Investment Rating - The report upgrades the 2025 full-year GDP growth forecast to 4.7% from 4% previously projected [5][54]. Core Insights - Robust Q2 GDP growth of 5.2% YoY was supported by better retail sales and solid exports, despite ongoing property downturn and decelerating fixed asset investment (FAI) growth [2][9]. - The property downturn is expected to continue in H2 2025, impacting construction activities and consumer confidence [3][34]. - Additional policy stimulus is anticipated to be modest and data-dependent, with expectations of a fiscal stimulus of >0.5% of GDP in H2 [4][42]. Summary by Sections Economic Growth - Q2 GDP growth was 5.2% YoY, slightly lower than Q1's 5.4% [7][9]. - Industrial production growth edged down to 6.2% YoY in Q2 from 6.5% in Q1, while service value-added growth improved [9][15]. - The report anticipates a deceleration in economic growth in H2, particularly in Q4, with expected GDP growth of 4.7% YoY in Q3 and below 4% YoY in Q4 [5][54]. Exports and Trade - China's exports grew by 6.2% YoY in Q2, with a revised full-year export growth forecast of 1% for 2025 [3][29]. - Exports to the US are expected to decline deeper in H2 due to tariff shocks and front-loading effects [3][29]. - The report notes that global demand for Chinese goods outside the US appears better than expected, with strong growth in exports to ASEAN and EU [26][29]. Fixed Asset Investment - FAI growth decelerated to 2.1% YoY in Q2 from 4.2% in Q1, with property investment contracting by -12.1% [13][54]. - Equipment purchases remained strong, contributing positively to overall FAI growth [13][19]. Consumption - Retail sales growth moderated to 4.8% YoY in June from 6.4% in May, with expectations of decelerating consumption growth in H2 due to high base effects from trade-in subsidies [11][35]. - The report highlights that household disposable income growth may slow, impacting consumption without fiscal subsidies [35][54]. Policy Stimulus - The government is expected to deliver additional fiscal stimulus in H2, but the scale is likely to be modest at >0.5% of GDP [4][42]. - The People's Bank of China (PBC) is anticipated to cut policy rates by another 20-30 basis points in H2 [4][42]. Currency Outlook - The report suggests that the Chinese Yuan (CNY) may strengthen in the near term but could weaken towards the end of 2025, with expectations of a range of 7.0-7.3 against the US dollar in H2 [56][54].

Market Outlook & Strategy - The firm maintains an overweight position in equities since early May [1][2] - Positive July seasonality, especially after strong May and June gains (greater than 5%), suggests continued market strength [3] - Expects the rate of the rally to slow down after July [5] Earnings & Fundamentals - Earnings estimates have come down more than necessary due to tariff concerns, potentially creating a lower bar for companies to surpass in the second half of the year [6] Fiscal Policy Impact - The US is running 6-7% deficits, which equates to 6-7% unfunded money creation into the economy, serving as a backbone for the economy and market [7] - Fiscal stimulus is a significant factor supporting the market, even with struggles in areas like home building and housing [8] Investment Flows - Systematic bids that were forced out during the VA event in April are getting back in [5][6]

Summary of Key Points from the Conference Call Industry or Company Involved - The discussion primarily revolves around the economic comparisons between **China** and **Japan**, particularly focusing on Japan's economic history and its implications for China's current economic situation. Core Insights and Arguments 1. **Economic Parallels**: China is facing challenges similar to those Japan encountered during its economic downturns in the 1980s and 1990s, including rising trade frictions, a deflating property bubble, and high debt levels [2][3][7]. 2. **Growth Potential**: Despite these challenges, China's growth potential remains significantly higher than Japan's, with opportunities for catch-up in per capita income and productivity [3][7]. 3. **Lessons from Japan**: Three key lessons from Japan's experience are highlighted for China to avoid stagnation: - **Fiscal Stimulus**: Japan's cautious fiscal response post-bubble was insufficient. China needs to implement more substantial fiscal measures to boost consumer confidence and combat deflation [30][33]. - **Monetary Easing**: Japan's slow monetary easing contributed to prolonged deflation. China must ensure that its monetary policy is sufficiently accommodative to stimulate growth [44][50]. - **Structural Reforms**: Japan's delayed action on bad debts hindered recovery. China must address its non-performing loans and implement structural reforms to enhance productivity and consumption [56][61][80]. Additional Important Content 1. **Trade Imbalances**: The report discusses the structural imbalances in global trade, emphasizing that China must reduce its investment and increase domestic consumption to alleviate trade tensions with the US [9][10]. 2. **Demographic Challenges**: Both countries face demographic issues, with an increasing proportion of elderly citizens, which could impact economic growth [20][24]. 3. **Consumer Confidence**: China's consumer confidence is currently weak, and the report suggests that without proactive measures, this could lead to entrenched deflation similar to Japan's experience [30][49]. 4. **Debt Management**: China is actively working on managing local government debt and has implemented measures to address bad debts, but more aggressive actions may be necessary [62][63]. 5. **Emerging Technologies**: The report notes that China has the potential to leverage advancements in technology, particularly in AI, to drive productivity gains and economic growth [79][80]. This summary encapsulates the critical insights and recommendations from the conference call, focusing on the economic dynamics between China and Japan and the lessons that can be applied to China's current economic strategy.

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the industry Core Insights - China's real GDP grew by 5.4% year-on-year in 1Q, with a solid quarterly expansion of 6.6% seasonally adjusted annual rate (saar) [1] - March activity data exceeded expectations, with industrial production rising 7.7% year-on-year and retail sales increasing by 5.9% year-on-year [1] - The report highlights a significant rebound in March exports, which grew by 10.1% month-on-month saar, attributed to front-loaded exports ahead of tariff increases [1] - The average US tariff on China has reached 110%, which is expected to reduce China's growth by 3 percentage points in a static analysis [1] - Leading indicators show a decline in manufacturing PMIs in April, indicating the initial impact of tariffs on new orders and export orders [1] - The report anticipates a deceleration in growth to 1.6% saar in 2Q and 0.4% saar in 3Q due to external risks and tariff impacts [1] Summary by Sections Key Economic Statistics - China's nominal GDP for 2024 is projected at USD 18,160 billion, with real GDP growth rates forecasted at 5.2% for 2023, 5.0% for 2024, and 4.1% for 2025 [8] - Consumer prices in China are expected to remain low, with projections of 0.2% for 2023 and -0.3% for 2025 [8] Recent Policy Measures - The report outlines a two-step policy response approach, with immediate measures focusing on faster deployment of approved options and potential additional fiscal stimulus around July [1] - The first stage includes rapid issuance of government bonds and monetary easing, while the second stage may introduce 1 trillion yuan in additional central government bonds [1] Manufacturing and Industrial Activity - The manufacturing PMI declined in April, indicating a contraction in new orders and export orders, which may lead to weaker production and higher unemployment [1] - High-frequency data shows a 40% drop in container shipping to the US in April, suggesting a shift towards transshipment strategies [1]