Category Archives: Business

business news from China, Sweden and the world.

Chinese company acquires Czech turbine manufacturer

XI’AN, July 5 (Greenpost) — Xi’an Shaangu Power, a Chinese engineering company based in northwestern Shaanxi province, paid 318 million yuan (51 million U.S. dollars) for a 75 percent stake of Brno Ekol, a leading Czech turbine manufacturer.

According to an agreement signed by the two companies in January, the acquisition will take place in two steps, with delivery of the remaining stake completed in the years to come.

It is the biggest amount paid by China into Czech’s manufacturing industry over the recent years, accounting for about 17 percent of China’s total investment into the European country.

Shaangu Power, established in 1999, is a major industrial compressor producer in China. Enditem

Source Xinhua

Editor Xuefei Chen Axelsson

Pork exports to China boost Britain’s economy

LONDON, July 3 (Xinhua) — Pigs will fly, the old saying goes, and for Britain, pork exports to China have given the economy a boost, government environment secretary Elizabeth Truss announced Friday.

Global pork exports from Britain have rocketed 44 percent in the last five years generating almost 334 million U.S. dollars a year for the British economy, the minister said.

Truss said the pork industry was given a significant boost after the British government opened up pork trade with China in 2012. The exports to China are now worth 47 million dollars each year.

Visiting the country’s biggest pork exporter, Cranswick Country Foods in the Hull (Northern England), Secretary Truss praised the industry for grasping export opportunities and leading the way in new Chinese markets, setting a gold standard for the rest of the UK food industry.

She said exports of British pork around the world are up from 149 million pounds in 2010 with China being by far the biggest international export market for British pork.

Truss said: “UK food has an excellent reputation the world over, and China presents a fantastic opportunity for our farmers to take advantage of a growing demand for top-class British produce.”

“China is now one of the UK’s fastest-growing export markets … Pork is a significant British export, along with whisky, salmon, and fresh fish,” said Truss.

In January, Truss visited China to discuss opening up the market further for British exports and expanding the number of British plants that can export pork to China.

As part of the trip, she discussed pigs trotters, which could bring an additional 11.7 million dollars a year for the British pork industry; negotiations with China are currently ongoing, she said.

The new UK Agriculture and Food Counsellor, Karen Morgan, has been tasked with driving greater access to China’s growing food market.

This paves the way for the dairy industry where British dairy products are in growing demand. Dairy exports to China are now worth over 37 million dollars and infant milk formula and processed cheese could present an opportunity for British producers to diversify. Enditem

Source Xinhua

Editor  Xuefei Chen Axelsson

BoC lists first Euro-denominated bond on London Stock Exchange

 

LONDON, July 6 (Greenpost) — London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) Monday announced that it has witnessed the first Euro-denominated bond by a Chinese issuer admitted to trading on its markets.

Bank of China (BoC) has issued a 500-million-euro (or 550 million U.S. dollars) bond listed in London, through its Hungarian branch, as part of wider bond issuance program by the bank to provide funding for China’s ‘One Belt, One Road’ projects, said LSEG.

The project aims at boost links and commerce between China and countries along the old land-based and maritime silk routes, noted the group.

Nikhil Rathi, Director of International Development at LSEG said in a statement: “This latest Euro-denominated bond, a first for a Chinese issuer, demonstrates London Stock Exchange’s apposition as the leading gateway for Chinese firms looking to access European and global capital in the full range of currencies.”

Chen Huaiyu, General Manager of Bank of China Hungarian Branch said: “The success of the bond issued by Bank of China Hungarian Branch shows that international investors have great confidence in the CEE region and also in the ‘One Belt, One Road’ projects initiated by China in this region.

“Bank of China will accelerate the establishment of branches in CEE countries and will provide more financial support to this region in the future,” added Chen.

