【财经看点】中国房地产市场本月回暖

China's property market warming this month Recent reports have revealed that this month may see growth in the property sector, after the central bank released a number of steps to stimulate the market. Last week, almost 3 thousand homes were sold in the city of Beijing, surging over 40-percent from the same week last month. Chen Zhi, secretary-general of the Beijing Real Estate Association, says the city has seen the property market warming in recent days. "Daily sales of second-hand homes have remained steadily high through the past few days. We also saw four to five hundred homes sold in some days. We believe, when daily sales of second-hand homes reach 350, it signals buyers have stopped hesitating. We estimate that home sales will increase in the next two months of this year. But the growth won't be significant." Analysts say home prices may start to grow slightly in the second quarter of next year. Meantime, China's property regulator has said the property sector will mainly be market-oriented in the future. Ni Hong is the spokesperson of the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development. "The government is doing its job. The market is working under its principles. We are also concerned about the recent changes of stats in the property market. Our next adjustment focus will be based on the market. Things happening in the market will be resolved with the principles of the market." At the end of last month, China's central bank released a number of stimulus measures to boost the sector, including offering lower downpayments and mortgage rates to second-time home buyers. China's property loans growth slows New stats show loans to China's real estate sector have risen but at a slower pace in the first three quarters. At the end of last month, over 16 trillion yuan or some 3 trillion U.S. dollars were lent in the sector, up 18 percent year-on-year. The growth was 1 percentage point slower than the pace in June. China's property market has been cooling since the beginning of the year. Figures from the National Bureau of Statistics showed prices for new homes in 69 out of 70 major Chinese cities dropped month on month last month. CNR, CSR in merger talks Anchor: The board secretary of CNR says they are waiting for a final plan to be released regarding a merger with a major rival, CSR. Analysts speculate that the two will not be able to resume trading within five working days, as previously promised. Both companies suspended trading on Monday. Chinese locomotive manufacturers CSR and CNR confirmed earlier reports that they are in the process of merging. China International Capital Corporation has been tapped to oversee the merger, as ordered by the State Council. Trading of both companies' shares has been halted in both Hong Kong and Shanghai for the time being. For more on the impending merger of the two locomotive manufactures, CRI's Paul James spoke earlier Benjamin Cavender, Principal of China Market Research in Shanghai. … Back anchor: That is Benjamin Cavender, Principal of China Market Research in Shanghai.