Chinese giants such as Alibaba, Tencent, and Baidu are lining up to report earnings, chronicling the impact of the escalating US-China trade war. China’s two biggest companies, Alibaba and Tencent, have together lost nearly $100 billion in market capitalisation since the last time tensions notably escalated in May.
For months now the trade dispute between Washington and Beijing has hammered the Chinese economy and dented consumer spending. Q2 saw the Chinese economy expanded 6.2% – a 27 year low for the pace of growth. Consumer focused businesses are struggling to maintain their normal lightning pace of sales growth. Consumers are tightening their belts in the face of rising prices. Meanwhile, B2B outfits are seeing their clients cut back on advertising spend.
Alibaba 1-day chart, MARKETS.COM: 09.30 BST, August 13th, 2019
All this, according to the consensus estimates collected by Refinitiv, will see China’s top companies reporting an average annualised growth rate of 26%. This would be the slowest in a year and a half. Net income is predicted to clock in around 9% on average, versus average growth of 50% reported during Q2 of 2018.
Tencent 1-day chart, MARKETS.COM: 09.30 BST, August 13th, 2019
Perhaps most distressing for investors is that the worst could still be to come; the latest reporting period ended before Donald Trump sent markets tumbling by announcing further tariffs and the People’s Bank of China responded by allowing the yuan to slip above 7 to the dollar for the first time in 10 years.
Even if these tech and e-commerce giants have proved to have weathered the storm over the second quarter, Q3 promises greater challenges, and yet more pain.
Risk Warning and Disclaimer: This article represents only the author’s views and is for reference only. It does not constitute investment advice or financial guidance, nor does it represent the stance of the Markets.com platform. Trading Contracts for Difference (CFDs) involves high leverage and significant risks. Before making any trading decisions, we recommend consulting a professional financial advisor to assess your financial situation and risk tolerance. Any trading decisions based on this article are at your own risk.
The economic calendar for the week starting Monday, 14 July 2025, begins quietly, with no major releases scheduled that day. On Tuesday, 15 July, attention turns to several high-impact events
The EU and US are seeking a preliminary trade agreement to avoid rising tariffs. This analysis reviews the latest developments and potential challenges.
Tesla's stock faltered following Musk's announcement of forming a new political party, raising investor concerns about his focus and intensifying competition.
set cookie