介绍:
Cross-Straits trade fell
New stats show trade between the mainland and Taiwan hit 26.7-billion U.S. dollars through the first two months of this year.
This is down 8.3-percent from the same period last year.
The Ministry of Commerce says mainland exports to Taiwan have climbed 5.2-percent year on year to around 5.6-billion U.S. dollars through January and February.
However, imports from Taiwan have come in at just over 21-billion U.S. dollars, down over 11-percent year on year.
The ministry is also reporting mainland trade with Hong Kong is down nearly 21.5-percent to just under 47-billion US dollars through the first two months.
Mainland trade with Macao is also down 16.5-percent.
JD.com merges Tencent's e-commerce business
New reports are suggesting Tencent is preparing to take a 15-percent stake in this country's second-largest online retailer, JD.com.
The revelation has come from a leaked merger document.
As part of the proposed agreement, JD.com will acquire certain online shopping platforms from Tencent, including wanggou.com, paipai.com and yixun.com.
An internal email which has been made public is suggesting JD.com will prompt retailers to transfer from wanggou.com to JD's platform.
The same email also suggests paipai.com is set to adjust its current business model and adopt a new business strategy.
Tencent and JD.com established a strategic partnership in early March.
For more on this, CRI's Shane Bigham spoke earlier with Benjamin Cavender, Associate Principal with China Market Research in Shanghai.
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Benjamin Cavender, Associate Principal with China Market Research in Shanghai, speaking with CRI's Shane Bigham.
GM hires expert for possible compensation in recalled cars
BMW China has announced a major recall of some of its vehicles.
The General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine has announced over 230-thousand BMW's are going to be recalled because of engine problems.
The specifics of the problem have not been outlined.
The recall is set to begin on June 18th.
Meanwhile, General Motors has hired an expert to deal with potential compensation for victims of accidents connected to recalls.
The move to employ Kenneth Feinberg is being viewed as the first hint General Motors may be preparing to establish a victim's compensation fund.
This is a move been demanded by both consumer groups and Democrats in Congress.
General Motors is already involved in an internal investigation following revelations the company took years to deal with certian problems with some of its vehicles, even though the manufacturer knew of the defects.
Philip Morris to suspend cigarette manufacturing in Australia
Philip Morris International has announced plans to suspend its cigarette manufacturing in Australia by the end of the year.
The American tobacco conglomorate is going to move its Australian operations to South Korea.
The shift will leave around 180-people in Melbourne out of work.
The factory in Australia was the first Philip Morris established outside the United States 60-years ago.
BP to close Australian refinery
Oil giant BP has announced plans to end production at its Bulwer Island refinery in Brisbane, Australia, by next year.
BP says the growth of large refineries in Asia has created the need for a structural change.
The shutdown will lead to 350 layoffs.
Australia's refining sector has been hit hard recently by rising Asian competition and a stronger Australian dollar, which has hurt profitability.
Earlier this year, Royal Dutch Shell also announced it is exiting Australia's refining industry.
Caltex Australia also has plans to turn its Sydney refinery to an import terminal.
Texas leads U.S. in crude oil production
New figures show the U.S. state of Texas produced almost 35-percent of the country's crude oil this past year.
The figures from the U.S. Energy Information Administration show the Lone Star state pumped three-times more oil than any other state last year.
PPI of eurozone, EU drops in February
New stats out of Brussels show producer prices in both the eurozone and the whole of the European Union have dropped through February.
The EU's stats office says producer prices in the eurozone are down 1.7-percent in February, while prices in the broader EU are down 1.6-percent.
Lower energy prices are being cited as the major driver for the downturn of industrial prices.
British regional house price gap at highest ever level
New data is suggesting the regional gap in housing prices in Britain reached a record high last year, despite a recent steadying tread.
The UK's Office for National Statistics is reporting the regional disparity in average home prices has increased to over 68-percent this past year.
This is up from the 57-percent gap in prices first recorded when price disparity was first analyzed in the UK in 1986.
