Economist Richard Koo’s theories influenced Western policy decisions after the global financial crisis, and now he has strong words for Chinese policymakers on the need for fiscal stimulus to ward off a ‘balance-sheet recession’.

Recovery in China’s luxury home market is gaining pace, while recent measures by the government could help turn around the fortunes of the property industry.

With consumption taking a hit in fraught economic times, safe-haven investments are outshining discretionary diamond purchases in the eyes of many Chinese buyers.

Property investment in China fell again in the first four months of the year and retail sales growth cooled in April, but industrial output remained strong last month, data released on Friday showed.

Beijing has announced 300 billion-yuan in funds to help clear excess housing inventory, as well as measures to ensure developers have access to financing and that homes are delivered on time.

German industrial engineering firms reported a negative outlook for their China business in a recent survey, with weak demand and overcapacity most frequently mentioned as the cause for their low confidence.

He Lifeng stressed the need to ‘carry on the battle’ to surmount the risks that unfinished and unconstructed homes represent, as the health of the property market is tied closely to social wellness and economic development.

Another set of weak housing market data for April underscores the urgency among officials in Beijing to stem the crisis and rescue some of the nation’s biggest yet cash-strapped developers.

China’s property investment fall accelerated in the first four months of the year, while retail sales growth slowed in April, data released on Friday showed.

With the end of pandemic control measures severely reducing the demand for medical testing services, China’s laboratories are facing massive declines in revenue and laying off large portions of their staff.

The visa-policy easing is expected to boost tourism that has yet to fully rebound since the pandemic, and the move could also give local economies a jolt.

The added value of the financial sector is being calculated via a new set of metrics to increase statistical accuracy and cut down on data manipulation, making GDP figures more resilient to massaging by localities.

A meeting of political officials and experts has been convened to propose new ways to boost dropping fertility rates, as recent policies have made little headway in encouraging births.

China’s shock credit contraction is adding pressure on the government to spend more money – and on the central bank to help.

Premier Li Qiang tells a State Council meeting that ‘digital, smart and green’ development of the sector would help make the economy more efficient.

Property slump and rising debt piles provide debt-ridden local governments the opportunity to increase the cost of services such as rail fares and utilities.

Weapons sales, security cooperation ‘destined to increase’, experts say, as China opens ‘new chapter’ in Serbian ties.

Policy adviser Liu Yuanchun says expanding weak domestic demand remains the ‘key measure’ for China, with reforms needed to empower rural population as Beijing eyes sustainable economic growth.

More multinationals are undergoing a ‘decoupling’ with their China-based operations, a new business survey finds as foreign direct investment sinks and analysts say expatriate staff are harder to come by.

European firms have been revising expectations for the Chinese market while planning for a projected economic slowdown, further adding to China’s challenges and ‘setting a negative cycle in motion’.

With the government pulling out the stops to show support to the private sector, some scholars have called for an official delineation between entrepreneurs and ‘capitalists’ to demonstrate ideological sincerity.

China’s exports returned to positive growth in April amid a recovery of global demand, but analysts said the focus should still be on sustaining momentum in domestic demand.

Local governments in China are exploring the use of data as an asset to help reduce their heavy debt burdens, but this has prompted concerns over efficacy and legality.

China’s exports and imports returned to growth in April, but analysts said that domestic demand will still be the key driver for economic growth this year.

State media article on Wednesday says it is ‘certain’ that China’s central bank will participate in treasury bond trading amid better coordination with the finance ministry.

Scholars have suggested a realignment of industries, with some pain in the short term, would go a long way towards resolving China’s overcapacity problem and adapting to trade restrictions in those sectors.

Shenzhen and Wuhan have become the latest Chinese cities to ease home purchase restrictions to boost sales, as a growing number of major metropolises take steps to support the country’s slumping property sector.