TLDR:
- China’s M2 rose 0.87% over 30 days while global money supply hovered between $127T and $128T.
- Japan led declines with a 3.29% drop, pulling down overall global liquidity.
- The EU and the UK both saw their M2 money supply fall, adding to global tightening trends.
- China’s continued liquidity growth kept global M2 from slipping further since September.
Global liquidity has stopped growing. Since September, worldwide M2 has moved sideways, fluctuating between $127 trillion and $128 trillion.
While most major economies are seeing declines, China continues to expand its money supply. The difference is now shaping how investors view global liquidity and risk exposure.
According to market analyst João Wédson, China’s M2 grew by 0.87% in the past 30 days, keeping global levels stable. During the same period, Japan, the EU, and several Western economies saw declines, suggesting a coordinated tightening across major financial centers.
M2 is a key measure of liquidity, tracking cash, deposits, and short-term funds available for spending or investment. When M2 contracts, liquidity tightens, reducing available capital in markets. When it rises, it generally supports spending and asset prices, including crypto.
Global M2 Slides as Western Economies Tighten Liquidity
Over the last month, M2 fell across several large economies. Japan posted the largest decline at -3.29%, followed by the European Union at -1.7%. The United Kingdom’s supply dropped -1.49%, while Taiwan and Australia reported smaller decreases of –1.02% and -1.23%, respectively.
In contrast, the United States held steady, showing no measurable change. Hong Kong managed a minor increase of 0.06%, though it wasn’t enough to lift the global total. Together, these shifts left global M2 mostly unchanged, anchored around $128 trillion.
Analysts say the uneven moves reveal a split between Western monetary tightening and China’s continued easing. The divergence could influence cross-border liquidity and potentially ripple into risk-asset markets like crypto, where liquidity trends often drive capital flows.
China’s Liquidity Growth Defies the Trend
China’s steady expansion reflects its central bank’s attempt to support domestic credit and stabilize growth. While others scale back to fight inflation, Beijing appears intent on keeping liquidity flowing. Its ongoing stimulus efforts are preventing a deeper global contraction.
Wédson compared the situation to “a fleet taking on water while one ship keeps the pump running.” The metaphor fits: China’s M2 growth has effectively offset tightening elsewhere, holding the global number steady.
For investors, that means China’s liquidity choices now play a bigger role in shaping global money conditions. If the People’s Bank of China maintains its stance, it could continue cushioning the global slowdown well into next quarter.