"A" Opening to the Great Wall

Feb 6, 2014

This paper reviews the implications for global institutional investors of the recent developments in the China A-share market, which has expanded tremendously over the last two decades. Today, the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges have a total market capitalization of about USD 3.9 trillion dollars of which foreign participation accounts for just over 1% percent. Since the end of 2011, Chinese authorities have embarked on a series of efforts to accelerate the opening of the domestic capital market. Notable measures included a significant increase in the total QFII quota and a rapid expansion in the RQFII scheme. As access barriers fall away, China A-shares could soon become a viable investment opportunity set for global investors.