Hong Kong might have lost much importance as a gateway to mainland China, for the financial markets Beijing still needs a stable Hong Kong, says financial analyst Victor Shih in NTD. The reason Chinese entities are borrowing through Hong Kong is that the financial institutions around the world, including the International Monetary Fund, legally treat Hong Kong as a separate entity, he said.Read More →

China promised to open up its financial industry under the pressure of the ongoing trade war. But the industry was not right away impressed: they had heard this song often enough. Financial analyst Sara Hsu looks at how China is keeping its promises this time and says the country is still underdelivering, she writes in China Focus.Read More →

In its fight against an economic slowdown, China has opened the bank vaults again and pumped more credit into its financial systems, again, says political analyst Victor Shih, author of Factions and Finance in China: Elite Conflict and Inflation to the New York Times. It is an old solution in a country where debts are already at dangerous levels, he says.Read More →

After a lengthy crackdown on shadow banking, this risky financial tool seems to be back in grace as China’s economy is slowing down. It is the pragmatic way China’s financial authorities deal with the economy, financial analyst Sara Hsu says. Shadow banking will be allowed, as long as it works, she writes in China Focus.Read More →

China’s bad loans are increasing, but the country’s financial authorities have been trying to crack down on this source of financial stability. How are those efforts faring now China is suffering from a relative drop in economic growth. Financial analyst Sara Hsu discusses the dilemma’s the authorities are facing especially now the trade war is ongoing.Read More →

China’s financial institutions ponder on the pros and cons of a currency devaluation as the effects of the trade war with the US start to kick in. While devaluation is on the agenda, it would be a tricky road, says financial analyst Victor Shih, author of Factions and Finance in China: Elite Conflict and Inflation, at CapitalWatch.Read More →

Devaluating the Chinese Yuan can be an attractive, but also dangerous way for China to deal with the effect of the ongoing trade war, says financial and political analyst Victor Shih, author of Factions and Finance in China: Elite Conflict and Inflation to Reuters. ” It is likely that corruption is returning, which will undermine Chinese capital control measures.”Read More →