According to LSEG’s data, fifty-seven Chinese companies are currently quoted in London, with eight on the Main Market and 49 on Alternative Investment Market. In addition, thirty-two so-called dim sum bonds, or offshore RMB-denominated bonds, are traded on London Stock Exchange’s market, with a aggregate value of RMB 24 billion. Enditem

Source Xinhua

Editor  Xuefei Chen Axelsson

 

Chinese company acquires Czech turbine manufacturer

 

XI’AN, July 5 (Greenpost) — Xi’an Shaangu Power, a Chinese engineering company based in northwestern Shaanxi province, paid 318 million yuan (51 million U.S. dollars) for a 75 percent stake of Brno Ekol, a leading Czech turbine manufacturer.

According to an agreement signed by the two companies in January, the acquisition will take place in two steps, with delivery of the remaining stake completed in the years to come.

It is the biggest amount paid by China into Czech’s manufacturing industry over the recent years, accounting for about 17 percent of China’s total investment into the European country.

Shaangu Power, established in 1999, is a major industrial compressor producer in China. Enditem

Source Xinhua

Editor Xuefei Chen Axelsson

220 Chinese enterprises raise USD37.96 bln globally via IPOs in H1

BEIJING, July 7 (Xinhua) — A total of 220 Chinese firms conducted successful initial public offerings (IPOs) on both domestic and overseas capital markets in the first half of this year, accounting for 45.2 percent of global total, raising 37.96 billion US dollars, accounting for 57 percent of global total, according to statistics from investment research company Zero2IPO.

Globally, 487 companies conducted IPOs during H1, up 52.7 percent year on year, raising 66.609 billion US dollars, down 25.3 percent year on year, said Zero2IPO on Tuesday.

Among the 220 Chinese enterprises, 187 were listed on China’s A-share market, raising 23.572 billion yuan. In a breakdown, 78 were listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange and 74 were listed on the SME board of the Shenzhen Stock Exchange.

Meanwhile, 33 Chinese enterprises were listed on 5 overseas capital markets, raising 14.388 billion yuan, up 42.8 percent year on year.  Enditem

China new free trade zones attracting overseas investor

BEIJING, July 7 (Xinhua) — China’s newly-established free trade zones (FTZs) in Guangdong, Tianjin and Fujian have shown promise in attracting overseas investment, the commerce ministry said on Tuesday.

At the end of May, over a month after their establishment, the three zones had received a combined 22.6 billion yuan (about 3.7 billion U.S. dollars) in contracted overseas investment, Ministry of Commerce spokesman Shen Danyang told a press conference.

The Guangdong, Tianjin and Fujian FTZ attracted 7.8 billion yuan, 11.7 billion yuan and 3.2 billion yuan, accounting for 45.3 percent, 69.4 percent and 53.6 percent of the total in their respective regions, Shen said.

The three FTZs were set up in April, 18 months after the first FTA was established in Shanghai as part of the government’s efforts to test reform policies and better integrate the economy with international practices in a landscape where China’s old export-reliant model is no longer sustainable.

Some of the new rules and regulations, launched for trial in the FTZs, promised easier access to both foreign and domestic investment, further opening up of the service sector and liberalizing measures for the financial sector. Enditem

Source Xinhua

Editor  Xuefei Chen Axelsson

Chinese investment in Europe surging

BEIJING, July 7 (Greenpost) — China’s non-financial investment in the European Union hit 4.21 billion U.S. dollars in the first five months of the year, up more than 367 percent year on year, the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said on Tuesday.

The figures suggest China’s investment in Europe has entered a period of rapid growth, said MOC spokesman Shen Danyang at a press conference in Beijing.

He said that the rise is due to Chinese companies’ increasing investment projects in Europe, such as the stake acquisition of Italian tire maker Pirelli by China’s state-owned National Chemical Corp.

“At the same time, Chinese investment in Europe is also broadening to areas including machinery, autos, real estate, shipping, telecommunications, energy, and finance,” Shen said.

