汇丰孙鸿志：中国债券市场外资持仓比例翻番并非不切实际

Core Viewpoint - The international influence and attractiveness of China's bond market have significantly increased, with foreign institutions holding nearly 4.28 trillion yuan in Chinese bonds as of June 2025, marking a nearly 400% growth since the launch of the Bond Connect in 2017. However, foreign investors' share in the total bond market remains low at only 2.3% [1][4]. Group 1: Growth Drivers for Foreign Investment - The primary factors driving foreign investment in Chinese bonds include attractive yields, particularly after adjusting for USD, which saw a surge in investment last year [4]. - The demand for portfolio diversification is another key factor, as RMB bonds have a low correlation with financial assets from other countries, making them an important addition to investment portfolios [4]. - Passive funds tracking Chinese bond indices also contribute to the increase in foreign holdings of Chinese bonds [5]. Group 2: Role of Bond Connect - The Bond Connect mechanism has been deemed very successful, particularly for asset owners like central banks and pension funds, while overseas asset management firms and hedge funds prefer this mechanism for its familiarity with Hong Kong's infrastructure and rules [6]. - This mechanism has enhanced foreign investor participation, interest, and market liquidity [6]. Group 3: Future Outlook and Potential Growth - There is a belief that the foreign holding ratio in China's bond market could realistically double to 5% or even 7% in the medium to long term, given the potential for growth compared to other major markets [10]. - Current foreign investment levels in China's bond market are significantly lower than those in markets like the UK (over 30%), France (over 25%), and the US (around 10%) [9][10]. Group 4: Recommendations for Market Improvement - To achieve higher foreign investment ratios, further policy measures are needed to deepen market innovation, such as allowing international investors to re-mortgage collateral and enhancing the ecosystem for comprehensive trading and hedging tools [11][12]. - The introduction of more RMB risk management tools and the establishment of mechanisms for foreign investors in credit derivatives could enhance confidence and encourage greater investment in China's credit bond market [13]. Group 5: Panda Bonds and Dim Sum Bonds - The expansion of the Panda bond market is expected to continue, driven by the attractive yield advantage of these bonds and regulatory relaxations that allow funds to be used both domestically and internationally [14]. - The offshore RMB bond market, known as Dim Sum bonds, has also seen accelerated growth, with issuance exceeding 1.6 trillion yuan last year, tripling from 2021, and contributing to the internationalization of the RMB [14].