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China debt risks loom over global financial system

  • China's real estate slump has forced financially struggling developers to halt work on housing projects.

  • Developers like Evergrande and Country Garden have chilled housing sales.

  • Real estate companies may fall into negative net worth if falling prices drag down property values.

  • Banks and foreign investors face prospect of heavy losses on loans to developers.

  • China's developer debt crunch poses risk of knock-on effects beyond China's borders.

nikkei.com
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### Summary Chinese financial regulators have promised to implement additional measures to address the challenges posed by local government debt and the struggling property sector, which is currently one of the largest risks to the country's economy. ### Facts - 🏢 Chinese financial regulators are determined to tackle the issues surrounding local government debt and the property sector. - 📉 The property sector is considered to be one of the major risks to China's economy. - 🏗️ Country Garden, China's largest private developer, has further added to the woes of the already struggling property sector. - 📊 Financial agencies have been instructed to coordinate and provide support to local governments in their efforts to mitigate debt risks.
### Summary Foreign banks are lowering their China forecasts as the property sector shows increasing signs of distress with missed payments by major developers. ### Facts - 💰 Property contagion concerns are rising as foreign banks revise their China forecasts downwards. - 💵 Developer Country Garden has missed payments on two dollar-denominated bonds. - 💸 Zhongzhi Group, one of China's largest trust companies, has missed payments on multiple financial products.
China's real estate crisis, caused by a crackdown on risky behavior by home builders and a subsequent housing slowdown, is spreading to the broader economy, leading to sinking sales, disappearing jobs, and a decline in consumer confidence, business investment, and stock markets.
Foreign banks are lowering their China forecasts due to signs of distress in the property sector, with missed payments by developer Country Garden and trust company Zhongzhi Group contributing to rising concerns.
China's real estate market is experiencing a significant downturn, causing major developers to face massive losses and mounting debts, which is impacting the country's economy and global growth.
China's economy is facing a downward spiral due to a crisis in the debt-laden property sector, prompting seven city banks to reduce their growth forecasts for the country; concerns include falling into deflation, high unemployment rates, and the need for more proactive government support.
China's economic slump is worsening due to the prolonged property crisis, with missed payments on investment products by a major trust company and a fall in home prices adding to concerns.
China's largest private real estate developer, Country Garden, is in financial trouble, missing bond payments and posting a record loss, signaling further concerns about the country's property sector as housing prices and foreclosures continue to rise, while other economic indicators, such as industrial output and retail sales, fall short of expectations; these developments are raising concerns about the overall health of China's economy and its future growth prospects.
The collapse of Evergrande, China's second-largest property developer, has raised concerns about a potential financial crisis and a broader liquidity crisis in the country, as well as the impact on China's housing market and economy.
China's weak economy, including an unstable property market and weak consumer demand, is posing risks to global markets and economies like the US, according to experts.
China Evergrande Group, the world's most-indebted property developer, reported a narrower net loss for the first half of the year due to increased revenue, but it is still facing a crisis in China's property sector characterized by debt defaults and shattered consumer confidence in the country's economy.
China's property developers facing financial distress raises concerns about a debt crisis, potentially leading to a broader financial crisis, according to analyst Charlene Chu.
China's shadow lending industry is facing significant challenges as weak economic growth and a wave of defaults and restructurings in the property sector threaten the stability of trusts, leading to concerns of contagion and further economic problems.
China's property crisis has left small businesses and workers owed hundreds of billions of dollars, with suppliers waiting on at least $390 billion in payments, as new projects dry up and financial troubles plague real estate developers like Country Garden.
China's largest private property developer, Country Garden, has warned of default risks if its financial performance continues to deteriorate, following a record loss in the first half of the year. The company's net loss between January and June amounted to 48.9 billion yuan ($6.72 billion), compared to a net loss of 6.7 billion yuan in the second half of 2022 and a net profit of 612 million yuan in the first half of 2022. This comes as Chinese authorities are working to revive the troubled property market, which accounts for approximately a quarter of the country's economy.
China's property developer, Country Garden, has reported a record loss and warned of potential debt default, contributing to concerns about the recovery of the country's economy.
