Investment to stay hot

Baby business booms

Chinese parents pampering their newborns is nurturing an Rmb 70bn baby industry.

Goodbaby: turning back home

The Chinese pushchair exporter is turning to the domestic market to drive growth.

Only the best for 'little treasures' at Baby Expo

Hundreds of major baby brands of foreign and domestic companies set up cutely designed stands to attract new parents and baby product retailers across China.

Mothercare testing the water in China

The UK baby products retailer plans to open a further 10 of its joint venture stores in China this year, up from its current eight.

Pigeon: Air under the wings from China

Last year, China made up 16% of the Japanese baby product maker's revenues.

Beingmate hopes to list

China's largest baby food maker is planning an initial public offering in Shanghai this year.

The Big Three banks – what the future holds

Steady fee and commission growth and recovering net interest income could help drive profits by 20% this year.

Select Financial Charts

A selection of key financial charts.

Lending to local governments a big concern

Smaller banks, especially the city commercial banks, are most at risk from lower quality lending to local government financing vehicles.

Steel demand to stay strong

Even allowing for a real estate market that cools relative to the peaks of 2009, steel demand should remain buoyant this year on strong infrastructure spending as well as firm auto and white goods demand.

Is inflation under further pressure from the enduring drought?

Supply shortages have driven up the price of rice by 30% in Chongqing in recent weeks.

The course of China's exchange rate system

China's scholars seem agreed that Beijing is likely to avoid any significant appreciation of its currency this year, but what exchange rate system is it going to adopt down the line?

Optimism over healthcare and environmental sectors

Michael Chiu, head of Greater China Funds at ING Investment Management, is hopeful that recently announced government spending plans will support wind power and medical equipment manufacturers.

Sun rises on Japan

Last week, Japan equity funds recorded their biggest weekly inflows since February 2007, recent EPFR Global data shows.