FX.co ★ China Stocks Open Week on Uneven Note

The Shanghai Composite inched up 0.2% to 3,820 on Monday, while the Shenzhen Component slipped 0.4% to 12,589, as investors adopted a cautious stance ahead of key economic data due later this week. China’s growth outlook remains heavily dependent on external demand, with subdued domestic consumption continuing to drag on overall momentum.

Upcoming figures are expected to show faster consumer and producer inflation, with export growth forecast to strengthen modestly and import growth to lose pace. These data will provide fresh indications of the durability of external demand and underline the structural challenges still facing China’s domestic economy.

On the trade front, the European Union announced that China had agreed to cut hybrid vehicle exports to the bloc by several million units, as the EU proceeds with safeguard measures aimed at curbing imports.

In equity markets, financials advanced, with notable gains in Agricultural Bank of China (up 1%), Bank of China (up 1.5%) and China Merchants Bank (up 1.1%). By contrast, technology shares retreated, led by Eoptolink Technology (down 1.9%), Zhongji Innolight (down 1.7%) and Victory Giant Technology (down 1.4%).