China stock pickers reshape portfolios on Xi’s ‘common prosperity’

Chinese stock market investors are swapping big tech names for “small giants” and luxury brands for mass market companies, aiming to cash in on President Xi Jinping’s “common prosperity” plan for the economy.

The intent behind Xi’s drive is a narrower gap between the rich and poor in the world’s second largest economy.

But the first policy moves rattled markets as authorities introduced heavy new regulations on industries such as technology, property and private tuition, sending shares in those sectors tumbling.

While some active fund managers have shunned China for the time being, others see opportunity in an economy aiming for a larger and richer middle class.

Chinese policymakers “are talking about how to go from a pear-shaped type of economy, which is bottom-heavy, top-light, into an olive shape,” said Ronald Chan, Hong Kong-based Asia head of equities at Manulife Investment Management. “They are talking about how to split the pie going forward.”

“Common prosperity” also embodies China’s desire for self-sufficiency in technology and energy and for industry to move up the value chain, said Chan, who has been buying Chinese solar energy companies while avoiding luxury spirit brands.

Manulife’s Greater China funds have also slashed holdings in tech giants such as Alibaba and Tencent over the past year, according to public disclosures.

While it is difficult to estimate how big overall investment swings have been - particularly as passively managed funds continue to seek stock index heavyweights - market moves have been sharp.

China’s new energy index has surged more than 70 per cent this year, while the property sector is down over 10 per cent.