Huawei and ZTE Moving Up the Global Scales. Ericsson Next?

China’s two telecoms tigers, Huawei and ZTE, are so far the only two among all their major competitors who have managed to maintain sales and profit growth. Now their ambitious competitive strategies are beginning to challenge behemoth Ericsson for dominance in the telecoms industry.

Beijing Acts to Curb Statistics Cheating, Gain Credibility

To become a leader in the global economy, and to be the first among all countries to revive from the present crisis, is the mighty goal the country has set for itself. But for that to be believed beyond, and even within, China’s own borders will require the generation of some believable statistics, a prospect that has always proved illusive in this country. Exhibit A includes just revealed economic figures for the first quarter of the year that are triggering doubt after doubt, both publicly and privately.

Hot-shot fund managers burnt by crisis

CMIA's managing partner Lee Chong Min. The firm's FerroChina stake, valued at $240 million in 2007, is now effectively worth nothing.

China’s Post-1979 Consumer Class

Free-spending ‘Phoenix’ generation seen as both saviours and anti-heroes

Foreign funds flow to Asia on recovery hopes

Regional govt efforts to drive economies out of recession are fuelling investor appetite for risk

SGX watch-list firms running out of time

Nine have less than a year to apply for removal, most are still not profitable. By Joyce Hooi

China recovery hinges on private sector

The catch is that the private sector is sitting on its hands - with good reason

New rules to curb foreign financial info agencies in China

China yesterday unveiled new rules governing foreign providers of financial information, demanding that they not furnish domestic clients with information that could destabilise markets or stir up social tension.

Rule change boosts Taiwan stocks

Taipei stock index soars 6.7% on hopes of investment flows

‘Sell in May and Go Away’ May Not Be a Good Idea This Year

The old “sell in May and go away” adage may be only partially true this year: Investors may sell a bit but aren’t likely to stray very far after they do.

Beijing pushes traditional herbal remedy

Mainland health authorities have released three herbal medicine prescriptions they claim can block and cure swine flu.

Rejoining UN health body opens a door for Taiwan, Ma says

Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou said yesterday rejoining the World Health Assembly has opened a door for the island to increase its international presence.

Controversial content in AWARE’s sex education programme sparks debate

When TODAY showed him two pages of the CSE trainers’ manual, which stated that “anal sex can be healthy” and that “homosexuality is perfectly normal”, Rev Yap said that he “had no problems” with the content.

China’s Dual – or Duelling – Finance Hubs

Hong Kong’s role as a financial centre role is being challenged by Shanghai and yuan-based financing. Can the cities work together?

Corrupt official’s exploits made into anti-graft documentary

A corrupt high-level Beijing official’s exploits with mistresses and real estate developers have been made into a documentary that is being broadcast to Communist Party members nationwide as authorities wage war on corruption.

The documentary said a single real estate developer deposited about 400,000 yuan into Zhou’s bank account every day for three weeks in 2003, as payment for a lucrative hotel construction project.

Milk-scandal officials quietly given key jobs

Two officials disciplined for the melamine-tainted milk scandal were quietly reappointed to key positions months before their punishments were handed down to them.

Shanghai’s New Route to Financial Prestige

Through its international shipping port, Shanghai may have found a way to build a global hub for the financial services industry.

Sovereign Wealth and the Financial Crisis

China’s sovereign wealth fund CIC is holding cash assets and plans to ride out the economic downturn with minimal risk.

Dalai Lama sought refuge three years before uprising, claims biographer

The Dalai Lama wanted to defect to India as early as three years before he ultimately fled there in 1959 after a failed armed rebellion against Chinese rule, a historian and veteran journalists in India say.

Experts now believe Nehru had a change of heart three years later for three reasons: the emergence of territorial disputes straining Sino-India relations; escalating unrest in Tibet; and mounting pressure from the US and Britain for New Delhi to “take on China headlong” over Tibet.

Bulls, not Bears, May End in Tears - Andy Xie

False hope built on government stimulus measures may feel good today, but it will only delay necessary reforms.

The false hope today may feel good but it only delays necessary reforms. It actually makes things worse. As governments spend money to revive the past, they won’t be left with money required to ease the pain caused by structural reforms in the future. The world is behaving like a bankrupt drug addict, spending welfare checks to feed an addiction. Once the checks are all spent, the addict has to go cold turkey to kick the habit.

Three Gorges To-Do List: Mudslides to Jobs

The construction phase of the Three Gorges dam and reservoir ends this year. But follow-up tasks -- and project woes -- abound.

