介绍:
Chinese inflation rebounds, but economists see calm ahead
Anchor:
Consumer price increases have accelerated through March, reversing a downward trend seen over the past few months.
The consumer price index has risen 2.4-percent in March from a year earlier, driven mostly by a 4.1% jump in food prices.
Among the food components, vegetable prices have increased nearly 13-percent.
Meanwhile, deflation in wholesale prices increased last month, with the producer price index retreating 2.3-percent in March, compared to a 2-percent drop in February.
In particular, prices for mining products dipped nearly 7-percent.
For more on the data, we spoke earlier with Shen Hong, Shanghai Bureau Chief,The Wall Street Journal
Back Anchor:
Shen Hong, Shanghai Bureau Chief,The Wall Street Journal.
China central bank - credit growth steady but watching debt risks
China's central bank governor, Zhou Xiaochuan, says although credit growth remains stable, the central bank remains vigilant against the risks from corporate debt.
Zhou Xiaochuan says inflation remains the PBOC's focus for now.
He has told a panel at the Bo'ao forum inflation, GDP growth, new jobs and the international balance of payments are the goals the PBOC considers when formulating monetary policy."
The comments come after Premier Li Keqiang told the Boao forum that sustaining healthy growth in China's labour market is the government's priority, suggesting it doesn't matter if growth comes in a little below the official target of 7.5 percent.
Australia, China Pursue Expanded Renminbi Direct Trade
The central banks of China and Australia are now looking at ways of enhancing the joint clearing and settlement operations to further strengthen direct trading between the Australian dollar and the renminbi.
Monthly trading volumes have jumped seven-fold in the last year to the equivalent of 2.4-billion US dollars.
This has made the Australian dollar the fourth most-traded currency on China's foreign exchange trading system.
Rights to the direct trade of the Australian dollar and the renminbi were granted to a number of Australian banks a year ago.
China is Australia's largest trading partner, with China buying vast amounts of iron ore and coal to support its economic expansion.
U.S. budget deficit narrows sharply in March
New data shows the U.S. budget deficit has narrowed sharply in March as tax receipts have increased and government spending has fallen broadly.
The US government's shortfall has come in at 37-billion US dollars, down 65-percent compared to the same period last year.
Tax revenues through March are up 16-percent year on year while spending has dropped by 14-percent through the month.
The US government's deficit situation has been steadily improving.
The year-to-date deficit is down 31-percent from the same period a year ago.
Total receipts are up 10-percent for the fiscal year to date, reflecting higher individual tax collection from stronger wages and salaries, as well as an increased intake of corporate taxes.
Austria January Trade Deficit Widens
Official data shows Austria's foreign trade deficit through January widened from the same month last year.
The Austrian trade deficit has increased to 800-million US dollars in January from 700-million a year ago.
Imports and exports in Austria have both grown by 0.2-percent each.
Exports to EU countries dropped by 1.1 percent year-on-year, while imports from the region dropped 2.2-percent.
Fitch raises Portugal's outlook to positive
Ratings agency Fitch has raised its outlook for Portugal to 'positive' from 'negative'.
Fitch is still maintaining a BB+ rating for Portugal, but says its fiscal financing conditions have improved substantially since October when the country was last under review.
The ratings agency has raised its economic forecast for Portugal, saying it now expect GDP growth of 1.3-percent this year and 1.5-percent in 2015.
This is up sharply from the 0.2 and 1-percent figures projected previously.
Portugal's economy grew for the first time in three years in the final quarter of last year.
Since requesting an international bailout in April of 2011 and relying on aid from the European Union and International Monetary Fund, Portugal last year raised 4.2 billion US dollars in a bond sale.
Yields on Portugal's 10-year bonds have dropped from 5.8-percent at the beginning of this year down to 3.8-percent.
Samsung new flagship S5 hit shelves
Samsung's new flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S5, has gone on sale in Hong Kong today.
Pre-orders began last week.
Priced at 6-thousand Hong Kong dollars, Samsung's new Galaxy S5 has an advanced camera, water and dust resistance, as well as biometric sensory systems to "power up a user's body."
Also hitting the shelves in Hong Kong are Samsung's new wearables, including the Samsung Gear 2, Gear 2 Neo and Gear Fit.
They can sync up with S5 to provide a wide range of applications.
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