sign up log in
Want to go ad-free? Find out how, here.

90 seconds at 9 am: China targets waste, says 7% lowest growth it will tolerate; Dow and gold higher; NZ$1 = US$0.800, TWI = 75.4

90 seconds at 9 am: China targets waste, says 7% lowest growth it will tolerate; Dow and gold higher; NZ$1 = US$0.800, TWI = 75.4

Here's my summary of the key news overnight in 90 seconds at 9 am, including news from China.

China has banned government and Communist Party agencies from constructing new buildings for five years and told them to suspend projects that have already won approval as the country seeks to cut wasteful spending.

Premier Li Keqiang’s government also now says 7% growth is the bottom line for tolerance of an economic slowdown, signaling it will act to support expansion if necessary.

It is clearly backing away from the tougher line it took on reigning in bank credit expansion in the face of slowing prospects.

The Dow is up on upbeat earnings reports, hovering around its all-time highs, although volumes are reported to be light as the US moves into its summer holiday season. An important non-Dow stock, Apple, will report earnings today.

Gold and oil are higher on the day.

There is some important data to be released later today - 'event risk', as they say, will be high.

Firstly we will get our trade balance results for June and anything less than a $100 million surplus will be below expectations.

Then we get Aussie CPI which will probably confirm conditions are in place for another RBA rate cut on Tuesday week.

And finally we get the HSBC flash PMI for China which will give us an indication of how fast the Chinese economy is slowing.

The NZ dollar starts today back at 80.0 USc, 86.1 AUc, and the TWI is at 75.4.

No chart with that title exists.

We welcome your comments below. If you are not already registered, please register to comment.

Remember we welcome robust, respectful and insightful debate. We don't welcome abusive or defamatory comments and will de-register those repeatedly making such comments. Our current comment policy is here.

3 Comments

I like your condescending tone about event risk David.

 

Here is some Hickey bait from Stratfor about China that fits in nicely with your theme for the day :-P

Up
0

The oxymoron of all time.

Cut waste but maintain an unmaintainable 7%. They know they're in trouble.

 

Up
0

The IMF said China's reform rhetoric has not yet been matched by action. Investment is still at a world record 48pc of GDP, and consumption is still stuck at just 35pc. "Progress with rebalancing has been limited and is becoming increasingly urgent. A decisive shift toward a more consumer-based economy has yet to occur," it said.

 

It's just plain laughable - let them eat cake, eh?

Up
0