Update alerts

China property surge may be turning

11 Mar| Contrary to domestic newspaper coverage today, the most telling recent developments in China's real estate sector may not be the recent surge in prices but rather some early signs showing that business may be moderating.

February exports up 45.7% from a year earlier

10 Mar| China's exports rose 45.7% to $94.52bn (Rmb 645.3bn, €69.6bn, £63.3bn) from a year earlier in February, while imports were up 44.7% to $86.9bn, narrowing the country's trade surplus to $7.6bn from $14.2bn in January, according to data released by the General Administration of Customs today. Two-way trade was up 45.2% year on year to $181.43bn. On a seasonally adjusted basis, exports were up 59.1% year on year, while imports surged a massive 74.7%, the bureau reported.

New loans in February expected to be Rmb 700bn

10 Mar| February lending is expected to be around Rmb 700bn ($102.5bn, £68.8bn, €75.7bn), according to domestic banking sources, down sharply from January when new loans hit Rmb 1,390bn. It may however be too early to construe that credit tightening measures are impacting lending behaviour. Lending days were cut significantly in February due to the Chinese New Year holiday between February 14-20, and the fact that February was a short month.

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Latest issue

04 March 2010

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Editor's View

Succession politics

The Big Call

Factor inflation shows overheating

An almost across-the-board rise in industrial input prices shows the structural nature of China's inflationary pressures, obliging Beijing to maintain vigilance against overheating.

Consumer China

Cosmetics: saving face

Urban middle class women helped cosmetics sales grow 17% last year to Rmb 137bn, lead predominantly by skincare products.

Sephora: China growth 'extraordinary'

LVMH's high-end cosmetics retailer is proving popular with China's middle class urban females.

Hong Kong still Sa Sa's mainstay

Despite expansion into mainland China, the bulk of Sa Sa's business looks set to stay in Hong Kong for now.

Shiseido pushes global expansion

The Japanese cosmetics brand hopes that overseas sales will offset declines at home.

Shanghai Jahwa: homegrown victor

The homegrown cosmetics maker is seeing robust demand for its hair and skincare brand, Herborist.

Bonjour mainland visitors

A resurgence in mainland visitors to Hong Kong is expected to bolster the retail chain's cosmetics sales.

Watsons eyes expansion

The personal care retailer has ambitious expansion plans for China.

Financial China

Rmb appreciation. Will 2010 be the year?

Arguments exist both for and against the move, but overall, the case for an early appreciation of the renminbi is less than compelling.

Informal lending takes off, regulation proposed

A surge in informal lending rates raises concerns in Beijing, which renews its desire to regulate the freewheeling sector.

Funds Data

China stays out of favour

Investors withdrew from China funds for the seventh consecutive week.

Capital Intensive China

Smart moves

The construction of a 'smart' power grid for China is a long-term plan with big implications for power companies and investors.

Guest Column

The outlook for Chinese listings

Gavin Ni, chief executive officer and president of Zero2IPO, talks on China's initial public offering environment in 2010.

The Best of Chinese Commentators

The course of monetary tightening

How far will Beijing go to forestall economic overheating?

Where have all the migrants gone?

Opportunities closer to home are leading to labour shortages at factories along the eastern seaboard.

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04 March

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