This week, figures from the HSBC/Markit PMI implied that the Chinese economy might finally be on the path to the much-need structural change; local government financing got a new breather; and Baidu launched its Google Glass competitor, Baidu Eye. The Broader Picture Last week, a flash Purchasing Manager Index (PMI) reading from HSBC and Markit […]
China Roundup: The Xiaomi-Ouya Tie-up; Heinz’s Baby Cereal Recalled; and Amazon’s Shanghai FTZ Entry
This week, Heinz recalled infant cereal after authorities found lead contamination; Xiaomi tied up with Ouya; Japanese auto part companies were fined for price fixing; and the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge came to China with Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun taking an ice water shower. In food and auto KFC and McDonalds would tell you how […]
The Future of Foreign Banks in China
How foreign banks in China are planning for the future in the light of a complex regulatory environment. Many of the world’s largest manufacturers have set up storage units and factories in the Waigaiqiao Free Trade Zone about 20 kilometers from the bustling center of Shanghai, mostly to reap tax benefits. The quiet streets and […]
The Money Squeeze: China’s tightening Credit Market
The first signs of light emerge amidst the dark prospects for private enterprises in China’s ever-tightening credit market It’s been a miserable few months for financing in China’s private sector. A growing number of debt defaults by companies has spurred regulatory crackdowns on the unofficial lending sector, sometimes called ‘shadow banking’, which has sustained (not […]
