China's foreign exchange authority will raise the investment quotas of qualified foreign institutional investors (QFII) by US$10 billion accompanied by the maximum investment for a single QFII, which will top US$1 billion from the current US$800 million, Monday's Economic Observer reports.

 

The quota increase, still under review by the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) and China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC), has not been finalized although new regulating policies governing QFII investment are set to be released, according to the newspaper.

 

As it stands, the SAFE has granted investment quotas totaling US$9.995 billion to 49 qualified foreign institutional investors, edging close to the ceiling US$10 billion, leaving only US$5 million to split between the remaining three registered QFIIs.

 

SAFE director Hu Xiaolian, speaking on the sidelines of the current parliamentary session in Beijing, announced that the Chinese government was mulling over raising the quota imposed on foreign investment within the RMB-denominated securities business.

 

The Chinese government has taken a cautious approach towards increasing the QFII investment quotas, since the relevant investors have borne the brunt of the blame for speculating on RMB appreciation with the domestic market awash with capital.

 

Statistics show that the total market value of QFII-owned A-shares totals 97.1 billion yuan, making them the second largest institutional investor after public offerings on the A-share market.

 

The report also addresses the manner of QFII investment, highlighting that much of it had entered the A-share market via A-share funds, a source the issuance and popularity of which have helped raise the image and reputation of China's capital market.

 

The QFII program was originally started in 2003 to allow foreign institutional investors such as UBS and Deutsche Bank to enter the Chinese mainland's securities business.

 

(Xinhua News Agency March 13, 2007)