Today's Market Focus: China's "National Team" Steps In to Increase Holdings in the Big Four Banks

Market Review

Key Headlines

China's Market

1. "National Team" increases holdings in the Big Four Banks

Agricultural Bank of China, Bank of China, China Construction Bank, and Industrial and Commercial Bank of China have announced successively that Huijin Company has increased its A-share holdings in these banks. It is also planning to continue purchasing shares of the Big Four banks on the secondary market in its own name over the next six months. Based on the closing prices of the Big Four banks on October 11, Huijin Company's investment amounts were approximately 130 million yuan in ICBC (4.72 yuan per share), 136 million yuan in ABC (3.65 yuan per share), 94 million yuan in BOC (3.77 yuan per share), and 117 million yuan in CCB (6.34 yuan per share), totaling about 477 million yuan.

2. PBoC steadily advances regional financial reforms

The People's Bank of China held its 2023 research work video conference. The meeting comprehensively summarized the PBoC's research system work since 2022, analyzed the current economic and financial situation, and deployed near-term key research tasks. The meeting called for the PBoC's research business lines to deepen the study of forward-looking and fundamental major issues, effectively link green finance and transition finance, steadily advance regional financial reforms, and actively promote international economic and financial exchanges and cooperation.

3. Nine provinces plan to issue special refinancing bonds

Following the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Tianjin City, and Liaoning Province, Jiangxi Province has also joined the ranks of local governments planning to issue special refinancing bonds, intending to issue 15.6 billion yuan to repay existing debt. This means that nine provinces across the country have disclosed plans to issue special refinancing bonds, totaling 410.232 billion yuan. Documents disclosed by Jiangxi Province's Finance Department on the China Bonds website show that Jiangxi Province plans to issue a total face value of 15.6 billion yuan in refinancing bonds on October 18.

Overseas Market

1. Federal Reserve meeting minutes reveal internal differences

Recently released minutes from the September Federal Reserve monetary policy meeting show that the decision-makers unanimously believed that high interest rates should be maintained "for some time" and advocated "careful action" regarding rate decisions. This minutes' release echoed the hawkish signal of continued tightening mentioned previously but was somewhat dovish compared to the minutes of the July meeting.

2. U.S. PPI rebounds for the third consecutive month

Persistent inflation, driven by a surge in natural gas prices and deposit service prices, led to U.S. PPI data in September significantly exceeding expectations, adding complexity to the Fed's interest rate hike path for November. Specifically, the Final Demand Goods Index increased by 0.9% for the third consecutive month. The main reason for the higher-than-expected PPI increase was the final demand energy prices rising by 3.3%, with the gasoline index increasing by 5.4% (as shown below).

3. Putin strongly hints that production cuts will continue

Russian President Vladimir Putin, during the "Russian Energy Week" conference in Moscow, expressed his confidence that cooperation with OPEC+ would continue. This is very important for the predictability of the oil market and ultimately for the welfare of all humanity. OPEC+ members will fully fulfill their commitments and successfully meet all challenges. Putin highlighted the need to focus on the global economy and warned that if supplies were not significantly reduced, oil prices could have already fallen below $50 per barrel. Media commentary suggests that Putin's statements indicate OPEC+ will continue coordination to ensure predictability in the oil market and strongly hinted that agreements to restrict global market supply will persist.

4. U.S. oil exports hit a record high in the first half of the year

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported that U.S. crude oil exports reached a historic high in the first half of the year, averaging 3.99 million barrels per day, an increase of nearly 20% from the first half of 2022. The largest destination for U.S. crude oil exports was Europe, averaging 1.75 million barrels per day, mainly to the Netherlands and the UK. Asia was the second-largest destination for U.S. crude oil exports, with 1.68 million barrels per day, most of which were exported to China and South Korea.

Focus Today

Today, investors should pay attention to the UK August GDP, seasonally adjusted trade balance and industrial output, the U.S. September CPI and core CPI, initial jobless claims, EIA crude oil inventories, and other economic data. Additionally, investors should also monitor the Israel-Palestine situation, IEA and OPEC monthly oil market reports, the European Central Bank's September monetary policy meeting minutes, the G7 finance ministers' meeting, and other risk events.