Time to rein S-chips in - but don’t stifle foreign listings

The woes afflicting China stocks listed here, or S-chips, are by now well known: accounting irregularities, missing cash, profit warnings, and the resultant going-concern doubts that have emerged. And they have led to the sector’s spectacular collapse; on Tuesday, 34 out of the 51 S-chips that comprise the FT ST China Index (67 per cent) traded for below 20 cents, while 43 (84 per cent) traded for below 50 cents.

Zhou Xiaochuan: New Growth Tasks for the Financial Sector

Retooling China’s economy through product replacement, new technology and emission cuts must include the financial sector.

China to Reject Any Higher-than-Target Iron Ore Contract Offer

The country’s steelmakers are hoping for an at least 40 percent discount on contract prices.

I am not Dr Doom, I am Dr Realist

Economist Roubini says he doesn’t believe a near-depression is on the cards right now

New rule to punish officials who give fake statistical data

Beijing has renewed its vows to clamp down on fake official data amid mounting allegations of notoriously unreliable statistics.

Male wine-drinkers live longer

Drinking up to half a glass of wine per day can help you live up to five years longer - at least for men, according to a study published on Thursday.

Chicken a la Cart

This short film won the competition in 2006 on the theme Food, Taste and Hunger.

Watch film here

Yuan To Become Regional Currency Before Going Global

After becoming a settlement currency, the next logical step would be for the yuan to become a regional reserve currency.

SAIC to spend 15.3b yuan developing own brands

SAIC Motor Corp, China’s largest carmaker, said yesterday it planned to spend 15.31 billion yuan (HK$17.41 billion) this year to develop own-brand vehicles and the related technologies.

Mainland grade A offices feel pinch

Beijing and Shanghai to see vacancy rates rising to 40pc and rents dropping 50pc

Lasting Economic Growth Beats a Warm-up

Beneath the surface of China’s ‘warming’ economy are structural impediments to long-term growth that demand attention -- now.

Developers meet valuers in search for common ground

Finger pointed at banks as some buyers struggle to raise enough loans

Finance industry may need to change: MAS

Banks and other financial institutions have been advised that they may need to change their behaviour fundamentally as a post-crisis industry landscape emerges.

For instance, they must ensure that investment advice dished out is ‘fair, objective and in the best interest of clients’. Having pay structures that rely mainly on commissions or are biased towards recommending specific products is ‘untenable’.

Chinese Economy Cannot Recover in Isolation

China cannot turn around its export-driven economy in isolation, and needs improvement in the rest of the world, especially the United States, in order to return to growth, a top Chinese official said on Tuesday.

Beijing to approve Taiwan’s role in WHO

Taiwan’s president announced on Wednesday that Beijing would allow the island’s participation in a key World Health Organisation body, a major goal in Taipei’s campaign for international recognition.

Beijing places new clamp on visa controls

Mainland authorities have once again tightened visa procedures for foreigners in the run-up to the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic, travel industry sources said yesterday.

IDA turns down hotels’ appeal to block Skype

Singapore’s telecommunications regulator has rejected requests by four luxury hotels to block the use of popular Internet telephony software Skype.

Bar owner and girl, 15, charged with rape

A karaoke bar owner and 15-year-old girl have been charged with rape in Zhejiang province in a case that a media report says could involve up to 10 underage girls over a two-year period.

DPP officials vote to invite detained Chen back into party fold

Former Taiwanese president Chen Shui-bian may rejoin the Democratic Progressive Party after an intense power struggle within the pro-independence group.

Open the door to shareholders’ meetings, please

One notable thing about the shareholder meetings held by listed companies here is that many still do not allow the media to be present, not even as observers.

China set to be biggest wind power growth market

It has doubled production annually, may add 10,000 MW of capacity in 2009

Shake-out in boutique finance business

Dearth of money-spinning IPOs spells pay cuts and even closure of firms

Analysts expect pullback in May but see bright side

Profit-taking unlikely to bring market down to March low and presents buying opportunity

THE CONFESSION OF AN S-CHIP CEO

So when dust finally settles one day, we shall all look back and evaluate what had gone wrong and who are to be blamed. I am sure all fingers will be pointing at the Chinese entrepreneurs such as myself, who are usually labelled as “greedy and unscrupulous”. There is a ring of truth to that accusation and I admit I am guilty. But how about those deal makers, who taught us how to cook the books? How about those angels, who hid their identities behind some deal makers and exerted influences to assist them to succeed in their schemes? How about those institutional investors who trifled with the money entrusted to them? How about those intermediaries and professionals who were not vigilant enough to protect the interest of the investing public?

China Prepares for Its Version of NASDAQ

In many ways, the GEM is indeed a simple extension of the Main Board.

