United States lawmakers to tighten laws on China toys

The China Post- U.S. lawmakers vowed Wednesday to enact stricter legislation to prevent potentially dangerous Chinese made toys from being sold in America, as leading toy firms said safety checks were being boosted. Full Story

Violence flares again in Chinese village

The China Post- Violence has erupted again in a northern Chinese village where authorities were last year severely punished for hiring armed thugs to force farmers off their lands, residents said. Full Story

China steps up efforts against pig disease

The China Post- China is stepping up efforts against an outbreak of deadly pig disease that has spread through much of the vast nation and sent pork prices skyrocketing, the Agriculture Ministry said Thursday. Full Story

PetroChina shares fall after Buffett cuts stake

The China Post- Shares of PetroChina Co. fell as much as 2.1 percent in morning trading in Hong Kong a day after U.S. investor Warren Buffett further reduced his company's stake in China's biggest oil and gas producer. Full Story

China to boost strategic oil reserves to 12 million tons

The China Post- China plans to boost its strategic oil reserves from the current 2 million to 3 million tons (15.8 million to 23.7 million barrels) to 12 million tons (94.8 million barrels) by 2010, a state-run newspaper said Thursday, citing a senior economic planning official. Full Story

FDI in China up 12.8 percent in January-August period

The China Post- Foreign direct investment (FDI) in China rose 12.8 percent to US$42 billion in the first eight months of this year, the Commerce Ministry said Thursday, despite new limits on investment in real estate and acquisitions of Chinese companies. Full Story

United States, China promise parents lead-free toys

The China Post - U.S. and Chinese officials agreed on Tuesday to take immediate steps to stop the use of lead paint in toys made in China following toy recalls that have scared American parents ahead of holiday shopping. Full Story

Head of product safety in China promises safe toys for Christmas

The China Post - The Chinese-made toys children will receive for Christmas this year will be safe, the head of China's product safety agency said Wednesday, pledging that problems over the use of dangerous lead paint will be resolved in time for holiday exports. Full Story

European Union consumer chief faces European Union assembly on unsafe goods

The China Post - The European Union's consumer chief will seek the backing of the European Parliament on Wednesday to try to force EU countries to act against companies which import unsafe goods into the bloc. Full Story

McDonald's tries wooing rival customer base in China

The China Post - For nearly two decades in China, the KFC logo has enticed the hungry with the promise of juicy, crispy chicken. Full Story

World Bank raises China '07 growth forecast to 11.3%

The China Post - The World Bank on Wednesday raised its growth forecast for China's sizzling economy this year to 11.3 percent from an earlier 10.4 percent and said it appears well-placed to deal with recent global financial turmoil. Full Story

China retail sales up 17.1 percent in August

The China Post - Chinese retail sales, a key gauge of consumer spending, rose 17.1 percent in August compared with a year earlier, government data showed Wednesday. Full Story

China to let banks trade corporate debt, CSRC says

The China Post - China will let banks trade corporate bonds of publicly traded companies on both the interbank market and the securities exchange, the regulator said. Full Story

Bank of China to sell yuan-denominated bonds

The China Post - Bank of China Ltd., one of the country's big four state lenders, said it plans to sell yuan-denominated bonds worth 3 billion yuan (US$399 million; euro289 million) in Hong Kong from Thursday. Full Story

China inflation quickens to 10-year-high 6.5 percent

The China Post - China's inflation rate surged to a 10-year high and the trade surplus widened, adding pressure on the central bank to raise borrowing costs for a fifth time since March. Full Story

China's Citic Securities, CICC plan private equity

The China Post - Two major Chinese brokerages, Citic Securities Co. and China International Capital Corp. have gotten government approval to launch private equity businesses, the state-run China Securities Journal reported Tuesday. Full Story

China's efforts to curb money supply to delay bond rebound

The China Post - China's efforts to control accelerating inflation will limit a rebound in the nation's government bonds, according to Citic Securities Co., the country's most profitable brokerage. Full Story

Study: Design flaws cause of 76 percent of toy recalls

The China Post - A majority of recalls of Chinese-made toys were the result of design problems rather than manufacturing defects, a Canadian professor found after analyzing two decades of data. Full Story

Beiqi Foton, Cummins win approval for China venture

The China Post - Beiqi Foton Motor Co., China's biggest commercial-vehicle maker, won approval to form an engine venture with Cummins Inc. to tap rising truck sales in the world's second-largest auto market. Full Story

Chinese official executed for bribe taking, embezzlement

The China Post - A former official with the Agriculture Bank of China was executed Tuesday for taking bribes and embezzling bank funds worth about 15 million yuan (US$2 million; euro1.45 million), a newspaper reported. Wen Mengjie, 50, had been in charge of information technology at the bank's Beijing office from February, 1999 to February, 2004. Full Story

China delays curbs on exporters to ease costs

The China Post - China will delay further curbs on exporters of processed materials until 2008, giving manufacturers breathing room amid rising costs, said a trade ministry official. Full Story

