Despite posting record profits and healthy loan books, China's banks continue to attract criticism from speculators, financial commentators and wary investors, who believe that the country's banking industry is a ticking time bomb.
Asia-Pacific
Latest articles from China
Addressing the imbalance in the Chinese bond market
October 1, 2013The Chinese bond market must achieve greater diversity – of issuers and investors – if it is to facilitate the successful internationalisation of the renminbi, which requires the government to relax its rules on foreign participants, something it is already starting to do.
The renminbi keeps on moving
October 1, 2013The extending of the QFII and the RQFII quotas in recent months demonstrate how the renminbi's liberalisation is developing at an impressive pace. However, authorities in the country appear keen to move things along even faster.
Dubai climbs GTS ladder
September 2, 2013As Dubai has grown, so has its role in the global transaction services industry, with the emirate now serving as the nerve centre of all trade taking place across the Middle East and north Africa. And as Dubai sets out its stall to become the next renminbi hub, this role only looks set to grow.
Regulators risk driving banks into a corner
August 27, 2013The Securities and Exchange Commission's decision to investigate JPMorgan's hiring of so-called princelings only serves to add to the argument that regulators are being overzealous in their supervision of banks.
Is China about to be knocked off balance?
August 19, 2013The unearthing of China's considerable off-balance-sheet liabilities casts a new light on the country's economic position, raising fears that its previously rapid development could stall.
China's banks go from strength to strength
July 1, 2013China's economy started to slow in 2012, but the profitability of the country's banks showed no signs of waning, with indicators from lenders both large and small showing strong growth.
ICBC: the world's new largest bank
July 1, 2013Industrial and Commercial Bank of China has experienced incredible growth in the past year, and is now the number one bank in The Banker's Top 1000 World Banks ranking, the first Chinese bank to hold this position. Stephen Timewell charts this rise and speaks to the bank's chairman.
Agricultural Bank of China chairman looks to bright future
July 1, 2013Jiang Chaoliang, the new chairman of Agricultural Bank of China, one of the country's ‘big four’ state-owned banks, gives The Banker his views on the future of China's banking industry, and ABC's role within it.
HSBC bets big on China
July 1, 2013HSBC China has expanded rapidly since being established in 2007. Its chief executive and deputy chairman, Helen Wong, says it wants to retain its position as the largest foreign lender in China, and boost its ties with Bank of Communications, in which HSBC has a large stake. She insists, too, that the outlook for the country's economy is rosy.