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China's securities regulator said it will continue to postpone receiving M&A applications from real estate developers.
1) China's securities regulator reiterates deferral of M&A and restructuring applications
China's securities regulator said Friday its approval of several merger and acquisition and restructuring proposals by real estate companies does not indicate a change in its policy to defer such applications. "The Securities Regulatory Commission will continue to follow the current policy regulations and postpone taking on merger and acquisition and restructuring applications from real estate developers," a spokesperson for the regulator said. The move is another blow to the real estate sector, which expected the regulator to loosen restrictions on merger and acquisition and restructuring.
China raised the industrial power prices in 15 regions on Monday, aiming to curb power demand and boost power generation.
2) China Electricity Council: Electricity shortage will get bigger over next two years
The China Electricity Council, an industry group representing China's power companies, forecast last week that the country's power shortage will intensify in 2012 and 2013 if demand and generation capacity continue to grow at current rates, calling for expansion of interprovincial power grid construction projects and increased capacity utilization. The prediction comes as China grapples with what could be the country's worst power shortages in years as a severe drought in central China and high coal prices exacerbate production woes. The National Development and Reform Commission, China's chief economic policymaking body, announced on Monday electricity prices for commercial users will rise in 15 provinces, the first broad price increase since November 2009. Officials hope the move will help encourage production and dampen demand. Power shortages have become a chronic problem in China, which has resisted adopting market pricing for electricity.
Experts expect May's consumer price index to rise to as much as 5.5 percent.
3) May economic indicators due out next week, CPI may rise by 5.5%
The National Statistics Bureau is due to release major economic data for May next week. Analysts predict the consumer price index (CPI) could increase as much as 5.5 percent on rising prices of key foods such as pork and eggs. Meanwhile, vegetable prices appear to have stabilized after plunging over the last few months. According to Ministry of Commerce data, the average price of 18 kinds of vegetables for the first three weeks of May fell 3.1, 1.9 and 0 percent respectively. But prices of pork, seafood and eggs have risen, putting pressure on this key component of CPI. A research report from Essence Securities predicted that given a slight uptick in food and a relatively large month-on-month jump in other components, CPI may see a year-on-year increase of as much as 5.5 percent in May, up from 5.3 percent in April.
