Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the recent improvement in the Chinese stock market, emphasizing the importance of understanding the financial cycle perspective to explain the market's positive performance despite ongoing economic downward pressure [2][5]. Group 1: Financial Cycle vs Economic Cycle - The financial cycle adjustment leads to a significant deterioration in balance sheets, while the economic cycle adjustment has a relatively smaller impact on balance sheets [6][9]. - In the financial cycle adjustment phase, the stock market may experience a "reallocation" effect driven by balance sheet changes, whereas in the economic cycle adjustment, the stock market's recovery is more synchronized with economic improvements [12][11]. - The ideal policy mix differs between the two cycles; the financial cycle requires more fiscal stimulus, while the economic cycle relies more on monetary policy [7][30]. Group 2: Three-Step Process of Stock Market Recovery - The recovery of the stock market post-financial cycle adjustment can be divided into three steps: 1. Housing market adjustment and deterioration of private balance sheets, leading to an increase in the proportion of safe assets [3][12]. 2. Policy intervention to stabilize growth and improve private balance sheets, increasing the attractiveness of risk assets relative to safe assets, resulting in a rise in the stock market [3][12]. 3. Economic recovery, transitioning the stock market from being driven by reallocation effects to being driven by earnings [3][12]. Group 3: Factors Supporting Stock Market Rebound - Several factors support the current rebound in the Chinese stock market, including accelerated technological advancements and a correction of overly cautious market expectations regarding the medium to long-term economic outlook [3][47]. - The government's increased focus on the economy, housing market, and stock market has led to a perception that downside risks are limited [3][47]. - The decline in the cost-effectiveness of safe asset allocations has motivated investors to increase their allocation to risk assets, further supporting the stock market [3][47]. Group 4: Comparison with International Experiences - The article draws comparisons with the U.S. financial cycle, noting that the U.S. stock market recovery post-financial cycle adjustment occurred earlier than the recovery of nominal GDP and the housing market [17][15]. - The U.S. experience shows that stock prices may recover before economic indicators due to improvements in corporate balance sheets, even when the economy has not yet shown signs of recovery [11][21]. - Japan's experience illustrates that addressing debt issues is crucial for stock market recovery, as the Japanese market did not stabilize until after significant debt problems were resolved [41][43]. Group 5: Implications for China - The financial cycle adjustment in China is expected to have a lesser impact on various sectors' balance sheets compared to the U.S. and Japan during their respective financial crises [51][56]. - The heavy debt burden on local governments in China poses challenges, but improving balance sheets could support corporate development and enhance stock market potential [56][53]. - The article suggests that the ongoing structural improvements in the Chinese economy, particularly in innovation, may lead to a more resilient market compared to past financial cycle adjustments in other countries [56][58].
中金：股市“三步曲”