This Month
China’s economy loses steam ahead of new year holiday
The official manufacturing purchasing managers’ index fell to 49.1, the lowest since August, missing economists’ forecast for a modest expansion.
- Yujing Liu
- Exclusive
- Gaming & wagering
Inside the high-roller room at struggling Star’s new casino
Bored-looking dealers amid golden opulence. There are not as many big-paying customers as Star Entertainment would like at the most exclusive space in its sparkly new Brisbane casino.
- James Hall
September 2024
China stimulus hopes rise as PBoC cuts rate, flags briefing
The People’s Bank of China lowered the 14-day reverse repurchase rate, catching up with reductions initiated in July, and flagged further moves on Tuesday.
- Wenjin Lv
March 2024
Bridge collapse sends firms scrambling to re-route cargo
Baltimore’s port has become increasingly important to US retailers and manufacturers seeking to diversify their supply networks and bring goods closer to customers.
- David McHugh, Anne D'Innocenzio and Paul Wiseman
China’s growth mixed as output jumps, consumption lags
Industrial output rose 7 per cent in January and February from the same period a year earlier. However, consumer and business confidence remains subdued.
- Dan Murtaugh
February 2024
China property giant Country Garden faces demands to liquidate
The developer overtook Evergrande as the epicentre of China’s property crisis when it defaulted on a dollar bond in October.
- Keith Bradsher
Xi sacks China’s top markets regulator to halt rout
The replacement comes after Chinese authorities struggle to stop a sell-off in the world’s second-largest sharemarket.
- Samuel Shen and Tom Westbrook
How this tour guide pivoted when Chinese visitors stopped arriving
Sydney-based tourism operator Justin Steele once his used Mandarin skills to attract Chinese travellers with bilingual tours. He doesn’t bother anymore.
- Gus McCubbing and Michael Smith
January 2024
China factory activity shrinks in ‘no sign of turning point’
An official gauge of China’s manufacturing activity showed contraction for a fourth consecutive month in January, signalling continued weakness in the economy.
- Iris Ouyang
- Analysis
- Shipping
Houthi attacks are idling car factories and delaying new fashion
Attacks on ships in the Red Sea are delivering another shock to global trade, coming on top of pandemic-related logjams at ports and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
- Paul Wiseman and Mae Anderson
March 2023
China industrial profits drop on weak demand, falling prices
The plunge in profits came despite data earlier this month showing industrial output rebounded in the first two months of the year.
- Cynthia Li
Condoms to cosmetics: China sales surge in revival
Resilient sales in China would be a relief for global companies struggling with higher energy and wage costs, and as customers elsewhere slow spending on high inflation.
- Richa Naidu, Elisa Anzolin and Christoph Steitz
China’s factory activity notches fastest growth in decade
China’s manufacturing sector expanded at its fastest pace in more than a decade in February, as demand recovered after the scrapping of COVID-zero curbs.
- Liangping Gao and Joe Cash
February 2023
China’s recovery hinges on consumers – and they’re not spending
Beijing was betting on a wave of “revenge spending” as Chinese consumers emerged from three years of zero-covid restrictions. It hasn’t happened.
- Meaghan Tobin
January 2023
China vows to boost consumption to power recovery
Consumption jumped during the just-ended Lunar New Year holidays.
- John Cheng
US shooting suspect kills himself after Lunar New Year massacre
The suspect earlier shot dead 10 people in an attack on a ballroom dance hall in the Californian city of Monterey Park.
- Tim Reid and Jonathan Allen
China rings in Lunar New Year with most COVID rules lifted
Millions could finally make their first trip back to their hometowns to reunite with their families without worrying about the hassles of quarantine, potential lockdowns and suspension of travel.
- Alessandro Diviggiano
Economists see an ‘upsize surprise’ in year of the rabbit
China’s reopening has upped the feel good factor ahead of Lunar New Year celebrations starting this weekend.
- Emma Connors
China’s COVID deaths expected to hit 36,000 a day during holiday
The revised figures from independent forecasting firm Airfinity added 11,000 deaths a day to its December 29 estimate.
- Jinshan Hong
Chinese head to home towns as holidays raise virus stakes
More than 2 billion trips across China are expected in the weeks around the holidays, the Transport Ministry has estimated.
- Martin Quin Pollard and Bernard Orr