China Banking Monthly Report – April 2009

China Banking Monthly Report – April 2009

China Banking Monthly Report, a monthly English review co-operated by Chinadaily.com.cn and ResearchInChina.com, features the latest news, policies, statistics and analyses from the Chinese banking industry.

China Banking Monthly Report keeps you in tune with the latest news surrounding banking reforms, asset management, the RMB business, new government policies, statistics, overseas business presence in China, and more.

OVERSEAS BULLETIN
Citi China’s net income up 95% in 2008
UBS: No change in China expansion plans
Allianz, American Express cut stakes in ICBC
Foreign joint venture funds brace for tough fight
Malaysia Affin, BEA eye China sharia finance market

BANKING EVENTS
China to issue $4b treasury bonds
Second Chinese local government bonds launched
BOC to lend Ningxia 60b yuan for energy, infrastructure
Bank of China drops deal for stake in Rothschild
Agricultural Development Bank to auction 15 b yuan bonds
CDB to fund Ecuador’s biggest hydroelectric project
Medium-sized banks lead in satisfaction survey
Chinese in favor of easy-to-use banking services
Exim Bank loads up support for shipbuilders
China to issue 22b yuan long-term T-bonds
Yuan settlement trial starts in five cities
Merchants Bank sees stimulus plan driving loans
Pudong Bank plans $4.4b fund raising
More China banks enter Forbes’ list
ICBC says its deposits now world’s largest
Central bank to sell 30b yuan finance ministry deposits
Bank of China, Construction Bank tighten loan rules
Lending to Taiwan companies rises
Agricultural Bank won’t cut staff, branches before IPO
Bank wealth management products weather the storm
Minsheng Bank net profit up 1.6% in Q1
China to float 30b yuan T-bonds
China Merchants Bank’s profit up 38% in 2008
UnionPay expands in Middle East, Africa
Agricultural Bank net profit up 17.5% in 2008
Mainland, Taiwan sign landmark financial services deal
Major banks hit by bad loan provisions
BoCom aims for insurance, brokerage business
Bank of China Q1 profit drops 14.4%
CITIC Bank reports 60% net profit increase in 2008
Merchants Bank to raise funds via bond, share sales
Bank of China joins MoneyGram transfer network

CAPITAL MARKET
Regulator rolls out norms for second board
Brokers’ commission in Q1 surges over 70%
Sovereign fund in robust financial health
NASDAQ-linked fund for China in pipeline
China approves more corporate bond issuance in Q1
Chinese firms resume overseas floats
China regulates SOE share transfers
Sovereign fund to mull investing in Europe
China launches early rice futures trading
Global crisis snatches huge wealth from Chinese investor
China’s securities funds reverse losses in Q1
China to consider stability when timing IPOs
Insurers hike Q1 stock holdings by 19%
Chinese listed companies’ 2008 profit down 17%

POLICY
Lockup period required for banks’ foreign investors
China buys IFC bonds, backs trade finance
Business start-up loans to have wider reach
Banks told to check credit card risks
China to strengthen regulation of listed securities firms
China to improve yuan-based cross-border payment system
Overseas investment norms released
China sets plan for reducing unemployment in 2 years
China to keep relaxed monetary policy
Banks get green light for insurance arms
China warns enterprises against fiscal risks
China to launch more stimulus investment in Q2
Central bank calls for ‘more rational’ lending
Credit policy unchanged despite Q1 loan surge
Banking regulator demands risk control on derivatives
Mainland companies may buy stakes in Taiwan from May 1

ECONOMIC DATA
Business climate index sees narrower decline in Q1
Salary gap widening
China’s March exports continue falling but at slower pace
Money supply sees robust growth in Q1
China’s new loans soar in Q1
China’s foreign reserves hit $1.95 trillion
China’s property investment up 4.1% in Q1
Fiscal revenue falls at slower pace in March
China’s FDI decline slows in March
Power consumption down 4% in Q1
China records slowest GDP growth, but upturn in sight
China fixed asset investment rises 28.8% in Q1
China’s producer price index down 4.6% in Q1
China’s CPI falls 1.2% in March
China’s industrial output up 5.1% in Q1
China Q1 urban jobless rate rises to 4.3%
China’s current, capital accounts in surplus
External debt rises slightly in 2008
Central SOEs profits decline in Q1, but more slowly
Urban employees’ average pay growth slows in Q1
China’s PMI rises for 5th straight month
Central bank’s open market operations in April

OFFICIAL VOICE
Spokesman: China forex reserves to keep stable growth
China welcomes inbound M&A by foreign firms
Banking regulator warns of credit risks
China to improve FDI climate
Premier: China’s stimulus plan paying off
Central banker: China still fighting financial crisis
China forex investments ‘remain profitable’
Central banker: Economy better than expected
China calls for strengthened efforts on economic reforms

ANALYSIS
ADB estimates China GDP growth at 7%
Economist: China can speed up world’s economic recovery
Marketers bullish on China’s recovery
McKinsey: More rich in China by 2015
Economist says China to see V-shaped recovery
Consumer confidence perks up
Top banks face squeeze in margins
ADB: China should launch trade fund
World Bank: China’s economy to bottom out in mid 2009
Chinese more bullish on economy
Commercial sector in rough waters
What is behind different PMI statistics?
Cities ‘may gain from financial crisis’
Local govt bond issuers may tweak coupon rates
Surging new loans call for more attention
Easier loans lead to more M&As
Economist: China not to see quick recovery
IMF projects China 2009 growth at 6.5%
Central bank official sees 2009 growth near 8%
Academy: China GDP to grow by 8.3% in 2009
StanChart maintains China growth forecast
Morgan Stanley ups 2009 China GDP forecast to 7%
Analysts: More stimulus moves needed
Specter of deflation looms again
Third tranche of stimulus package may ‘fall short’
Economist sees urbanization as leading growth engine
Economist: China should tighten monetary policy
China expects new loans to surge 57% in 2009