China’s GDP rises 5% in Q1 beating forecasts, Iran war impact limited so far

China’s economic growth rebounded more than expected in the first quarter of 2026, suggesting limited immediate spillovers from the Iran war while giving policymakers more room to delay additional stimulus. Gross domestic product (GDP) in the world’s second-largest economy expanded 5.0% year-on-year in January-March, the fastest pace in three quarters, according to data released by … Read more

China digs in on ‘rare earth’, commands global market

Last month, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology introduced interim measures to tighten controls on ‘rare earth’ mining and processing. The rules are the latest in Beijing’s efforts to centralise oversight of extraction, exports, and refining. While China’s trading partners such as India and the U.S. are seeking alternative sources to reduce dependency, data … Read more

Move away from US: China exports emerge strong despite Donald Trump’s tariff chaos; is the record trade surplus sustainable?

China achieved a historic trade surplus of approximately $586 billion in the first six months of the year. (AI image) China seems to have diversified its export markets away from the US, reporting a record trade surplus despite the global turmoil and uncertainty created by American President Donald Trump’s tariff war.China achieved a historic trade … Read more

China’s factory output resists tariff impact, retail sales slow

China’s factory output slowed in April but showed surprising resilience, a sign that government support measures may have cushioned the impact of a trade war with the U.S. that threatens to derail momentum in the world’s second-largest economy. Industrial output grew 6.1% from a year earlier, National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) data showed on Monday, … Read more

China’s bold step in AI regulation: New committee aims to lead global standards

Beijing has announced the formation of a new artificial intelligence standardisation technical committee, Reuters reports. The committee will establish industry guidelines for emerging technologies such as large language models and AI risk assessment. As per the wire, the 41-member committee, which includes representatives from prominent tech firms like Baidu and prestigious academic institutions such as … Read more

Once hottest thing on Wall Street, where have all Chinese IPOs gone?

There was a time when a Chinese internet company’s initial public offering (IPO) was the hottest thing on Wall Street. As the e-commerce giant Alibaba prepared to go public on the New York Stock Exchange a decade ago, the world’s biggest banks competed fiercely to underwrite the offering. When the opening bell rang on September … Read more

China President Xi’s mystery plans surface with biggest shift in years

It started with a cryptic quote from President Xi Jinping buried in a 172-page book on the financial sector. Three months later, plans for potentially the biggest shift in years in how China conducts monetary policy are starting to surface. Pan Gongsheng, governor of the People’s Bank of China, on Wednesday gave the clearest acknowledgment … Read more