Return to stock purchases shift

By Chua Kong Ho  |   2009-2-17  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

SHENZHEN Starrock Investment Consulting Co, whose first three funds are ranked among China's top 10 over the past year, said that it's returning to stocks as valuations are "reasonable" and inflation is easing.

The company, run by former ICBC Credit Suisse Fund Management Co fund manager Jiang Hui, has begun to switch back to stocks after reducing holdings since the fourth quarter of 2007, spokesman Liu Chang told Bloomberg News by phone.

"Investment opportunities have increased compared to a year ago," Liu said. "We started raising our equity allocation in the fourth quarter as stock valuations became more reasonable and slowing inflation showed the market may have entered a trough."

Shares in the world's third-largest stock market have rallied since November 9, when China pledged a 4-trillion-yuan (US$585 billion) stimulus package.