China-EU financial cooperation also appears promising, he said, as EU nations including Britain, France, Germany and Italy have all joined the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, while the EU welcomes China’s participation in its strategic investment plan.

During his visit to Europe last week, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang proposed China and EU make full use of a currency-swap scheme worth more than 700 billion yuan to facilitate bilateral economic and trade cooperation. He also said China will improve the RMB Qualified Foreign Institutional Investor program, a channel for overseas investment in the Chinese stock market.

Shen added that China’s Belt and Road initiative and its Internet Plus strategy, a national digital drive, have much in common with the industrial upgrading and smart city building plans of many EU countries, indicating more room for industrial cooperation between the two sides. Enditem

Source Xinhua

Editor  Xuefei Chen Axelsson

Chinese investment in Europe surging

BEIJING, July 7 (Greenpost) — China’s non-financial investment in the European Union hit 4.21 billion U.S. dollars in the first five months of the year, up more than 367 percent year on year, the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said on Tuesday.

The figures suggest China’s investment in Europe has entered a period of rapid growth, said MOC spokesman Shen Danyang at a press conference in Beijing.

He said that the rise is due to Chinese companies’ increasing investment projects in Europe, such as the stake acquisition of Italian tire maker Pirelli by China’s state-owned National Chemical Corp.

“At the same time, Chinese investment in Europe is also broadening to areas including machinery, autos, real estate, shipping, telecommunications, energy, and finance,” Shen said.

China-EU financial cooperation also appears promising, he said, as EU nations including Britain, France, Germany and Italy have all joined the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, while the EU welcomes China’s participation in its strategic investment plan.

During his visit to Europe last week, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang proposed China and EU make full use of a currency-swap scheme worth more than 700 billion yuan to facilitate bilateral economic and trade cooperation. He also said China will improve the RMB Qualified Foreign Institutional Investor program, a channel for overseas investment in the Chinese stock market.

Shen added that China’s Belt and Road initiative and its Internet Plus strategy, a national digital drive, have much in common with the industrial upgrading and smart city building plans of many EU countries, indicating more room for industrial cooperation between the two sides. Enditem

 

 

China new free trade zones attracting overseas investors

 

BEIJING, July 7 (Xinhua) — China’s newly-established free trade zones (FTZs) in Guangdong, Tianjin and Fujian have shown promise in attracting overseas investment, the commerce ministry said on Tuesday.

At the end of May, over a month after their establishment, the three zones had received a combined 22.6 billion yuan (about 3.7 billion U.S. dollars) in contracted overseas investment, Ministry of Commerce spokesman Shen Danyang told a press conference.

The Guangdong, Tianjin and Fujian FTZ attracted 7.8 billion yuan, 11.7 billion yuan and 3.2 billion yuan, accounting for 45.3 percent, 69.4 percent and 53.6 percent of the total in their respective regions, Shen said.

The three FTZs were set up in April, 18 months after the first FTA was established in Shanghai as part of the government’s efforts to test reform policies and better integrate the economy with international practices in a landscape where China’s old export-reliant model is no longer sustainable.

Some of the new rules and regulations, launched for trial in the FTZs, promised easier access to both foreign and domestic investment, further opening up of the service sector and liberalizing measures for the financial sector. Enditem

Source Xinhua

Editor  Xuefie Chen Axelsson

 

Alibaba takes 5 pct more stake in Singapore Post for USD138 ml

Alibaba takes 5 pct more stake in Singapore Post for USD138 mln

 

BEIJING, July 8 (Greenpost) — Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group announced on Wednesday an investment of 138 million US dollars for an additional 5 percent stake in Singapore Post Ltd. (SingPost) so as to boost its efficiency of cross-border e-commerce, according to a cnstock.com report.

Meanwhile, the group decided to cast 67.85 million US dollars to buy a 34 percent stake in a SingPost-owned logistics subsidiary.