China to launch investment agency this week: report

The China Post - China is expected to formally launch a long-awaited state investment agency to manage part of its massive foreign exchange reserves -- which surpassed US$1.33 trillion at the end of June -- this week, state press reported Monday. Full Story

Blackstone buys BlueStar stake for US$600 million

The China Post - United States private equity giant Blackstone announced Monday its first foray into mainland China in a deal to buy a 20 percent stake in a major Chinese chemical firm for up to US$600 million. Full Story

China to stop granting new brokerage approvals

The China Post - China is likely to hold back on granting licenses for new brokerages the next few years as the industry consolidates, a state-run newspaper said Monday. Full Story

Following Mattel recalls, Disney announces tests

The China Post - Following three high-profile recalls by Mattel Inc. this summer involving millions of Chinese-made, lead-tainted toys, The Walt Disney Company will begin independently testing toys featuring its characters, company officials said. Full Story

Chinese exports to United States to cost more

The China Post - Get ready for a new Chinese export: higher prices. For years, American consumers have enjoyed falling prices for goods made in China thanks to relentless cost-cutting by retailers such as Wal-Mart and Target. Full Story

Expectations modest for U.S.-China safety meeting

The China Post - U.S. and Chinese officials meeting this week after months of recalls of lead-tainted Chinese toys, defective tires and other unsafe products are unlikely to make a breakthrough, experts say. Full Story

Hong Kong should be wary of approaching 'stock train'

The China Post - China's plan to allow mainland investors to buy Hong Kong stocks for the first time may further boost the territory's market, but analysts fear it could create a dangerous bubble. Full Story

Eco-city construction to begin in new year in fight against pollution

The China Post - China will start building the country's first eco-city in the new year and plans four other radical new urban developments as it seeks to tackle pollution, the head of the firm designing the projects said Saturday. Full Story

Banks should buy overseas stakes: Zhou

The China Post - China's commercial banks should buy or take stakes in foreign financial institutions to help the nation's overseas investment drive, central bank governor Zhou Xiaochuan said Saturday. Full Story

China Coal approves US$3.1 billion Shanghai offer

The China Post - Coal Energy Co got the go ahead from shareholders to list its shares in Shanghai, the Shanghai Securities News said Saturday, in an initial public offering that could raise as much as US$3.1 billion. Full Story

Guangdong Dapeng starts LNG tank as coast demand rises

The China Post - Guangdong Dapeng LNG, operator of China's first import terminal for the fuel, said Saturday it has started a new tank to store super-cooled natural gas, as demand for the clean fuel rises on the booming Chinese coast. Full Story

China pledges loans to raise investment in the Caribbean

The China Post - China will provide about 4 billion yuan (US$530 million) in favorable loans over three years to Chinese companies investing in the Caribbean, the China Daily said Saturday, citing vice premier Wu Yi. Full Story

Overcapacity 'growing serious'

The China Post - Overcapacity in China's automobile industry is getting more serious and investment is growing excessively, state media reported Sunday. Full Story

Overcapacity 'growing serious'

The China Post - Overcapacity in China's automobile industry is getting more serious and investment is growing excessively, state media reported Sunday. Full Story

Intel breaks ground on China chip plant

The China Post - Intel Corp. held a groundbreaking ceremony Saturday for its first chip factory in China, expanding its presence in the booming Chinese computer industry and boosting Beijing's campaign to lure foreign high-tech investment. Full Story

Wall Street group visits Shanghai, lobbies China on financial reforms

The China Post - A Wall Street delegation led by former U.S. Commerce Secretary Donald L. Evans visited China's business hub of Shanghai on Friday, part of American financial industries' campaign for greater access to the potentially huge market. Full Story

China stock market value exceeds economy

The China Post - China's domestic stock market valuations have ballooned with spiraling share prices to the point that they now exceed the value of the entire economy, state media said Friday. Full Story

Shanghai to change overseas firm listing rules

The China Post - The Shanghai Stock Exchange may change its listing rules to make it easier for overseas companies to sell shares, in a move to enhance the quality of publicly traded companies, said the bourse's vice president. Full Story

China's steel prices may cool down on export curbs

The China Post - China's steel prices, which rose 15 percent in August from a year ago, won't gain "significantly" this and next quarter as the nation will further curb exports and cool investment, the nation's top planner said. Full Story

China gives green light for Construction Bank IPO

The China Post - China's securities regulator said Friday it has approved an application by China Construction Bank, the country's biggest mortgage lender, to issue shares in what could be the country's biggest initial public offering yet. Full Story

Bank of America Corp., China bank to create JV

The China Post - Bank of America Corp. and China Construction Bank said they will create a leasing business aimed at Chinese power-generators and railroads. Full Story

Former GM China chief leaves SAIC for Chrysler

The China Post - Phil Murtaugh, former chief of General Motors' China operations, has resigned as vice president of GM's joint venture partner SAIC Motor Corp. to take up a post at Chrysler, SAIC said Friday. Murtaugh, who joined SAIC in June 2006, said he had "accepted an offer from Chrysler Corp. that I think will be a tremendous opportunity for me. At this stage of my career, it is an offer I just cannot turn down." Full Story