Billionaire Investor Grows Deeply Concerned About China

A widely followed billionaire investor is raising serious concerns about China and it appears more people are taking notice.

In Friday’s New York Times the paper reiterated something billionaire hedge fund manager Jim Chanos first told the Fast Money desk, on the December 15th Halftime Report – that China has the potential to be as much of a watershed event for world markets as subprime was a few years back.

A celebrated short-seller, Chanos isn’t the first person to turn bearish on China, but his commentary is widely followed because he has a knack for spotting looming problems, including Enron, Tyco, and the housing crisis.

And speaking of housing, Chanos thinks China’s troubles will stem from a real estate crisis – much like our own troubles did.

”(China) is a surging real estate sector buoyed by a flood of speculative capital,” he says. “It looks like Dubai times 1,000 — or worse!”

And to make matters that much more ominous, he feels Americans are investing in China without really grasping how the government works.

“We just don’t believe the GDP numbers. We think they’re massively inflated by under-depreciating a very shaky capital-asset base.”

All these elements have the trappings of a bubble, Chanos says, and one which may soon burst. If and when that happens, Chanos expects companies will fail. As a result he’s actively shorting China.

"I’m looking for plays on the China investment boom, which we think will burst at some point,” he said in the middle of December. “Demand in China is over-inflated, that is clear."

What do you think? We want to know!

______________________________________________________
Got something to to say? Send us an e-mail at [e-mail] and your comment might be posted on the Rapid Recap. If you'd prefer to make a comment but not have it published on our website send those e-mails to [e-mail].

Trader disclosure: On Jan 8th, 2010, the following stocks and commodities mentioned or intended to be mentioned on CNBC’s Fast Money were owned by the Fast Money traders; Najarian Owns (AMAT) Calls; Najarian Owns (TEVA); Najarian Owns (CELG); Najarian Owns (PCX) Calls; Najarian Owns (CLF), Is Short (CLF) Calls; Najarian Owns (FCX), Is Short (FCX) Calls; Najarian Owns (MS), Is Short (MS) Calls; Najarian Owns (PFE) Stock; Najarian Owns (TCK), Is Short (TCK) Calls; Najarian Owns (XLF) Calls; Finerman Owns (AAPL); Finerman's Firm Owns (AXL), (AXL) Calls; Finerman's Firm And Finerman Own (GOOG); Finerman's Firm Owns (JPM) Calls; Finerman's Firm Owns (BAC) Preferred, (BAC), (BAC) Call Spread; Finerman Owns (BAC) Preferred, (BAC); Finerman's Firm Owns (IBB), (CSCO), (MSFT), (NDAQ); Finerman's Firm Is Short (TLT); Finerman's Firm And Finerman Own (WFC) Preferred; Finerman's Firm Is Short (IJR), (MDY), (SPY), (USO), (UNG); Grasso Owns (ABK), (AAPL), (ASTM), (BAC), (BGP), (C), (COST), (CSCO), (FAZ), (PFE), (PRST), (WMT), (V); Terranova Owns March British Pound Futures; Terranova Is Long Copper Backwardation: Long May 2010, Short July 2010; Terranova Is Short (CMA), (JCI), (ESS), (ICE), (SHLD), (CAL); Terranova Owns (XHB) Puts; Terranova Owns (QCOM), (MSFT), (EMC), (FTO), (XOM), (BAC)

NBC Universal Is The Parent Company Of CNBC

Additional Disclosures for Steve Grasso:
Stuart Frankel & Co. Inc. And Its Partners Own (AIZ)
Stuart Frankel & Co. Inc. And Its Partners Own (CUBA)
Stuart Frankel & Co. Inc. And Its Partners Own (GERN)
Stuart Frankel & Co. Inc. And Its Partners Own (GLG)
Stuart Frankel & Co. Inc. And Its Partners Own (HSPO)
Stuart Frankel & Co. Inc. And Its Partners Own (NWS.A)
Stuart Frankel & Co. Inc. And Its Partners Own (NXST)
Stuart Frankel & Co. Inc. And Its Partners Own (NYX)
Stuart Frankel & Co. Inc. And Its Partners Own (PDE)
Stuart Frankel & Co. Inc. And Its Partners Own (PRST)
Stuart Frankel & Co. Inc. And Its Partners Own (RDC)
Stuart Frankel & Co. Inc. And Its Partners Own (ROK)
Stuart Frankel & Co. Inc. And Its Partners Own (TLM)
Stuart Frankel & Co. Inc. And Its Partners Own (XRX)
Stuart Frankel & Co. Inc. And Its Partners Own (SDS)
Stuart Frankel & Co. Inc. And Its Partners Own (SBU)
Stuart Frankel & Co. Inc. And Its Partners Are Short (QQQQ)
Stuart Frankel & Co. Inc. And Its Partners Are Short (CL)

Additional Disclosures for Joe Terranova
Terranova Works For (VRTS)
Terranova Is Chief Market Strategist Of Virtus Investment Partners, Ltd.
Virtus Investment Partners Owns More Than 1% Of (CLB)
Virtus Investment Partners Owns More Than 1% Of (DLR)
Virtus Investment Partners Owns More Than 1% Of (EXR)
Virtus Investment Partners Owns More Than 1% Of (IGE)
Virtus Investment Partners Owns More Than 1% Of (XLY)
Virtus Investment Partners Owns More Than 1% Of (DBV)
Virtus Investment Partners Owns More Than 1% Of (UA)
Virtus Investment Partners Owns More Than 1% Of (XLB)
Virtus Investment Partners Owns More Than 1% Of (XLI)
Virtus Investment Partners Owns More Than 1% Of (SKT)

For Tim Seymour
Seymour Owns (EEM)
Seygem Asset Management Owns (EEM) Puts

For Brian Stutland
Stutland Owns (AA) Calls
Stutland Owns (GS) Bonds
Stutland Owns (WFC) Bonds
Stutland Owns (GS) Calls, Is Short (GS) Put Spread
Stutland Is Short (BAC) Volatility
Stutland Is Long (MU) Through Options



CNBC.com with wires