Before the additional investment, Alibaba Group had taken a 10.35 percent stake in SingPost by purchasing 30 million of the company’s existing ordinary shares and 190.096 million new ordinary shares. Listed on the Singapore stock exchange, SingPost is Singapore’s designated postal carrier. Enditem

Source Xinhua

Editor Xuefei Chen Axelsson

 

China becomes globally largest gold spot trading market for eight years running: SGE

China becomes globally largest gold spot trading market for eight years running: SGE

 

SHANGHAI, July 9 (Greenpost) — China has become the globally largest spot trading market of gold for the eighth consecutive year, according to the Shanghai Gold Exchange (SGE) on Thursday.

The SGE data shows that transaction volume in the bourse increased by 151 percent year on year in the first half of 2015. In a breakdown, the SGE’s gold transactions jumped 166 percent year on year to 17,520 metric tons (tonnes), and silver transactions surged 151 percent year on year to 380,000 tonnes.

The international board of the SGE has so far seen accumulative gold transactions stand at 4,764 tonnes and silver transactions stand at 525 tonnes.

The SGE launched the gold international trading board on September 18, 2014. It is the first international financial asset transaction platform launched in the Shanghai free trade zone (FTZ).

As the only legal gold spot trading market in China approved by the country’s central bank, the SGE has become the global largest gold spot trading on-floor bourse for the eighth consecutive year. Rankings of its gold and silver transactions among global exchanges have increased continuously, said an official of the SGE. Enditem

Source Xinhua

Editor Xuefei Chen Axelsson

China Voice: BRICS a stabilizer of global economy

China Voice: BRICS a stabilizer of global economy

 

BEIJING, July 8 (Xinhua) — A BRICS group with deepened cooperation will not only serve its five member countries and other developing nations, but also stabilize and even boost the world economy.

In upcoming days, leaders of the BRICS countries — Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa — will meet in Ufa of Russia for the seventh BRICS leaders meeting.

They met for the first time in 2009, launching the bloc’s cooperation mechanism. Since then, the BRICS have shown vitality and innovation through cooperation, with deepened participation in global governance.

Now these countries will set up the New Development Bank (NDB). The institution’s board of governors will hold its first meeting in Moscow to appoint members of the board of directors and the management.

The NDB shows that the BRICS bloc has transformed from a political concept to a real force for reform in the international community.

With the bank’s funding, developing countries, especially the African states, can improve their infrastructure, rather than struggling with the limited funds the current international agencies provide them.

The new development bank will cover the shortcomings of the global financial system. It is not intended to overturn the current system, but to encourage investment from developed countries and other developing countries with an open and inclusive mind.

The BRICS has become an importance platform for exchanges and cooperation among the world’s major emerging economies. It has brought real benefits for the member states, and also earned a good reputation among the international community.

This new cooperation mechanism pointed to an important trend: emerging economies are playing bigger roles in global issues.

Global economic recovery remains slow. While trade globalization agreements are still being negotiated, the Western countries and Russia are introducing sanctions against each other, and the developed and developing countries have not yet reached agreement on how to balance economic development and climate change.

Under such circumstances, the BRICS leaders’ meeting in Ufa has critical significance as cooperation among them will not benefit not only themselves but also the world economy.

Although the five countries are at very different stages of their development, they will still become new growth poles for the world economy.The five have contributed half the world’s economic growth in the past 10 years.

They have complementary industrial structures. Sufficient labor, abundant resources and large markets give them great opportunities for development.

The five countries are also important players in both their continents and international affairs. In multilateral platforms such as the UN and the G20, they are playing bigger roles than ever before, thus their booming economies can drive the whole global economy through their deepened cooperation with other countries and international organizations. Enditem

Editor Xuefei Chen Axelsson

220 Chinese enterprises raise USD37.96 bln globally via IPOs in H1

220 Chinese enterprises raise USD37.96 bln globally via IPOs in H1

BEIJING, July 7 (Xinhua) — A total of 220 Chinese firms conducted successful initial public offerings (IPOs) on both domestic and overseas capital markets in the first half of this year, accounting for 45.2 percent of global total, raising 37.96 billion US dollars, accounting for 57 percent of global total, according to statistics from investment research company Zero2IPO.

