China’s $1.7 trillion hangover

China’s $1.7 trillion hangover

Up to 40% of China’s $1.7 trillion LGFV loans are at high risk of default. What’s a panicking Beijing to do?

The money network:

The money network:

Why crowdfunding threatens traditional bank lending

January 2010

Inflation fears make China crucial to gold price

Domestic production a growing factor; State intent on building bigger gold reserves


China has become the world’s largest gold producer

Throughout the recession gold has been a solid buffer against global financial uncertainty. Spot prices have jumped every year since 2003, rising to $833.70 an ounce by the beginning of 2008 and $1,079.32 by January 1 2010. Global prices continued climbing into the new year, standing at just under $1,130 at midday trading on January 7, defying bears who predicted a crash in early December 2009 when gold hit a record high of $1,215.70.

Analysts expect 2010 to be a slow and steady year for gold: no troughs but also no new peaks, nothing to upset the status quo. Richard Leung, an analyst at CLSA in Hong Kong and an expert on China’s precious metals markets, expects the price to stabilize at about $1,100 by the end of the year, with an upper limit of...


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