Factor inflation shows overheating

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.

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.

China stays out of favour

Investors withdrew from China funds for the seventh consecutive week.

Smart moves

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

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 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.