0901 GMT - China could set its 2026 GDP growth target at 4.5%-5.0%, HSBC economists say in a note. China is set to announce the GDP target and details of the next five-year plan at the "Two Sessions" next week. As local governments have set more conservative growth targets, HSBC thinks the national growth target should be more modest the one set in 2025. Fiscal support is likely to be on par with last year, with fiscal deficit at around 9% of GDP, they note. The stance of "moderately loose" monetary policy is likely to continue, although the urgency to implement cuts could depend on domestic economic conditions, they say. The next five-year plan will focus on tech and innovation, the campaign to curb excess competition and boosting consumption, they add. (sherry.qin@wsj.com)

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

February 27, 2026 04:01 ET (09:01 GMT)

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