Foreign banks continue to make inroads in China, but they remain marginal players in retail and consumer spaces. Still they slowly build market share and expand their presence in the financial services sector and among their corporate clients. A series of regulatory announcements last year opened the door for more international activity like trade and cross-border financing at which global banks excel. In the past few weeks, the People’s Bank of China suggested it may further ease restrictions on bond trading. While financial institutions broadly welcomed these moves, the impact might be limited.
