0923 GMT - China's central bank may frontload its monetary policy easing to stabilize markets, with the near-term prospect of a 100bps cut in banks' reserve requirement ratio, UOB economist Ho Woei Chen writes in a note. The economist also expects a 20bps cut in the 7-day reverse repo rate by the end of 2Q. China's economy expanded at a better-than-expected pace in 1Q, and its strong industrial sector growth is likely due to frontloading activities, Ho adds. Despite the robust 1Q GDP, UOB downgrades its full-year GDP growth forecast for China to 4.3% from 4.7%, citing the escalation of U.S.-China tariffs, she says.(jiahui.huang@wsj.com; @ivy_jiahuihuang)

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

April 16, 2025 05:23 ET (09:23 GMT)

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