Exports, spending 'to ebb'

A report from the Bank of Communications indicated that last month, household wealth was at its lowest point so far this year, depressed by slower economic growth and weak capital markets.

Moreover, slowing income growth has started to weaken household spending plans, which may further cool retail sales, the bank said.

"There is still considerable uncertainty about the near-term growth outlook," said Zhu Haibin, chief economist in China with JPMorgan Chase & Co.

"We expect more fine-tuning measures in the coming months. The scale and pace of policy fine-tuning will be important to gauge the growth outlook in the second half," said Zhu.

He said the fine-tuning will also be indicative of the reform agenda expected to be announced at a plenary session of the decision-making Central Committee of the Communist Party of China to be held late this year.

In July, the State Council attempted to restore market confidence by combining the targets of stable growth and economic restructuring.

Wendy Liu, an analyst from Nomura Securities Co Ltd, said on Wednesday that high-end consumption is likely to be restrained by a long-term anti-corruption campaign.

However, consumption in the mass market is likely to demonstrate steady improvement in the second half.

"More money may be spent on customized and high-quality products and services, and companies involved in e-commerce, online games and smartphones may perform better in the capital markets," Liu said.

Although recent economic indicators were disappointing and even aroused market worries about a hard landing, "I think the concern is unnecessary", said Qu Hongbin, chief economist in China with HSBC Holdings Plc.

"The government now still has room to pursue moderate and mini-stimulus (programs) to avoid growth slipping below the bottom line."

Qu said that the most important factor that can stabilize growth of the world's second-largest economy is the huge potential of urbanization.

The process is likely to transform 260 million rural migrant workers into urban consumers and boost domestic demand.