Business Brief (March 20): PBOC Pledges Stability Across Stocks, Bonds and Forex

1. The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining stable operation in China’s financial markets by continuing a moderately loose monetary policy. PBOC Governor Pan Gongsheng emphasized at an expanded committee meeting the importance of steady financial services, particularly in key sectors, and highlighted intentions to actively and prudently address financial risks [para. 2].

2. The China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) hosted a conference with investment institutions regarding the capital market’s 15th Five-Year Plan. Attendees acknowledged notable progress in developing a stabilization mechanism tailored to China’s needs. Efforts have been made to encourage long-term capital inflow into the market and to enhance returns for investors, which has bolstered overall market resilience and risk management capability [para. 3].

3. Economic and trade relations between China and the U.S. are seeing renewed focus. The two nations agreed to explore a dedicated working mechanism aimed at expanding their cooperation. China’s Ministry of Commerce emphasized ongoing dialogue to manage differences and foster a steady, positive trajectory for bilateral trade, following recent consultations in Paris [para. 4].

4. Chinese regulators, including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, unveiled a set of initiatives targeting the new-energy vehicle (NEV) sector. The guidelines encourage healthy competition, call for strict price monitoring, and require companies to adhere to a 60-day payment cycle. Additional objectives include shoring up supply chains for chips and software, promoting autonomous driving technologies, and furthering both domestic vehicle consumption and exports [para. 5].

5. China’s Ministry of Natural Resources reported strategic breakthroughs in mineral exploration, with new deposits of rare earths, fluorite, barite, and antimony found in Mianning (Sichuan) and Tanchang (Gansu). These discoveries are part of a broader national strategy to bolster China’s resource security and technological advancement [para. 6].

6. Heightened military tensions in the Middle East were underscored by intensified Iranian operations, with the Iranian armed forces warning of strong retaliations if their energy infrastructure is targeted again. On the Israeli side, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed airstrikes against an Iranian gas field and noted agreement to pause future strikes after communication with U.S. President Donald Trump. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent clarified the U.S. had not struck Iranian energy sites, suggested possible easing of sanctions on Iran’s sea-borne oil, and floated the idea of further strategic petroleum releases to stabilize oil prices [para. 7].

7. Precious metals experienced significant price declines. Spot gold dropped over 6%, nearing the $4,500 per ounce mark, while silver slumped below $66, registering its lowest point since early February. Volatility in traditional safe-haven assets was attributed to a shift by some investors towards holding more U.S. dollars instead of gold [para. 8].

8. President Donald Trump met Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to discuss matters of trade, energy, and Japan’s strategic support for U.S. military operations against Iran. Trump praised Japan’s involvement as surpassing that of European NATO allies, while Takaichi emphasized economic security collaboration, especially regarding energy and rare earths, and conveyed specific proposals for global energy market stability during the dialogue [para. 9].

9. In recent corporate developments, COSCO Shipping Holdings reported a net profit of 30.9 billion yuan ($4.5 billion) for 2025, marking a 37.1% drop from the previous year. Meanwhile, Black Sesame International suspended a share placement to Wuji Capital, with two major underwriters exiting the transaction [para. 11].

10. On the international front, China condemned the use of force in light of the killing of Iranian official Ali Larijani in an Israeli airstrike. Thailand’s Anutin Charnvirakul was re-elected as Prime Minister and immediately initiated measures to secure energy supplies. The U.S. relaxed some oil trading restrictions on Venezuela, maintaining financial controls. The World Health Organization is preparing for a potential nuclear incident in the Middle East. In Cambodia, 19 Chinese nationals were arrested for orchestrating a cross-border telecom fraud operation by impersonating Chinese military personnel [para. 12][para. 13][para. 14][para. 15][para. 16][para. 17][para. 18].