Russia-China: The Great (untapped) Synergy

Panning for gold: Listed Chinese small caps

Irregularities and fraud have become words associated with listed Chinese small cap stocks overseas, but among the dross the lure of a genuine nugget keeps some investors enthusiastic.

Beijing Ultrapower Co (300002:ChiNext)

As long as China Mobile, its big customer, prospers, the future would seem to be bright for Ultrapower, an IT service and software provider.

American Lorain (ALN:AMEX)

American Lorain faces fierce competition in overseas markets for chestnuts and may require intensified marketing efforts to drive domestic sales. Its optimism for 2010 may not be justified.

Huayi Brothers (300027:SZ)

Huayi appears to be a genuine prospect. A leader in the private movie-making market, it appears set to benefit from a growing middle class infatuation with the silver screen.

Noah Education (NED:NYSE)

Noah appears under pressure from a number of fronts. Its electronic educational devices, for instance, are at risk of being rendered obsolete by increasingly smart mobile phones.

After the credit binge, the hangover

China's large banks need to raise a possible Rmb 800bn to meet capital needs, but are the domestic markets up to supplying that kind of money?

Selected Financial Charts

A selection of key financial charts.

Rmb appreciation, or a new basket, or nothing much?

China's current peg to the US dollar will be overhauled at some stage, but will it be replaced by a genuine currency basket, or – with a trade deficit in March in prospect – will nothing much change?

An asymmetric interest rate hike?

An asymmetric hike in interest rates is looking increasingly likely because of the lopsided nature of China's frailties.

Real estate shows signs of cooling

Several signs are combining to suggest that China's property market may be cooling and be set to cool further in coming weeks - a prospect that could ultimately hit international base metal prices.

Will the withdrawal of some SOEs damp property prices?

Some 78 State-owned enterprises have been told to exit the property market once current projects are completed, but this may have little immediate impact on property prices.

When is the central bank going to raise interest rates?

Most economists predict an interest rate hike in the coming months, but they differ on details.

Beyond the exit risk

Jun Ma, chief economist and strategist for Greater China at Deutsche Bank, argues that China's long-term fundamentals remain compelling despite current concerns over asset bubbles.

Flows to Hong Kong ETFs surge

A strong pipeline of new listings has put Hong Kong exchange traded funds in favour with investors.