戴德梁行：今日全球楼市速览(2010.04.07)

3. Manufacturing across China grew at a faster pace in Mar, indicating an even stronger expansion in the industrial sector after the Chinese New Year holiday, 2 key indices showed. The official Purchasing Managers' Index, a yardstick of manufacturing activities, increased 3.1 percentage points from a month earlier to 55.1 in Mar, the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing said. The HSBC China Manufacturing PMI rose to 57, its 3rd highest level on record and up from 55.8 in Feb. 50 is the threshold indicating expansion. Moreover, China's industrial production climbed 20.7% from a year earlier in the Jan-Feb period, up from the increase of 18.5% in Dec. (Shanghai Daily).

4. The number of millionaires on the Chinese mainland rose 6.1% to 875,000 last year due to China's strong economic performance and a rebound in asset prices, the latest Hurun Wealth Report said. Shanghai came in 3rd in the number of millionaires with 122,000 of them, after Beijing and Guangdong Province, said the report, in which the minimum threshold for inclusion was RMB10m. The number of rich people in these 3 cities accounted for 48% of the mainland's total, according to the report released by the Hurun Research Institute, which is best known for its China Rich List. (Shanghai Daily).

5. Lots more shops and restaurants are coming to the newly opened Hongqiao Transport Hub in Shanghai, operator officials said. By 1 July, when a new high-speed railway line opens, the number of commercial outlets will grow to 160 from the current 26. The upcoming outlets will feature brand-name shops and restaurants, offering food and goods at the same prices as their downtown locations, said officials with Shanghai Rainbow (Shenhong) Investment Co, the hub's operator. Authorities said they introduced some convenience stores and fast-food chain restaurants into the hub when Terminal 2 of the Hongqiao airport opened on 16 Mar. High-end shops and restaurants as well as Expo souvenir shops will be coming next. The new commercial area, covering 36,000 sq m, will have a large dining area. The hub, connecting a railway station, the Metro and a long-distance bus station with the airport, is expected eventually to handle more than 1 million passengers a day, authorities said. (Shanghai Daily).

6.In Mar, 1,632 units of new homes were sold in Fuzhou, an increase of 38.66% from a month earlier, according to latest industry statistics. The average price rose 2.55% on a monthly basis to RMB11,268/sq m. (Shanghai Daily).

7. The output value of the geographic information industry in China is expected to reach RMB100bn this year, an official said. (Shanghai Daily).

8. Sanofi-Aventis - yesterday launched its 1st regional research and development centre in China to tap growing demand in emerging markets. (Shanghai Daily).

9. Ascott - CapitaLand's wholly owned serviced residence business arm, announced yesterday it has recently raised its China portfolio to more than 5,000 apartments in 27 properties across 13 cities by expanding into Chengdu, Sichuan Province. Operational from this month, the 200-unit Somerset Riverview, Chengdu, acquired through the Ascott China Fund, has enabled Ascott to establish a strong foothold in western China and further cemented the firm's leadership position as the largest international serviced residence owner-operator in the country, said Lim Ming Yan, Ascott's chief executive officer. (Shanghai Daily).

10. Demand for small and medium-sized apartments continued to outstrip supply in Shanghai in the 1st quarter of this year, according to a latest industry research. Between Jan and Mar, sales of new homes measuring no bigger than 120 sq m each, excluding those designated for relocated residents under urban redevelopment plans, reached 962,000 sq m, accounting for nearly 53% of new homes sold in the city, according to Shanghai Uwin Real Estate Information Services Co. However, the city's stock of small and medium-size apartments was 1.85 million sq m as of Sunday - or one-third of the city's total new home supply. (Shanghai Daily).