The Best of Chinese Commentators

Following the hot money

  • Published 17 Sep 2009

Is the hot money that flowed into China in Q2 ready to depart now that the US economy shows signs of recovery?

At the end of June, China’s foreign reserves reached $2,130bn (Rmb 14,549bn, €1,459bn, £1,290bn). The increase in the world’s largest reserves in 1H was $185.6bn, of which $177.8bn was added in Q2 alone. However, the trade surplus and inflow of foreign direct investment in 1H were $96.93bn and $43bn respectively – considerably short of the total build-up in reserves. This seems to imply large hot money inflows, but will the money now stay in China or flee overseas once more?

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