Mistresses fly coop as menfolk lose their loot

Hong Kong men struck hard by the financial downturn are hiring private investigators to check on the fidelity of their mainland mistresses.

Time for caution on PCCW’s bargain-basement shares

The price looks right, but this stock carries a lot of baggage

Market Mood

I would not buy financial stocks if I were a long-term investor.

Tittle-tattle tension is all in a day’s work

Everyone has bad days. It’s perfectly normal to be cranky from time to time at work. It’s part of being human and, in fact, anyone in the office who is enthusiastically cheerful every single day is almost definitely harbouring some sort of chronic psychosis.

Re-emergence of emerging markets may be short-lived

Short-sellers are increasing bets against developing-nation stocks by the most since March 2007, a signal that the biggest rally in 16 years may fizzle as profits plunge from Brazil to Taiwan.

Shareholders see red at Guangzhao AGM

Management questioned on pledged shares, default on convertible bonds and disagreements with former directors.

Beware what the long-term holds

Those bullish on the recovery should ask themselves this question: Since the present bounce originated from Wall Street and since US stocks are rising because of the government’s bank rescue plan, how strong will the recovery be once there are signs that the scheme may fail?

Stocks rise is bear-market rally, warns Roubini

The surge in global equity markets in recent weeks is a false rally because more financial shocks are in store and the US economy is weak, said an economist who predicted much of the current crises.

China Power Output Down 3.5% In Early April

The further decline indicates that consumption remains weak and further signs of economic recovery are yet to come.

How Deep a Hole Has the U.S. Dug for Itself?

It may take several years for the U.S. consumer to cut household debt to acceptable levels and the world would do well not to depend on resumption of spending as the way out of the recession.

Cosco

Cosco rebounded from 1.05 support. It would be positive if it stays above 1.10 and hourly MACD crossover to attack upper BB.

Yanlord

Yanlord closing at 1.38, from the potential hourly MACD crossover and stochastic, looks good to attack 1.45.



Let's see if it can trade up within the channel after rebounding from the lower trendline today.

Traders, Not Investors, Fuel Stock Rally: NYSE Chief

Wall Street’s stunning six-week rally has been fed more by traders looking to take advantage of quick swings in the market than investors with a long-term view, NYSE Euronext CEO Duncan Niederauer told CNBC.

China Expect Iron Ore Prices to Drop 40%

As the annual iron ore negotiation cranks up, it seems Japan, China, and South Korea steelmakers are expecting a 30%, 40%, even a 50% price cut respectively from the world’s three biggest iron ore miners.

Is this stock rally for real?

Market analysts are split down the middle

Survivor of Nanking gets libel damages

Survivor of Nanking gets libel damages

‘Not outside my school’

Shuqun principal stops 2 men from giving out religious books.

I am sure the 2 men are christian.

Citic Pacific’s Crisis: More Real than Rumour

Rumour denials were frequent at Citic Pacific before a police raid and Larry Yung’s resignation confirmed serious trouble.

For Goldman Sachs, A Slower Pay Day is OK

Blankfien’s call for pay reform on Wall Street is probably more posturing than penitence, as the Goldman chief exec knows there’s no wrath like that of angry voters.

Some mainland Q1 loans didn’t reach real economy

About one-fifth of mainland banks’ new first-quarter lending in the form of short-term discounted bills did not flow into the real economy, the official Shanghai Securities News reported on Friday.

New female condom touted in AIDS fight

Advocates hope to see greater use in global fight against AIDS

China Sky CEO faces sale of pledged shares

This could lead to change of control at firm and loss of his CEO position

Beijing-backed party boss too powerful for Guangdong clique

The ongoing anti-corruption storm in Guangdong, which has led to the downfall of several high-ranking officials, shows the political clout and determination of provincial Communist Party secretary Wang Yang to break up entrenched local interests and push forward his reform ideas, political analysts say.

Shenzhen anti-graft officials detained

Corruption scandal in Guangdong widens

Censor tightens control of papers after bogus reports

The top government censor for the print media is to tighten supervision after several Chinese-language newspapers were found to have published a series of untrue articles since January last year.

Detention centre holding Chen faces a graft storm of its own

Taiwan’s top detention centre, where graft-tainted former president Chen Shui-bian is held, is grappling with claims of corruption.

Ming Yi approves S$60,000 loan to PAP MP Ong Seh Hong

The court on Thursday heard that Ming Yi had approved several loans to various staff. Among them, was Dr. Ong Seh Hong who is currently the community hospital’s chief operating officer and clinical director of Ren Ci Hospital and Medicare Centre.

