Report archive
10 March 2011
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Irreconcilable scenariosThe Big Call
Property investment to slow
We estimate that some 13m housing units stand empty, but this signifies not so much a bubble about to burst, as a slowdown in property investment growth.
Consumer China
Fashion footwear: Battle of the brands
China's shoe industry shows textbook examples both of the power-brand creation and the perils of failing to brand.
Daphne International - Hit by surging labour costs
Low-end shoe manufacturer is finding its mass-market position under siege from surging labour costs in south-east China.
Belle International - strong brands buoy earnings
A strong brand portfolio and swift moves to locate manufacturing inland are helping to drive the major shoe retailer's profits.
Stella International - A high-end manufacturer building its own brands
Stella is still mainly a manufacturer for famous brands such as Clarks, Wolverine and Deckers, but sales of its own high-end brands have been growing fast.
Foshan Saturday – Failing to pass on rising costs to consumers
A perfect storm of rising labour costs for an expanded workforce, higher costs of sale in an expanded retail network and higher taxes is engulfing this mass-market brand.
Financial China
An era of financial reform is dawning
A desire to bring a vast informal financial system under regulatory control is obliging Beijing to make concessions to market forces.
Borrowing costs for individuals and SMEs surge
Banks are seeking to offset lost revenues from reserve requirement ratio hikes and other factors by hiking borrowing rates for individuals and SMEs.
Reading the monetary policy runes
Sixteen consecutive weeks of net injections more than offset the liquidity frozen by three recent RRR hikes.
Forbidden City
Congress presents picture of political poise despite pressures
So far, the image presented at the ongoing session of National People's Congress is of a competent government planning bold steps to meet its challenges.
Best of Chinese Commentators
High-speed scandal?
High-level officials faced questions at this week's National People's Congress over the government's high-speed rail ambitions after dismissing Railways Minister, Liu Zhijun.
What does this year's conference mean for the stock market?
How will mainland markets move following announcements from this year's two meetings of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and the National People's Congress?
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