DeepSeek's Rise Attracts Foreign Capital to China
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In recent times,the landscape of investment in China has transformed dramatically,propelled by advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and supported by a favorable governmental stance towards private enterprises.The emergence of DeepSeek,a new search engine developed by Elon Musk's xAI,has intensified the global race in AI and simultaneously attracted waves of foreign capital to Chinese financial markets.
The momentum in investments has seen a marked rise—making headlines as global hedge funds flood into China at what some analysts claim to be the fastest pace in months.Reports suggest that the recent bullish trend in the Chinese market following the Lunar New Year holiday can be attributed to aggressive buying from overseas hedge funds and other trading entities,indicating their growing confidence in Chinese assets.
A notable observation comes from Song Yu,Chief Economist at BlackRock China,who articulated a shifting perception among foreign investors.With the Chinese government rolling out supportive policies for private enterprises,there seems to be a renewed optimism towards the Chinese economy.This positive outlook not only boosts external investment but also enhances the confidence of domestic companies,creating a positive feedback loop that strengthens the economy further.
The resurgence in the Hong Kong stock market,particularly in the technology sector,has coincided with these developments.For example,the shares of Xiaomi Group reached a new high,soaring by 7.2% on a particular trading day,which has invigorated several related funds,including the Bosera CSI Hong Kong Stock Connect Internet ETF.Overall,the post-holiday market performance in both A-shares and Hong Kong stocks suggests the presence of aggressive buying power,much attributed to external and active investments.
Data supports this observation; passive fund inflows into the A-share market alone rose significantly,with an influx of $430 million recorded in just one week.Notably,the net inflow into Hong Kong stocks reached $280 million during the same period,with a dramatic increase in passive fund inflows,doubling from the previous week.This trend signifies a strategic pivot among investors looking towards markets with potential for growth.
The insights from China International Capital Corporation (CICC) propose that the liquidity dynamics are significantly shifting.They highlighted that while long-term foreign capital may have been traditionally seen as the backbone of market stability,the flexibility of passive and trading funds allows them to quickly capitalize on market volatility,making them essential market players in times of rapid rebounds.
Moreover,as foreign investments heighten their presence in China,they are concurrently pulling funds from other markets.Recent reports indicate a troubling trend in the Indian market,where active foreign capital outflows soared,suggesting a repositioning by investors who are now favoring Chinese stocks over Indian equities.Institutions like Hanya Investment and Invesco have publicly acknowledged increases in their allocations towards Chinese stocks while simultaneously reducing their holdings in India.
The surge in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) dedicated to Chinese stocks encapsulates this trend.The Direxion ETF focused on the FTSE China Index has famously scaled up to $2.2 billion in assets,a remarkable increase compared to figures from late 2023.Additionally,other ETFs centered on Chinese internet stocks and large-cap firms are also seeing substantial asset growth,indicating a robust appetite for Chinese assets among international investors.
With the persistent strength in Chinese assets,investment firms continuously refine their bullish viewpoints.
Goldman Sachs recently raised its 12-month target for the MSCI China index,reflecting a growing belief in the resilience and potential of Chinese markets.Noteworthy forecasts suggest that Chinese stocks could emerge as the top-performing segment globally,fueled by historically low valuations and the untapped potential of AI innovations,promising a promising turnaround.
The crux of the matter lies in the ongoing reassessment of value among technology assets in China,driven in no small part by developments like DeepSeek.Market analysts are now posed with a critical question: how long can this uptrend endure?Song noted that the duration of this reassessment largely hinges on the effectiveness and consistency of governmental policies.The longer and more robust the support from authorities,the more prolonged and significant the revaluation process will be.
In addition,Morgan Asset Management's Yang Jingyu remarked that while DeepSeek's emergence may seem like an overnight success,the road to innovation involves extensive research and trial.The expectation of continuous technological breakthroughs suggests that the journey of value reassessment in Chinese tech companies is far from over.
One of the most compelling perspectives comes from JPMorgan analysts,who emphasize that the current surge of AI-driven tech stocks is not a fleeting phenomenon.Drawing parallels with the U.S.market's historical trends,they suggest that positive market behaviors combined with widespread participation could prolong the wave of valuation readjustments significantly.This is underscored by substantial increases in holdings of powerhouse companies like Alibaba by renowned investment firms,reflecting a broader shift in investor sentiment towards Chinese markets.
In essence,the convergence of favorable policies,the innovative potential of AI technologies,and a recovering sentiment among international investors paints an optimistic picture for the future of Chinese markets.While uncertainties remain regarding the sustainability of these trends,the current trajectory suggests that China is redefining its position in the global investment landscape.