China's industrial profits grew at a faster pace in September, though a deepening divergence across the economy continued to weigh on business earnings. Profits at industrial firms rose 14.4 percent from a year earlier last month, quickening from a 4.2 increase in August, data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed on Tuesday. Profits were up 15.5 percent in the first nine months, compared with a 15.7 percent increase in the January-August period. While export-oriented firms brace for greater uncertainty, as expanding trade surpluses heighten the risk of external pressures, firms tied to domestic demand continue to grapple with subdued consumption, casting a shadow over the sustainability of profit growth. The sectoral divide remained pronounced. Profits in the computer, communication, and other electronic equipment manufacturing category soared 103.8 percent in the first nine months, whereas the furniture manufacturing sector posted a 51.3 percent decline, making it one of the weakest performers and highlighting the uneven nature of China's economy. A stronger-than-expected 4.5 percent expansion in the third quarter put China within reach of its annual growth target of 4.5 to five percent, but disparities across different parts of the economy suggest the recovery remains unbalanced, with persistent weakness in some sectors continuing to erode corporate profitability. That...
Read full articleEuropean industry has bristled at EU plans to force businesses to diversify their supply chains away from China, as the bloc gears up for a new package of de-risking measures later this year. In December, the European Commission will present a trio of new instruments, none of which will name China, but the overall aim is to wind down dependencies on Beijing and allow the EU to punch back in a trade war scenario. One tool – DiversifyEU – could compel businesses in key sectors to expand their...
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