China’s economic performance in the first quarter of 2024 surpassed expectations, with GDP growth reaching 5.3%. This positive momentum puts the country on track to achieve its annual target of around 5% growth, despite ongoing headwinds. Economists polled by Wind had previously predicted a more modest increase of 4.9%. This stronger-than-anticipated performance underscores a pick-up...
China’s auto industry kicked off 2024 with positive momentum, recording an 11.1% year-on-year increase in total vehicle sales to nearly 4.03 million units in the first two months, according to data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM). This growth was mirrored in production, with auto output climbing 8.1% year-on-year to 3.92 million units...
Hong Kong’s “Top Talent Pass Scheme” is attracting high-skilled professionals with lucrative salaries, but questions linger about its long-term sustainability. Launched in December 2022 to counter emigration and bolster growth, the scheme boasts impressive initial results. The program has attracted over 70,000 applications, with nearly 79% approved and 73% already arriving in the city. These...
Hong Kong’s bankers enjoy significantly higher salaries compared to their counterparts in Singapore. A recent report by Bloomberg Intelligence revealed that Hong Kong-based investment banking analysts earn an average of 46% more than their peers in the Lion City. This trend extends to associates, who command nearly 36% higher salaries in Hong Kong. Several factors...
Shenzhen welcomed a phenomenal 9.38 million visitors during the recent eight-day Spring Festival holiday, showcasing a remarkable 79% increase compared to the previous year. This influx signifies a significant rebound in travel enthusiasm following the pandemic’s disruptions, revitalizing the city’s transportation network and local economy. Departure figures mirrored the arrival boom, with a 42% year-on-year...
In a bid to revitalize the struggling property market and bolster the overall economy, China has implemented its biggest-ever reduction to a key mortgage rate. This move comes amidst a deepening crisis in the sector, marked by declining sales and financing challenges. The five-year Loan Prime Rate (LPR), a benchmark for banks’ set by the...
China’s recent Spring Festival holiday witnessed a remarkable resurgence in travel, marking a 280% surge compared to the previous year with 13.52 million inbound and outbound trips. This translates to a daily average of 1.69 million journeys, bringing travel close to 90% of pre-pandemic levels. While the tradition of family reunions remains deeply ingrained, with...
Shenzhen is surging ahead in the race for new listings. As of January 31st, 2024, 58 companies from the city had filed IPO applications, outpacing major competitors like Shanghai and Beijing. This puts Shenzhen in the driver’s seat for 2024, despite a significant drop in applications since stricter regulations were implemented in August 2023. However,...
Beijing welcomed a staggering 17.4 million visitors during the recent eight-day Spring Festival holiday, a 37.4% increase compared to last year, according to the city’s tourism bureau. This influx led to a 40.6% jump in tourism revenue, reaching an impressive 28.65 billion yuan (about $4 billion). Traditional temple fairs were a major draw, attracting over 5.16 million...
China’s intellectual property landscape is booming, with the number of high-value invention patents exceeding 1.66 million by the end of 2023. This represents a 25.7% increase year-on-year, showcasing the country’s growing commitment to innovation. This surge translates to an average of 11.8 high-value invention patents per 10,000 people nationwide, demonstrating the widespread impact of innovation...