China Equities: Stay Ahead with Quality
We expect more resources and policy support across verticals to accelerate the long-term recovery
Chief Investment Office, Yeang Cheng Ling23 May 2023
  • China equity faced slowing export momentum, tensions in North Asia & uneven macro data readings
  • Share prices of China large banks & insurance companies performed well
  • They were supported by yields and earnings growth
  • Proposed split of Alibaba into separate units has set a precedent to crystalise embedded value
  • Stay invested in select themes in China according to our Barbell Strategy
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Quality will triumph volatility. China equities started the year on solid ground but surrendered its stellar performance and trailed that of global equities (Figure 1). Year-to-date (YTD), China equity index is flat compared to nearly 9% returns recorded by global equities. Some of the catalysts have taken longer than expected to materialise.

Among the headwinds surrounding China equities are slowing export momentum, tensions in the North Asia region, and uneven macro data readings. Nonetheless, we maintain the view that the performance of selected China-centric sectors should turn out well, as the momentum post reopening gains pace and market dislocation reverses.

Figure 1: China and global equities (Normalised)


Source: Bloomberg, DBS

Our ongoing constructive stance on China focuses on the following themes and adheres to our CIO Barbell Strategy framework. On the income side, we prefer China large state banks which reward investors with continuous and attractive yields. On the growth side, we continue to favour the insurance sector and large technology platform companies that have demonstrated solid profit track records. They are also beneficiaries of consumption recovery riding on the reopening momentum.


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