On a rainy morning in Shanghai, I saw an old woman, stooped with age, standing precariously in the middle of a zebra crossing at the busy Renmin Lu near Luxiangyuan Lu. None of the speeding cars and buses stopped for her. They did not even slow down.
China is making rapid progress in the development of new markets for a variety of financial instruments. The gold futures market began operations in January and the China Financial Futures Exchange is in the final stage of preparation for the launch of the long-awaited stock index futures market. Talks are reportedly underway for the introduction of stock options and other financial derivative products.
Gushing with emotion and admiration, many foreign scribes have written about the hutong in Beijing and shikumen in Shanghai for the myriad English-language entertainment publications targeting a largely expatriate readership.
Shanghai does not need a Disneyland. All it needs are Disneyland-style management expertise and marketing savvy.
As expected, the Hong Kong government has put aside a lump sum to help bankroll the proposed healthcare reform.
In Hong Kong tomorrow, all eyes will be on the budget. A record surplus amounting to more than HK$100 billion ($12.8 billion) has raised public expectations of benefits ranging from tax rebates to generous handouts and lavish spending on social programs.
Singapore Airlines (SIA) reportedly has reiterated it remains keen on winning the bid for a "strategic" minority stake in Shanghai-based China Eastern.
Having been brought up in Hong Kong, I never felt anything too special about Chinese New Year. When I was a kid, the only thing I looked forward to was the extra pocket money I got from the hong bao, or red envelopes. To get that, I had to follow my parents on a tiring trek to visit relatives living in different areas in the city. What a bore.
Nothing much happened after the first few days of snow in Shanghai. It was just wet and muddy, everywhere.
Global stock markets had a pretty rough time last week, and China was no exception.
The naming of Hong Kong as the freest economy by United States think tank Heritage Foundation for the 14th consecutive year made headline news in the local media.
It is customary at this time of the year for economists and analysts to produce the almost mandatory prognosis of the economy. Their job this year is much more challenging, or interesting, depending on how you look at it, because of dramatic developments the year before, vividly illustrated by the spectacular stock market boom.
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