It was reported this week, according to the China Securities Depository and Clearing Corp, that more than 90 million mainlanders trade stocks. Before the current market vicissitudes, Chinese retail investors were considered among the most optimistic in the world. The mainland markets are going through a maturing process and will undoubtedly see more volatility, however the waves of cash looking for a home continue to roll in.
The Shanghai and Shenzhen stock markets are set to raise 300 billion yuan (US$48 billion) via initial public offerings this year after they led the global IPO market in the first half, PricewaterhouseCoopers have predicted.
The two stock exchanges led the global IPO market in the number of new share sales and amount of funds raised in the first half of 2015. During the period, 187 companies listed on the two bourses, a staggering 260 percent year on year. They raised a total of 146.1 billion yuan, a year-on-year surge of 314 percent.
“Both the number of IPOs and funds raised in the first half of 2015 surpassed the total number of the whole of 2014,” said Frank Lyn, PwC China’s mainland and Hong Kong markets leader. “The strong growth of the IPO market was the inevitable result of favorable policies issued by regulatory authorities and market reforms.”
PwC said that despite the recent retreat of the A-share market, it is confident of its forecast.
“We foresee more activity in the IPO market in the second half of the year, with 400 IPOs in the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges raising about 300 billion yuan in total,,” Lyn said.
The coming IPOs will be launched by SMEs in the industrial product, information technology, consumer goods and financial services sectors.
