Wingate questions China's growth story
Wingate Asset Management has reiterated warnings that investors cannot trust China's official growth numbers when investing in the country.
An 8 or 9 per cent growth rate per year with government interference wasn't possible when coupled with such a low rate of volatility, Wingate chief investment officer Chad Padowitz warned.
"It's just too fast, with too many moving parts to make it realistic that you can believe those numbers," he said.
"The Government tells you one day before the end of the month what they grew at: no-one has that good a system," he added.
Investors should look at underlying data of electricity generation, cement demand, and oil demand and consumption, which indicated a far slower economy, Padowitz said.
He also questioned why the Government would be talking about providing a stimulus when its supposed growth was so high.
China has to rebalance their economy because fixed asset investment was outstripping consumption. Fixed asset investment comprises 60 per cent of the economy compared to 30 per cent in consumption, Padowitz said.
There has to be very low fixed asset investment in the future, which would have significant ramifications for commodity growth in Australia, irrespective of how fast the Government says the economy grows, he said.
Recommended for you
Digital advice tools are on the rise, but licensees will need to ensure they still meet adviser obligations or potentially risk a class action if clients lose money from a rogue algorithm.
Shaw and Partners has merged with Sydney wealth manager Kennedy Partners Wealth, while Ord Minnett has hired a private wealth adviser from Morgan Stanley.
Australian investors are more confident than their APAC peers in reaching their financial goals and are targeting annual gains of more than 10 per cent, according to Fidelity International.
Zenith Investment Partners has lost its head of portfolio solutions Steven Tang after 17 years with the firm, the latest in a series of senior exits from the research house.
