China’s escalating push to have its banking behemoths back up struggling property firms is adding to a maelstrom of woes for the US$57 trillion (S$76 trillion) sector.
Already stung by soaring bad loans and record-low net interest margins, lenders such as the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) may soon be asked for the first time to provide unsecured loans to developers, many of which are in default or teetering on the brink of collapsing.
The risky lifeline threatens to exacerbate an already bleak outlook. ICBC and 10 other major banks may in 2024 need to set aside an additional US$89 billion for bad real estate debt, or 21 per cent of estimated pre-provisions profits in 2024, according to Bloomberg Intelligence. Lenders are now weighing lowering growth targets and cutting jobs as among possible options, according to at least a dozen bankers, who asked not to be named discussing internal matters.
China’s banks have been caught between the opposing demands of providing “national service” by supporting the property sector and distressed local governments, and their obligation to run a sound business. Boosting profits has almost become mission impossible for some.
Beijing ratcheted up pressure on the lenders even more last week to reverse the housing meltdown. Regulators are working on a draft list of firms eligible for bank support, while weighing a plan for lenders to offer developers unsecured loans for the first time. This is on top of a recent order for the banks to roll over local government debt at favourable terms to avert a crisis in that US$9 trillion market.
Denne historien er fra November 29, 2023-utgaven av The Straits Times.
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Denne historien er fra November 29, 2023-utgaven av The Straits Times.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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