Investors and analysts alike are piling onto Chinese solar stocks now, riding on the thesis that you can’t go wrong if the government favors the sector.
Not everyone buys that. Raymond James wrote:
Just when you thought the Chinese solar fever might be ending, the government stepped in, spurring the “junk rally” to continue yesterday. On Sunday, China’s Ministry of Finance announced that solar manufacturers will receive immediate refunds of 50% of the value-added tax (VAT). This brand-new subsidy understandably buoyed Chinese solar stocks across the board, including Trina Solar (TSL/$15.46/Market Perform) which gained 4% on Monday to a fresh 52-week high. While this subsidy obviously has direct benefit to the industry from a cost standpoint, this particular action by Beijing is precisely the kind of arbitrary, sector-specific subsidy that generates opposition (and hence spurs protectionist measures) from foreign governments. Will this move lead to retaliation abroad? If so, the VAT savings may end up not being worth it......
blogs.barrons.com/emergingmarketsdaily/...pile-into-the-rally/
Not everyone buys that. Raymond James wrote:
Just when you thought the Chinese solar fever might be ending, the government stepped in, spurring the “junk rally” to continue yesterday. On Sunday, China’s Ministry of Finance announced that solar manufacturers will receive immediate refunds of 50% of the value-added tax (VAT). This brand-new subsidy understandably buoyed Chinese solar stocks across the board, including Trina Solar (TSL/$15.46/Market Perform) which gained 4% on Monday to a fresh 52-week high. While this subsidy obviously has direct benefit to the industry from a cost standpoint, this particular action by Beijing is precisely the kind of arbitrary, sector-specific subsidy that generates opposition (and hence spurs protectionist measures) from foreign governments. Will this move lead to retaliation abroad? If so, the VAT savings may end up not being worth it......
blogs.barrons.com/emergingmarketsdaily/...pile-into-the-rally/