to price in an increasing probability of a rate hike on the long end as a last resort to deal with the property bubble.



Exhibit 1: China TSF-based Credit Impulse (%)




Note: Index value = 12M change in new system credit / Nominal GDP
Source: PBOC, National Bureau of Statistics, Our analysis





Related Insights


China Macro: PPI Peaks, while CPI Eases Tightening Fears 

China Macro: Exports Disappoint, but It's Still Early in the Game 

Glut and Famine: China's Monetary Conditions a Notch Tighter in May 


Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 Inde (SHSZ300 INDEX EQUITY)

Shanghai Stock Exchange Composite Index (SHCOMP INDEX)

Shenzhen Stock Exchange Composite Index (SZCOMP INDEX)

Glut and Famine: We Might See Snow in China This Summer