BEIJING, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- China's new yuan-denominated lending in December rose to 379.8 billion yuan (55.6 billion U.S. dollars) from November's 294.8 billion yuan, the People's Bank of China, the central bank, said Friday.

China might become top world exporter, but weakness remains

    BEIJING, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- China will probably overtake Germany to become the world's largest exporter though its exports in 2009 had fallen 16 percent from a year earlier, according to figures released Sunday by the General Administration of Customs (GAC).

    But Chinese experts and officials said the country was far from being a real trade power if measured by exports structure, technological innovation and industry competitiveness.  Full story

China rolls out fresh measures for property market amid rising house prices

A customer checking out a model of a real estate project in Shenzhen, Guangdong province. Property prices in China's 70 major cities rose at the fastest pace in 16 months in November. (China Daily/Qiu Daocen) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- The General Office of the State Council, China's cabinet, Sunday issued a notice that required central governmental departments and local governments to strengthen management, stabilize market expectations and facilitate stable and sound development of the real estate market.     

    "With the recovery of the real estate market, such problems as excessively rising house prices have recently emerged in some cities, which call for great attention," said the notice.  Full story

China's 2009 foreign trade falls 13.9% to $2.21 trln with surplus at $196.1 bln

    BEIJING, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- China's foreign trade in 2009 dropped 13.9 percent from a year earlier to 2.21 trillion U.S. dollars and its trade surplus last year slid 34.2 percent year on year to 196.1 billion U.S. dollars, according to figures released Sunday by the General Administration of Customs (GAC).

    In breakdown, China's exports in 2009 stood at 1.2 trillion U.S. dollars, down 16 percent from in 2008, and imports reached 1.01 trillion U.S. dollars, down 11.2 percent from a year earlier, said the GAC.  Full story

China's 2009 fiscal revenue expected to surpass $1 trillion: Minister

    BEIJING, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- China's 2009 fiscal revenue was estimated at 6.85 trillion yuan (just over 1 trillion U.S. dollars), an increase of 11.7 percent over a year earlier, Finance Minister Xie Xuren said here Sunday.

    Xie also said the budget of public investment in 2010 from the central government was likely to stand at 992.7 billion yuan, up 572.2 billion yuan from the 2008 budget.  Full story

China gives nod to index futures, margin trading     

    BEIJING, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- China's securities regulator said Friday the State Council had approved "in principle" the launch of index futures and given it the green light to pilot the margin trading business.

    Its introduction was aimed to boost the stable and healthy development of the capital market, said an official with the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC). The move came after the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index surged 80 percent in 2009 after tumbling 65 percent in 2008.  Full story

Special Report:  Global Financial Crisis