Chinese consumer still ‘cautious’ despite impressive 6.5 per cent Q4 growth January 18, 2021 This morning’s economic numbers showed that the Chinese economy expanded by 6.5 per cent during Q4, with the last three months suggesting that economic activity had more or less returned to normal. Jeffrey Halley, a senior market analyst, Asia Pacific at OANDA, called China’s industrial production rise of 7.3 per cent “impressive.” “Made in [...]
The City View: Hong Kong activist Nathan Law January 17, 2021 In this latest edition of The City View podcast, Andy Silvester speaks to exiled Hong Kong activist Nathan Law. The youngest legislator ever elected in Asia and one of TIME Magazine’s 100 most influential people on the planet, Law has been a thorn in the side of Beijing ever since he emerged as a leader [...]
Nathan Law: I’m not entitled to lose hope in Hong Kong’s struggle January 17, 2021 City A.M. Editor Andy Silvester talks to Nathan Law, a pro-democracy activist from Hong Kong and one of TIME Magazine’s 100 most influential people on the planet – discussing the territory’s battle against repression, Beijing’s war on free expression and the need for a global solution to authoritarianism Nathan Law should not be in London [...]
Bigamy, corruption and £202m-worth of bribes: Chinese banker sentenced to death January 6, 2021 A disgraced Chinese banker has been handed the death sentence after he admitted to accepting more than £200m in bribes. Lai Xiaomin was also found guilty of bigamy after living “as man and wife long periods” outside of his marriage. Lai confessed to the crimes in an extraordinary TV interview with a state broadcaster before [...]
Asian consumers, boomerang businesses and M&A likely to shape 2021 January 6, 2021 It was some year. Anyone who took on the challenge of forecasting what would happen in 2020 more than likely saw it all swiftly swept aside – but, as they say, prediction is very difficult, especially when it’s about the future. Still, investing is a forward-looking profession and so we inevitably find ourselves thinking about [...]
EU and China sign investment pact after Merkel’s intervention December 30, 2020 The EU and China have concluded in principle negotiations on an investment deal, with Angela Merkel playing an “active role” in driving through the accord. The deal comes amid deep concerns about the Chinese government’s use of its economic clout to enmesh itself in western countries. A European Commission statement said the agreement is of [...]
EU and China on the brink of sealing historic trade pact December 29, 2020 The European Union and China are close to signing a trade and investment pact, according to multiple reports. The deal would be the first fissure in trade policy to develop post-Brexit between the UK and the continental trading bloc. The pact is said to open up China’s manufacturing and construction sectors to EU companies. Whilst [...]
Excusez-moi: UK set to surge past French economy in decade to come December 27, 2020 The UK’s economy is set to remain the fifth largest in the world, according to a respected annual report, and to surge ahead of cross-channel rivals despite Brexit. The Centre for Economics and Business Research’s annual tally of the world’s leading economies sees the UK retake fifth place from India. Read more: Brexit deal lays [...]
China bans flights from UK as global fears of mutant strain mount December 24, 2020 UK flights into China have been suspended by Beijing as worldwide fears of Covid-19 mutations found in Britain grow. The move comes with China having largely suppressed the virus on its mainland, despite its origin there. Read more: Brexit deal looks imminent and sterling rises alongside hopes China’s decision to block flights from the UK [...]
China to further expand outbound investor schemes: Xinhua November 29, 2020 China plans to roll out an outbound investment scheme to new regions as it looks to meet onshore investors’ asset allocation needs, official news agency Xinhua reported on Sunday. China will expand the Qualified Domestic Limited Partner(QDLP) trials already underway in Shanghai, Beijing and Shenzhen, Xinhua said, citing an unnamed official at the foreign exchange [...]