Globally, 487 companies conducted IPOs during H1, up 52.7 percent year on year, raising 66.609 billion US dollars, down 25.3 percent year on year, said Zero2IPO on Tuesday.

Among the 220 Chinese enterprises, 187 were listed on China’s A-share market, raising 23.572 billion yuan. In a breakdown, 78 were listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange and 74 were listed on the SME board of the Shenzhen Stock Exchange.

Meanwhile, 33 Chinese enterprises were listed on 5 overseas capital markets, raising 14.388 billion yuan, up 42.8 percent year on year.  Enditem

Editor Xuefei Chen Axelsson

 

China allows banks to extend stock mortgage loans

China allows banks to extend stock mortgage loans

BEIJING, July 9 (Xinhua) — China’s banking regulator on Thursday announced it will allow banks to extend mortgage loans that use share funds as collateral amid a plunging stock market.

Banks will be able to discuss redefining mortgage terms of share-secured loans that are due or adjusting collateral with their clients, said an announcement of the China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC).

The announcement is the latest effort from central authorities to maintain liquidity and draw more capital in the stock market at it continues volatility. Agencies including the central bank and stock regulator have vowed measures to stabilize the market.

Chinese shares have been in a downward spiral since hitting a peak in June. The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index has shed more than 30 percent.

In addition, the CBRC encouraged banks to offer financing aids to China Securities Finance Corporation Limited, a national margin trading service provider, and make loans to listed companies that planned to purchase their own stocks.

It said financial institutions may discuss with their clients adjusting the risk warning line and the forced liquidation level of their securities investment. Enditem

Editor Xuefei Chen Axelsson

 

China becomes globally largest gold spot trading market for eight years running: SGE

 

China becomes globally largest gold spot trading market for eight years running: SGE

SHANGHAI, July 9 (Xinhua) — China has become the globally largest spot trading market of gold for the eighth consecutive year, according to the Shanghai Gold Exchange (SGE) on Thursday.

The SGE data shows that transaction volume in the bourse increased by 151 percent year on year in the first half of 2015. In a breakdown, the SGE’s gold transactions jumped 166 percent year on year to 17,520 metric tons (tonnes), and silver transactions surged 151 percent year on year to 380,000 tonnes.

The international board of the SGE has so far seen accumulative gold transactions stand at 4,764 tonnes and silver transactions stand at 525 tonnes.

The SGE launched the gold international trading board on September 18, 2014. It is the first international financial asset transaction platform launched in the Shanghai free trade zone (FTZ).

As the only legal gold spot trading market in China approved by the country’s central bank, the SGE has become the global largest gold spot trading on-floor bourse for the eighth consecutive year. Rankings of its gold and silver transactions among global exchanges have increased continuously, said an official of the SGE. Enditem

Editor  Xuefei Chen Axelsson

Stockholm chosen to host Eurovision Song Contest 2016

Stockholm chosen to host Eurovision Song Contest 2016

Stockholm will be the Host City of Eurovision Song Contest in May 2016. This was decided on Wednesday by Swedish host broadcaster SVT and European Broad Casting Union (EBU). Together with SVT, the City of Stockholm will create a new innovative arena concept, including all four venues – Tele 2 Arena, Ericsson Globe, Hovet and Annexet – in the Stockholm Globe District. This will be a unique concept in Eurovision history.
– It is an honor to be the host city of Eurovision Song Contest. Stockholm is music. Our city is boiling of activities that revolves around music. Creativity is close to our heart and we want this to be visible during the event. Hosting Eurovision is an opportunity for us to strengthen and stimulate the interest that music creates. We are looking forward greeting the world to Stockholm in May, says Karin Wanngård (s) Mayor of Stockholm.

