Property surge has legs

Retail spurred by inland dynamism

Although retail sales growth in China is expected to fall short of last year's record 21.7% expansion, its performance will be enviable from a US and European standpoint, and a number of domestic retailers are poised to benefit.

Gome falling from its pedestal

China's once leading electrical appliance retailer has been under pressure ever since the arrest of its chairman in November last year.

Wumart reaps rewards for convenience

Continued roll out of convenience stores - viewed as China's highest growth retail segment - and savvy marketing campaigns are all helping position Wumart as a leading Chinese retailer.

Suning gets boost from property rebound

Electrical appliance retailer hopes to benefit from recent uptick in property sales.

Zhongbai's success begins (and ends?) at home

Chinese retailer is driving profits through expansion across its home province of Hubei, but it is so far struggling to mirror this success beyond its borders.

What's after the '4,000bn thing'?

Wen Jiabao announced in early May that Beijing has yet more economic booster plans up its sleeve. China Confidential considers some of the new initiatives.

Taiwan shines, again

As cross-straits ties strengthen further, Taiwan funds show a marked uptick, while the entire Greater China region continues to drive fund flows to emerging market assets.

China-Taiwan: Not so fast

The Taiwan stockmarket has defied poor domestic economic prospects in 2009 to soar on hopes of a thorough rapprochement with China. But can the optimism that springs from warming cross-straits relations be sustained?

China's consumer market - the new Promised Land?

"The Chinese consumer sector currently looks attractive from the top-down sales figures," says Fortis Investments' Eugene So, "but you can only find the gems if you truly understand the evolution of the landscape"

A taxing question

Should China raise the minimum income tax threshold as a means to boost domestic consumption?

Should deepening deflation cause alarm?

This week, the National Bureau of Statistics reported that consumer prices had fallen for the third consecutive month, while producer prices slid for the fourth straight month. Should these figures give cause for concern?

1st - 14th May

Consumer and producer prices fall, China's national pension fund posts 2008 losses, but April passenger vehicle sales grew to the most in at least three years. Meanwhile, bank lending falls dramatically from record highs, Taiwan stocks rally and the mainland reports its first case of swine flu.