Stock market: China in free fall with a staggering loss of 6 trillion dollars

China finds itself at the heart of an economic storm of rare intensity. Indeed, the Middle Kingdom has seen no less than $6 trillion evaporate in two years, a staggering figure that prompts questions about the drastic measures taken in response. Among these, the ban on short selling is seen as a radical decision. Get ready for a journey into the heart of finance, where economic dragons battle against headwinds with armor made of greenbacks and sharp regulatory swords.

Red Alert on the Chinese Markets!

While the SP 500 reaches new heights, the Chinese financial scene has been transformed into an operational theater where the main actors, namely investors and regulators, play a piece with colossal stakes.

The suspension of short selling by Citic Securities, China’s largest state-owned brokerage, rings out like a cannon shot announcing a pitched battle against the invisible forces of the market.

Other brokers have followed suit, banning the use of margin loans for this practice often viewed as a bet against the health of companies.

The disappearance of $6 trillion since the 2021 peak is both a symptom and a catalyst for panic. Historically, such bans have not succeeded in providing a lasting breath of life to the markets.

They have even often exacerbated the problem by harming liquidity, which is essential for the healthy functioning of the stock market. Yet, in a desperate bid for control, regulators have limited short selling, trying to close a gap exploited by investment strategists to the detriment of the small saver.

A Titanic Bailout Plan

Facing this financial hemorrhage, Chinese authorities have brandished a colossal $278 billion bailout plan. An astronomical sum, mobilized primarily from offshore accounts of Chinese public companies, aimed to be injected directly into the economy with, among other things, stock buybacks.

This bold move seeks to stabilize a wobbly stock market, but its long-term success remains an enigma wrapped in the mists of the future.

The real estate crisis, the slump in consumer sentiment, and the withdrawal of foreign investment make up a potent cocktail that is straining the economy and Chinese financial markets.

In a dramatic pullback, foreign capital is fleeing the country, exacerbating an already precarious situation. Officials, in an attempt to minimize the impact on a weakened yuan, seek to redirect offshore money towards strategic investments.

The ongoing stock market crisis also puts pressure on derivatives linked to Chinese assets, with potentially disastrous consequences for investors worldwide. The CSI Smallcap 500 index, to name just one, plummeted by 4.7% in a single day, illustrating the palpable nervousness of the markets.

In short, the financial situation in China is a brutal reminder of the interconnectedness of global economies and the speed with which confidence can evaporate, leading to dramatic consequences for economies and individuals. As China makes titanic efforts to contain this freefall, the outcome of this battle remains uncertain. However, China has defied the odds at Davos.