Investors turn sharply bullish on China growth prospects

Investors have swung from bearish to bullish on China in the past month amid improving confidence in the country’s economic growth, finds Bank of America Merrill Lynch in its monthly fund manager survey for September.

A net 11% of respondents now expect stronger economic growth in China over the next year, compared with a net 19% who expected it to weaken last month and a net 39% who were bearish in July. The 30% swing from August to September is the survey’s largest positive change since May 2009.

Global emerging market (GEM) investors raced back into Chinese equities, with a net 22% overweight in September, contrasting to a net 22% underweight in August.