The main events will take place at all four venues in the Stockholm Globe District. The finale will take place in Ericsson Globe on May 10-14th 2016.

– The solution with multiple arenas enables us to produce the Eurovision Song Contest in the Globe, have the press center at the Hovet and the delegations area at the Annex. The Jewel in the Crown is to take Eurovision Song Contest to the next level by incorporating Tele2 Arena during the evening of the finale ,says Martin Österdahl, executive producer of the Eurovision Song Contest in 2016

Did you know that three of the competing songs during ESC2015 were written in Stockholm during Song Writing Camp in January. Stockholm is the birthplace of the Swedish music phenomenon, from ABBA to Avicii, and one of the worlds leading music exporters.

 

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Stockholm Globe Arenas

Tele 2 Arena, Ericsson Globe, Annexet and Hovet at Stockholm Globe Arenas District
Size  7.91 MB     File Format  .jpg
Image Size  4497 x 2808 pixels
Photographer / Source  Stockholm Globe Arenas

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Stockholm Globe Arenas

Tele 2 Arena, Ericsson Globe, Hovet and Annexet at Stockholm Globe Arena District
Size  2.01 MB     File Format  .jpg
Image Size  2913 x 1566 pixels
Photographer / Source  Stockholm Globe Arenas

Editor Xuefei Chen Axelsson

Insulin pump reduces mortality from cardiovascular disease by almost 50%

Insulin pump reduces mortality from cardiovascular disease by almost 50%

Stockholm, July 6(Greenpost)–People with type 1 diabetes who use insulin pump therapy face almost 50% less risk of dying from cardiovascular disease than those who take insulin by multiple daily injections, according to a statement reaching here from Gothenburg.

The British Medical Journal has published the study conducted at Sahlgrenska Academy.

Based on the Swedish National Diabetes Register, researchers monitored 18,168 Swedes with type 1 diabetes from 2005 to 2012. While 2,441 of the subjects used insulin pump therapy, the others relied on multiple daily injections.

The study found that insulin pump users had a substantially lower risk of dying of cardiovascular disease than the daily injection group. The correlation was statistically certain.

“We carefully analyzed the findings to eliminate the risk of bias or confounding and concluded that the effect had been fully verified,” says Isabelle Steineck, researcher at Sahlgrenska Academy.

The next step will be to identify the mechanisms that explain the extra benefits of insulin pump therapy. Dr. Steineck believes that one reason for the difference between the two therapies is that the insulin pump method is accompanied by more extensive patient training and more frequent blood glucose monitoring.

”There is a rationale for insulin pump treatment resulting in more stable blood glucose concentrations than multiple daily injections” she says. ”Previous studies have shown that insulin pump can reduce the frequencies of severe hypoglycemic episodes. Severe hypoglycaemia can be a risk factor for cardiovascular events, particularly among high risk individuals.”

”We evaluated the patients who used insulin pump therapy and do not know if the observed effect is attributable to continuous infusion of insulin or that some of the effect is attributable to intensified glucose monitoring, increased motivation to control blood glucose, or a better knowledge about having diabetes type 1”says Isabelle Steineck.

The researchers have concluded that insulin pumps not only make life easier for patients, but represent a safe and effective treatment method.

“This is good news for anyone with type 1 diabetes,” says Soffia Gudbjörnsdottir, diabetologist and director of the Swedish National Diabetes Register. “But not everybody wants to use a pump, and the biggest priority is still to optimize blood glucose monitoring.”

Approximately 20% of Swedish type 1 diabetes patients have access to insulin pump therapy. But earlier studies at Sahlgrenska Academy have demonstrated that hospitals vary greatly – anywhere from 12% to almost 30% of patients may receive pumps.

The article “Insulin Pump Therapy, Multiple Daily Injections and Cardiovascular Mortality in 18,168 People with Type 1 Diabetes: Observational Study” was published online by the British Medical Journal on June 22.

Link to article: http://www.bmj.com/content/350/bmj.h3234