Analysts warn more detail needed on new China economic measures

Published

1 year ago

October 13, 2024

Analysts gave a cautious welcome to China’s announcement Saturday of fresh fiscal stimulus to revive its ailing economy but warned that more details — and specific headline figures — were needed before its effect could be fully assessed.

At a highly anticipated news conference, Beijing said it would issue special bonds to boost the capital available to banks, as well as allow local governments to borrow more.

The moves add to a series of measures unveiled in recent weeks that have included interest rate cuts and liquidity injections for banks, all aimed at kick-starting China’s dragging economy.

Leaders said recently that the government’s official growth target for this year of about five percent was within reach.

But economists have warned that a robust fiscal stimulus programme is necessary in order to boost domestic spending and achieve the full post-pandemic recovery that has so far eluded policymakers.

‘Devil in details’

“The surprise today is that there is no specific number,” Heron Lim of Moody’s Analytics told AFP after the Saturday press conference, saying it looked like the government was “still working on the minute details of the fiscal stimulus”.

“Unfortunately for China, the devil is in the details. It would be preferable that they do have some headline numbers for people to chew on,” he added.

“In the meantime, investors might be taking a step back until they are absolutely certain of the direction fiscal support is taking.”

Although Saturday’s news conference did not unveil a “bazooka” stimulus package, which investors have been clamouring for, comments by officials on expanding central support for the economy received some praise.

Finance Minister Lan Fo’an said the government was “accelerating the use of additional treasury bonds, and ultra-long-term special treasury bonds are also being issued for use”.

The debt ceiling of local governments would also be increased, in theory empowering them to spend more on infrastructure and protect jobs.

“These policies are in the right direction,” said Pinpoint Asset Management’s Zhang Zhiwei in a note.

“While (Lan) didn’t say explicitly that they will raise fiscal deficit, I think his comments imply that it is possible the government will raise fiscal deficit above three percent for next year,” he wrote.

Such a move would represent a “meaningful shift” in Beijing’s fiscal policy approach, said Zhang, helping to “boost domestic demand and mitigate the deflationary pressure in the economy”.

But the impact of new policies on China’s broader economic outlook will depend on their “size and composition” — again, details that have yet to be announced — he said.

Long-term change ahead?

A major focus of Saturday’s news conference was the government’s efforts to shield local authorities from spiralling debt that could have negative spillover into the economy.

Xing Zhaopeng, senior China strategist at ANZ, said the messaging showed officials were focused on “derisking local governments”.

A new quota for treasury and local bonds, as well as a debt swap programme that could reach 10 trillion yuan ($1.42 trillion) in the coming years, is expected, he said.

Such moves would represent “long-term and structural change”, Xing added, noting that “local governments are the growth drivers in China”.

Other headwinds — including sluggish consumption and high youth unemployment — threaten to dampen economic vitality.

“Fiscal commitment needs to be more robust to offset the drag from households and the private corporate sector,” Gary Ng, senior economist at Natixis, told AFP.

Beijing had not yet decided on the size of its eventual fiscal stimulus package, said Ng, “meaning the impact on growth will depend on whether such announcements are enough to boost confidence.

“More needs to be done regarding implementation and injecting actual new fiscal money.”

Gunmen k!ll President General of Ogidi community and one other in Anambra.

Published

17 minutes ago

February 7, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

Unidentified gunmen, suspected to be cultists, have k!lled a community leader and one other person in Anambra State.

The President-General of Ogidi community in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Ikwuka Okoye, popularly known as Anumili (pictured above), was k!lled on Friday, Feb. 6.

The attack was alleged to have been carried out by members of a rival cult group in revenge for the de@th of their leader, who was arrested and k!lled by local security operatives.

During the attack, which took place at the School Field, Ogidi, another man whose identity has yet to be ascertained was also gunned down.

The spokesman for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the incident in a press statement on Saturday.

Ikenga said the incident is allegedly linked to the recent capture and k!lling of a known notorious cultist within the community.

He said, “The Anambra State Police Command regrets the murd£r of the President-General of the Ogidi community and one other person. The incident, which occurred on the evening of February 6, 2026, at the School Field, Ogidi, is allegedly linked to the recent capture and k!lling of a known notorious cultist within the community.

“Following the report, police operatives swiftly took over the scene of the incident and commenced investigations. The command is currently working with eyewitness accounts and other available intelligence to identify and arrest the perpetrators.

“The Anambra State Police Command assures members of the public that all efforts are being intensified to bring those responsible to justice.

“Residents are urged to remain calm and cooperate with the police as investigations continue.

“Further developments will be communicated in due course.”

Police bust syndicate behind nude photo blackmail in Lagos

Published

15 hours ago

February 6, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

Men of the Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU), Lagos, have apprehended three suspects who allegedly run a cyber blackmail and extortion scheme in the state.

According to the spokesperson of the unit, DSP Ovie Ewhubare, the suspects get a hold of their victims explicit photos and then threaten to release them if a ransom is not paid.

He said that the suspects, two males and a female, were apprehended after a petition was filed by a complainant who reported being repeatedly threatened by unknown individuals demanding money.

“The complainant received several phone calls in which the callers threatened to release her nude photographs to the public if she failed to pay them. Acting out of fear and emotional distress, she transferred money to the suspects.

The situation escalated when the suspects demanded an additional N10 million, prompting her to formally petition the police,” he said

The police imagemaker state dthat upon receipt of the complaint, the Commissioner of Police, PSFU, Mr Kayode Ojapinwa, ordered the immediate deployment of operatives to investigate the matter.

“The investigation led to the arrest of the three suspects. Investigations revealed that one of the suspects gained unlawful access to the complainant’s mobile device and fraudulently transferred her nude photographs to his own device. Further findings indicated that he conspired with the other suspects and other accomplices currently at large to demand and receive money from the complainant in several tranches,” he said

According to him, the suspects are currently in police custody and are expected to be arraigned before a court of competent jurisdiction.

The image maker said that investigations were ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the syndicate and to recover all proceeds of the alleged crime.

Catholic Priest Collapses And D!es In Front Of Congregation While Walking To Tabernacle To Return Holy Communion

Published

19 hours ago

February 6, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

A Catholic priest has tragically passed away after suddenly collapsing in front of the congregation during Sunday mass.

The tragic incident took place last Sunday, February 1 in Wiesmath in the district of Wiener Neustadt, Austria.

Shortly after administering Holy Communion, 59-year-old priest Raimund Beisteiner was about to return the host to the tabernacle when he “suddenly” collapsed, according to a statement from the Archdiocese of Vienna.

“Despite immediate professional assistance, he di£d in the church,” the statement said.

The mayor of Wiesmath, Erich Rasner, had also attended the Mass with many other believers and witnessed the dramatic scenes.

The shock in Wiesmath at the loss of the popular priest is great. Beisteiner had shaped the spiritual life of the parish for almost two decades and was highly regarded far beyond the community.

Rasner praised him as an “extremely conscientious, sensitive priest” and also emphasized the personal loss of a friendship that had grown over many years.

A prayer service was organized at short notice for the late priest. It was attended by numerous priests from the deanery as well as Archbishop Josef Grünwidl.