China's largest property developer, Country Garden, is on the brink of default after reporting a huge loss, exacerbating the real estate crisis and posing a risk to the country's fragile economy.
The prospect of a prolonged economic slump in China poses a serious threat to global growth, potentially changing fundamental aspects of the global economy, affecting debt markets and supply chains, and impacting emerging markets and the United States.
US companies with significant revenue exposure to China are at risk due to the country's struggling economy, characterized by high youth unemployment rates and recent property defaults, according to Bank of America.
China's economy is at risk of a financial crash due to its property bubble and soaring debts, according to market veteran Ruchir Sharma.
The crashing office real estate market in America's largest cities is putting them at risk of an economic "doom loop" with potential consequences including higher tax rates, property value declines, and financial trouble for banks.
China's housing crisis continues as thousands of building projects are halted or slowed, leading to defaults and restructuring, a loss of confidence in the market, and a decline in sales.
The real estate crisis in China has caused bond default rates to increase in the Asia-Pacific region, with defaults occurring more quickly than globally despite Asia's better credit rating.
The outlook of U.S. companies on China's markets in the next five years has hit a record low due to factors such as political tensions, tariffs, slow Covid recovery, and issues in the real estate market; however, complete decoupling between the two economies is unlikely.
China's largest developer, Country Garden Holdings, is facing a major crisis as it struggles with a mountain of debt repayments, a slowing property market, and negative sentiment towards the sector following defaults by other Chinese peers; the company's focus on smaller cities has become a disadvantage as the housing market faces a potential decline.
Chinese investors are rushing to sell their overseas properties, particularly in Southeast Asia, due to worsening financial conditions and the need for cash to solve domestic issues such as business failures and mortgage loan defaults. Uncertain economic conditions, low confidence in production and consumption, and tightening regulations on property developers in China have contributed to the struggle to offload these investments.
China's property sector has slumped since 2021, with big-name developers teetering close to default and an abundance of vacant homes that even China's population of 1.4 billion can't fill, according to a former official.
China's economic outlook, particularly for the real estate sector, is expected to become clearer in the last three months of the year, with potential government support and loosening of restrictions to stabilize the housing market and allow the economy to recover fully by mid-2024. However, economists predict that real estate growth will remain weak and prices may fall gradually, as significant price declines could have adverse social consequences.
The strain from interest rate hikes is starting to impact the real estate market, particularly in Germany and London, as well as the Chinese property sector; corporate debt defaults are increasing globally; banking stress remains a concern, especially regarding smaller banks and their exposure to commercial real estate; and the Bank of Japan's tighter monetary policy could lead to a sharp unwind of investments, potentially impacting global markets.
China's real estate crisis, highlighted by Evergrande's bankruptcy, is leaving homebuyers worried about the fate of their investments as other property giants face similar financial troubles and fears of house price depreciation rise.
China's financial system and economy are facing significant risks, resembling a "Minsky moment," as it doubles down on excessive debt, invests in nonproductive enterprises, experiences weak economic growth, and faces internal unrest and military aggression, which could have global implications.
China's property market blowup, which has led to major developers struggling and low housing sales, may not necessarily result in a financial crisis due to the unique characteristics of China's housing market and Beijing's control over the financial system, but it is expected to cause significant damage to bank balance sheets and potentially lead to widespread financial turbulence if support is not provided to local governments and small lenders.
The commercial real estate market is facing a severe collapse driven by high interest rates, declining property values, and looming debt defaults, with investors predicting a recovery only after a crash.
China's property crisis poses significant challenges for an economy heavily reliant on real estate, although there are some sectors that may benefit from the situation.
The World Bank has lowered its GDP growth estimate for China in 2024 due to elevated debt and weakness in the property sector, which has been hit by a downturn leading to unfinished homes and a decline in housing prices. While the impact on the overall economy may be limited, smaller regional banks and local government financing vehicles (LGFVs) are at higher risk. Policymakers have signaled a shift in their approach to the property market, and the long-term prospects of the sector may be hindered by demographic factors and a high rate of home ownership. However, experts believe that real estate will remain an important industry in the future.