KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 19 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia gave up earlier gains to end mixed today, amid a higher regional market showing, as property, construction, and healthcare counters attracted buying interests, while plantation, banking, and telecommunication stocks saw some profit-taking, an analyst said. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) eased 1.70 points to close at 1,602.34 from yesterday’s close of 1,604.04. The benchmark index, which opened 0.86 of-a-point lower at 1,603.18, moved between 1,601.02 and 1,608.88 during the trading session. However, the broader market was mixed to higher, with gainers leading decliners by 565 to 438 while 502 counters remained unchanged, 961 untraded, and 14 suspended. Turnover narrowed to 2.83 billion units valued at RM2.08 billion versus 2.96 billion units valued at RM2.23 billion yesterday. Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd equity research vice-president Thong Pak Leng said the benchmark index remained range-bound and it required a dec
Chinese authorities are intensifying efforts to manage the world’s third-largest government bond market, implementing a series of interventions to cool a rally that has driven yields to record lows. The latest move saw regulators in Jiangxi province instruct rural banks not to settle recent government bond purchases, effectively forcing them to renege on their market obligations.
Key Highlights:
Regulatory Intervention: This unusual directive is part of a broader strategy by Chinese regulators to curb the bond market's surge, which had driven the benchmark 10-year yield to an all-time low of 2.12% earlier this month. The yield has since increased to around 2.22%.
Market Risks: The interventions are aimed at mitigating the exposure of banks to interest-rate risks and preventing the formation of a bond bubble, which could threaten financial stability. The Chinese government is attempting to strike a balance between supporting the sluggish economy with low borrowing costs and avoiding excessive market speculation.
Investor Confidence: There is concern that these regulatory measures could disconnect the bond market from underlying economic fundamentals, potentially eroding long-term investor confidence. This echoes past instances where government intervention in the shares and currency markets led to chaotic outcomes and deterred international investors.
PBOC Warnings: The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) has been cautioning the market about rate risks since April, but bond yields continued to decline. The recent measures are seen as a strong signal from the PBOC to discourage speculative positions in long-dated bonds.
Market Response: In response to the government's actions, at least four Chinese brokerages have started reducing their trading of government bonds, following guidance from authorities. Additionally, some of the nation’s largest state banks have been asked to record details of buyers of sovereign notes, a move aimed at curbing speculation.
Economic Outlook: China’s government bonds have surged this year due to the weak economic outlook and expectations for interest-rate cuts. The lack of attractive alternatives, such as real estate and stocks, has also driven demand for government bonds.
Global Perspective: Despite the potential for further intervention, some global investors, such as Pictet Asset Management, continue to view China’s onshore bonds as a valuable component of a diversified portfolio, citing their low correlation with other markets and alignment with the country’s economic fundamentals.
As China continues to manage its bond market with a firm hand, the tension between maintaining financial stability and supporting economic recovery will remain a key focus for investors and policymakers alike.
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