Dr. Ong is also a Member of Parliament for Marine Parade GRC. When contacted by Channel NewsAsia, the MP said he is unable to comment as the trial is still ongoing.

Shaky Shanghai poses no threat to Hong Kong

If international financial centres could be created by government decree alone, then Singapore would have eaten Hong Kong’s lunch in the mid-1990s, and any remaining crumbs would have been gobbled up by Shanghai in the early years of the present decade.

Despite G-20 Promises, IMF Issues Linger

Unfinished business after the G-20 summit revolves around the IMF, including U.S. funding and China’s membership quota.

Want to find the rich? Look outside the mega cities

Foreign luxury brands looking to win in mainland need to reach into cities that are barely known to the rest of the world but are home to startling and fast-growing wealth, a series of studies shows.

Loan Sharks

Thaksin granted Nicaragua passport

Thailand’s former leader Thaksin Shinawatra now has a Nicaraguan passport, complicating efforts to extradite him as Thai authorities pressed ahead Thursday with a search for his supporters accused of leading violent riots in Bangkok.

The Nicaraguan government announced late Wednesday it had named Thaksin a “Nicaraguan ambassador on a special mission” to bring investment to the Central American country and issued him a passport in January.

Menstrual blood ‘fed to employer’

An Indonesian domestic helper appeared in court yesterday accused of trying to put menstrual blood in her employer’s food. Indra Ningsih, 26, was charged with one count of administering a poison or other destructive or noxious substance with an intent to injure.

MAS takes insider trading case to court

In the first civil suit it has ever filed, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) is suing a former employee of WBL Corporation for alleged insider trading.

New Jaguar XJ

China Needs To Keep The Party Going

China had better give us some good news on Thursday

Tai-tai: I visit club because I can’t resist temptation

‘I’d feel something was missing if I had to skip one of my regular visits to the club.’

Understanding Sovereign Wealth Funds

The launch of the Santiago Principles should effectively clear away negative impressions and confusion over sovereign wealth funds.

A Realistic Prognosis for Medical Reform

China’s new health care reform plan provides for better care and protection, but not universal public access and coverage.

Male infertility rate on the rise in Shanghai

In an increasingly mobile and competitive world, even one’s manhood is under threat. Forget about grooming or making more money. It’s time men started watching out for their sperm.

Cosco

Next resistance 1.17.

Ramba

Back to General Offer price 0.330?

Yanlord

Yanlord 1.58 tomorrow?

Olam

Good chance to test 1.82 tomorrow.

Migrant workers likely to visit illegal clinics despite deaths

Uninsured migrant workers are still likely to visit illegal clinics in Beijing even though fellow workers have died in such places, according to state media.

South Korea fears rise of China, citing trade rivalry

South Korea expressed concern yesterday about China’s rise as a global economic power, saying its own economic growth could be harmed.

Wells Fargo Q1 Profits Packed with Accounting Gain

It appears, however, that as much as nearly one-third of the bank’s first quarter earnings may be nothing more than the result of an accounting treatment; without such a move, tangible common equity would be 10 bps less than the 3.1 percent the Street expects.

Goldman Pushes Stock Issue in Plan to Escape U.S. Grip

Goldman Sachs Group Inc., frustrated at federally mandated pay caps, has been plotting for months to get out from under the government’s thumb.

Expect more bottoms: Jim Rogers

Equity markets may dip below recent lows as more troubles lie ahead in the financial market, investor Jim Rogers says.

Taxpayer Funded Goldman Sachs Profits

This is theft on the sort of grand scale that calls for the population to revolt. Perhaps the French peasants were right; Time to bring the guillotine for executing nobles and bankers. . .

Double Dipping in 2010

Asset prices have started to climb again, but their rise stems from a bear-market bounce, opening the door for a second global dip in 2010.

The last structural bear market happened in the 1970s and lasted for ten years. It is obviously difficult for investors to stay on the sideline for a decade. After all, how long does one live? This is why a structural bear market swallows more and more people through such rallies. The ones that jump in later tend to be more patient and probably smarter. I am afraid that the current bear market won’t end until it brings down Warren Buffett.

Pay for research, please

Poor market sentiment and trading volumes have taken a toll on broking fees and commissions. This has raised concerns over whether the challenging conditions may direct brokerage-backed research towards stocks that can better attract the volumes and revenues for the broking houses.

CIMB-GK offers paid research

It assures that research will remain independent from paying issuer

Yanlord reports 2b yuan sales as market rebounds

Yanlord Land Group, which focuses on investments in mainland properties, says it had secured 2 billion yuan (HK$2.27 billion) in property sales in the first quarter, representing nearly 40 per cent of what it achieved for all of last year.