(Bloomberg) — Chinese shares fell, pushing a closely watched benchmark toward a bear market, as geopolitical tensions simmer ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration.
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The MSCI China Index dropped almost 1% on Friday, taking its decline from an Oct. 7 close to 20%. The CSI 300 Index of onshore Chinese shares was down 0.5% and has lost more than 4% in the new year.
Stocks have started 2025 on a weak note as investors brace for higher tariffs that may prolong China’s economic slowdown. The US blacklisted Tencent Holdings Ltd. and Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. this week for alleged links to the Chinese military, while the Biden administration is mulling another round of curbs on the export of artificial intelligence chips. The moves have rekindled fears that tensions will only worsen under incoming President Trump.
“In the near term, the market outlook for China remains mixed,” said Charu Chanana, chief investment strategist at Saxo Markets. “The biggest headwinds include the potential imposition of new US tariffs, ongoing domestic economic challenges such as weak local government finances, and deflationary risks.”
A stunning rally in Chinese shares late last year lost steam as investors’ hopes of a more forceful fiscal stimulus didn’t bear fruit. While authorities have continued to roll out fresh support measures, they have been piecemeal in nature and far short of market expectations.
Pessimism about an economy mired in a housing crisis and deflationary pressures has continued. China’s consumer inflation weakened further toward zero in December, decelerating for a fourth straight month in a setback for the government’s bid to drive up demand.
In their latest efforts, authorities unveiled plans to subsidize more consumer products and boost funding for industrial equipment upgrades. The central bank also reiterated a pledge to lower interest rates and the reserve requirement ratio for banks “at an appropriate time” to promote growth.
There’s a lack of positive catalysts for the market given a likely lull in major policy announcements until China’s so-called Two Sessions annual legislative meeting in March.
–With assistance from Winnie Hsu.
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