Growing NPLs won't cripple China banking sector, says S&P

Non-performing loans (NPLs), the inevitable aftermath of China's unprecedented credit boom in 2009, will increase gradually in the coming years, and the country's less creditworthy local government financing vehicles are expected to suffer the most damage, says Standard & Poor's. But that damage will strain rather than cripple China's banking system. Good profitability, strong liquidity and adequate capitalisation will enable the country's major lenders to absorb unexpected credit…