(WSJ) BEIJING -- China unveiled an economic stimulus program it billed as totaling $586 billion, aiming to bolster domestic demand and help avert a global recession.
Though the two-year package appeared to include some previously announced measures, its size was clearly designed to revive the fading confidence of Chinese businesses and consumers, and impress foreign governments. Asian shares rallied sharply early Monday on the Chinese announcement, with benchmark stock indexes in Tokyo, Hong Kong and Shanghai all jumping close to or above 5% in the early hours of trading.
The announced sum of four trillion yuan represents about 16% of China's economic output last year, and is roughly equal to the total of all central and local government spending in 2006. New spending of even half that amount would be substantial next to China's six trillion yuan annual budget for this year.
The plan includes spending in housing, infrastructure, agriculture, health care and social welfare, and features a tax deduction for capital spending by companies.
China's economy won't be able to absorb so much spending immediately: Economists expect one or two more quarters of slowing growth at a minimum before a rebound could take hold.
Beijing has long held that economic growth of at least 8% is needed to provide the improvement of employment and incomes the ruling Communist Party relies on for popular support. China's growth has slowed to its weakest pace in five years, with output expanding just 9% in the third quarter from a year earlier after gaining nearly 12% in 2007.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Xie-Xie(thank you) China.
China surprised the market pleasantly. I am convinced that they will continue to achieve 8% GDP growth. However, the rest of the world must also chip in to help themselves to boost their economies either by fiscal or monetary policy. I am seeing a much brighter side of 2010. However, the market tends to have very short memory. Good news like this will quickly push up the share price but they will also quick to knock down the price when they are confronted with bad numbers(buying opportunities) which lagging behind efforts like this that will show real results in 9 - 12 months later. I begin to take a more positive stance - return of the Great Depression II is getting slimmer.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment