PBOC Loan Program Sparks Buybacks, Long-Term Value Doubt
- At least 23 companies apply for loans after PBOC announcement
- Central bank provides 300b yuan for corporate buyback loans
The People's Bank of China in Beijing, China.
Source: Bloomberg
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The Chinese central bank’s program to fund loans for share buybacks has provided immediate support for stock prices but also raised questions about its long-term effectiveness and borrowers’ intrinsic value, according to traders and analysts.
After the People’s Bank of China’s announcement last week, at least 23 companies listed in Shanghai and Shenzhen, including Sinopec and Cosco Shipping Holdings Co., have collectively applied for more than 10 billion yuan of loans, according to Bloomberg calculations. Bank of China also said in a statement Monday it made loan commitments to 32 listed companies for their repurchase plans.