It’s possible that China is not ready for free markets. The first sign was in the first half of 2015 when regulators let Chinese stocks soar, fueled by hugely speculative investments and a surge in margin trading. Then, after the bubble popped, policymakers cobbled together a haphazard rescue package that ultimately failed to support the market. The currency “devaluation” was an attempt to appease the IMF and also jumpstart the country’s stagnant manufacturing industry. But allowing CNY to drop a mere 3% before resuming intervention will not spark economic activity.
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