The China Trade:Outlook For Equities

The last four years,stocks have done pretty well,but with volatility,according to Chris Blum,head of Global Equities at JP Morgan Private Bank.The volatility will be much less than in the last couple of years.Global coordinated central bank action will lower volatility and get people into equities.
People expect a 15-20% pullback,but those days are history.They will be in the mid-single digits.The key is that people have rules and follow them when things get tough.
We like China.That equities market has lagged the US by 30%.China has a much better balance sheet as a country.They are deficient in human rights.As it relates to fostering growth,I think it is a fantastic system.They reach decisions behind closed doors and implement them.
Citigroup says Chinese stocks will beat those of the G20 in 2013.The Shanghai stock index has risen 3.4%,the most since June 2012.
China is burning as much coal as the rest of the world combined,notes The Washington Post.The HSBC China PMI shows manufacturing expanding at the fastest pace in two years.
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Asian Market Voices

We probably don't need QE3,or more Federal Reserve asset purchases,in the view of Tim Riddell,Head of Global Markets Research at Australian bank ANZ.I expect a relatively positive end to the third quarter.
It's not over for Greece.They've got a lot of problems.
Mario Draghi has shifted the whole focus of the European Central Bank.He's really doing a good job.
The Shanghai market could be a big shifter into the next quarter.We could get a 10.5% rebound going into the next month or two.The downside risk is only 2-4%.The skew to me is,look to get involved.
I think China's home prices have bottomed,said Nicole Wong,Head of Real Property Research at CLSA.Today 92% of buyers are end users,as opposed to investors,versus 50-60% a few years ago.The supply is getting a little bit tight at this time.
The new governent will have to think about the next few years.A lot of the tightening will stay just a warning.Supply is plummeting and demand is quite stable.Those developers with positive cash flow will be in the best position.
Another rate cut will make money in the bank feel more and more painful.
CLSA stands for Credit Lyonnais Securities Asia.It claims to be Asia's leading and longest running independent brokerage and investment group.The Hong Kong-based firm offers investment banking,equity broking and asset management to global corporate and insitutional clients.Credit Agricole is their main shareholder.

CNBC Asia:2012 Outlook

CNBC Asia's Karen Tso offered a number of points for investors to consider in 2012:I don't think we're gonna be worried about China anymore.People are being defensive.
Thailand and Indonesia are consumption stories.Thailand's main policy is to increase the minimum wage.
The Shanghai Composite is down more than 20% this year.From a valuation perspective,it's one of the cheapest markets in Asia.There could be a big upside in early 2012.
In Asia,central banks loosening monetary policy could be potentially positive for stocks,Ms.Tso observed.
Karen Tso,based in Singapore,is co-host of CNBC Asia's "Squawk Box" programme.She has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Griffiths University in Queensland,Australia.A business journalist for more than 10 years,Ms.Tso came to CNBC from Australia's News Nine.
Extra:Recent data suggests the growing influence of China's middle and upper classes.China's grain companies have bought 18 million tonnes of new grain,according to the Xinhua news agency.Chinese pork prices rose up to 0.3% in mid-December trading,and China just overtook India in jewelry sales.

Shanghai Develops Its Exchange

The Shanghai stock exchange is a growing proposition.It recently introduced stock index futures to its offerings,although it has only one-fifth of the volume of the New York exchanges and still needs a completely convertible currency.Shanghai is seeking to become a global financial center by 2020,and many new skyscrapers and apartment blocks have been built there in the past few years to support that ambition.
Dr.Fang Xinghai,Director General,Office of Financial Services,Shanghai Metropolitan Government,admitted that the Shanghai stock market is still largely closed to outsiders,but it is being opened up gradually.It will be a market of global size.Although it is not open yet,you can still call it a global financial center.The first logical step would be to open up the outflow capital account,so that their savings may be used more efficiently throughout the world.
The British bank HSBC has expressed an interest in selling shares in Shanghai.Initially,it was just financial companies who wanted to list there.Later,manufacturing firms,telecoms and consumer companies all expressed an interest.Even now,the Shanghai exchange is among the leaders in commodities futures,Mr.Fang asserted.

Niederauer Tours Asia

Duncan Niederauer,CEO of NYSE/Euronext,has been touring Asia recently.He found China to be pretty optimistic.Visiting Beijing and Shanghai,he saw plenty of evidence of China's stimulus at work,he said.They're gonna leave no stone unturned for the Shanghai Expo,Mr.Niederauer observed.
Mr.Niederauer also spent a lot of time in India.What sets India apart is a lot more domestic demand,he noted.I think India can weather the storm because of the domestic demand that's so inherent,while China is trying to build up areas away from the coast.They're exploring opening up their market,allowing initial public offerings.I think they're gonna go step by step,being very conservative,the NYSE/Euronext executive remarked.

Financial Centres Appraised

The Global Financial Centres Index has been released.The index is based on a statistical model and the opinions of experts.Factors considered include excellence of access,skill level of staff,and proportionality of regulatory regime.The rankings were:1.London,2.New York,3.Hong Kong,4.Singapore and 5.Zurich.Dubai and Shanghai are centres to watch.Singapore is gaining on Hong Kong,and centres at the bottom,such as Moscow,are continuing to climb.