SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Chinese investors are reducing their exposure to stock markets and investing in safe-haven money market funds (MMFs) as stock markets decline from multi-year highs on worries over policy tightening and lofty valuations.
The trend since mid-February marks a reversal in the risk-seeking behaviour seen between April 2020 and Jan 2021, and caused the country's blue-chip index to post its worst monthly performance in a year in March.
Foreign investors also turned cautious, their buying via the Hong Kong-China Stock Connect slumping in March as the yuan also depreciated against a buoyant dollar.
(Graphic: China's major stock indexes down since mid-Feb, https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/buzz/jbyvrwjqzpe/China's%20major%20stock%20indexes%20down%20since%20mid-Feb.jpg)
MMFs are traditionally considered low-risk and liquid as they invest in higher quality assets, including government bonds.
The Hwabao WP Listed Money Market ETF, the largest money market ETF listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange, saw its total units increase 21% to 1.77 billion on April 8, from 1.46 billion on Feb 18.
Analysts said the stock market correction since mid-February was mainly driven by fears over frothy valuations after Beijing set a conservative economic growth target that implied policymakers wanted room to rein in financial market bubbles.
The Yinhua Money Market EFF, another major money market ETF listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange, saw its total units increase 30% to 1.3 billion on April 8, from 1 billion on Feb 18.
Units of the largest ETF tracking China's blue-chip index declined to 7.8 bln on April 8, from 8.6 bln at the start of the year.
(Graphic: China's MMF ETFs grow, https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/buzz/gjnvwdeadpw/China's%20MMF%20ETFs%20grow.jpg)
"I don't see big opportunities now, and investors will not be happy to buy stocks at this moment without a further correction which could give them more safety margin and upside room," said Fu Yanping, a strategist at wealth management headquarters of China Galaxy Securities.
Fu said MMFs were a good choice for investors as China tightens policy gradually.
Meanwhile, margin lending in the stock market, a gauge of investor sentiment, dropped as markets pulled back.
(Graphic: China's margin lending drops, https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/buzz/oakvewzobvr/China's%20margin%20lending%20drops.jpg)
While foreign investors have bought less mainland equities, they have turned to more defensive sectors such as banks. They purchased 12.5 billion yuan ($1.91 billion) worth of China's banking shares in March via the Stock Connect, CITIC Securities analysts said in a report.
"China's economic recovery momentum has been quite robust. However, there are worries, in particular among foreign investors, about a shift in China's monetary policy if the momentum gets too strong," said Hu Yunlong, a Beijing-based hedge fund manager.
(Graphic: Foreign inflows slowed in March, https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/buzz/bdwpkbgylvm/Foreign%20inflows%20slowed%20in%20March.jpg)
(Graphic: China's yuan weakens against the dollar, https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/buzz/xegpbxnxjpq/China's%20yuan%20weakens%20against%20the%20dollar.jpg)