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From CLSA’s Andy Rothman
Two broad themes arise from China’s November data. First, Beijing is making a clear effort to avoid overheating and double-digit GDP growth next year by continuing to reduce the volume of its stimulus program. Lending, the primary source of stimulus funding, slowed but will remain accommodative. Investment, where credit enters the real [...]

It now looks like the Chinese government did its part to help save the world. Early in 2009, I wrote that 4 conditions were needed to get out of the economic mess: freer credit conditions, stabilization of the housing market, a proper balance between consumer spending and saving and China growing more than 7%. Only [...]

Growth in China’s industrial production slowed in April from the previous month even as the government continued to ramp up stimulus efforts, showing that rapid recovery in the world’s third-largest economy is not yet assured.
China’s industrial output in April rose 7.3% from a year earlier, the National Bureau of Statistics said Wednesday. Although slower than [...]

China’s current economic environment remains challenging, but growth may have passed its phase of maximum weakness. Last week’s data release showed that the Chinese economy expanded 6.1% in the last quarter from a year ago, slowing further from a 6.8% annual growth rate in the fourth quarter of 2008. However, a broad range of macro [...]

Industrial activity shows expansion for second-straight month
China’s Purchasing Managers Index rose further above the expansionary threshold of 50 in April, adding to growing evidence that the worst of the output slump that shuttered factories and led to millions of layoffs may be over.
The PMI came in at 53.5 in April, up from March’s 52.4 reading, [...]

China’s economy appears on the verge of turning around, even Roubini admits. Recent government data and prognosis certainly point to that. Let’s not forget that the Chinese government controls a lot of this info. Electricity output, seen as a proxy for industrial activity, is a “real” number that we can rely on and although it [...]

Prime Minister Wen Jiabao said Beijing’s stimulus measures are helping consumer spending and growth, and while he warned of some "prolonged difficulties" as the financial crisis spreads, foreign auto makers and other manufacturers already are seeing an unexpected rebound in sales in China.
The resilience of Chinese spending contrasts with sharp cutbacks by American and European [...]

A BARRON’S INTERVIEW WITH DEREK VAN ECK: His take on metals, corn — and more.
MANY COMMODITIES HAVE HAD A NICE RUN LATELY, including crude and copper, following a dreadful second half 2008. And Derek van Eck, a principal of New York money manager Van Eck Associates, sees more opportunities, thanks in no small part to [...]

After months of gloom, some say the signs of economic revival are in full bloom. The Globe’s Barrie McKenna looks at the numbers and matches them with reality
Call them what you will: Glimmers of hope, tentative signs or green shoots. Hints of recovery are beginning to punctuate the pervasive gloom, and fears of economic cataclysm [...]

You had CLSA’s Andy Rothman’s preview yesterday (CHINA WATCH: CHINA’S Q1 PREVIEW). Q1 is now behind us. For a good assessment of what is ahead, read Andy’s preview which included an excellent wrap-up of the state of the Chinese economy. For continuous monitoring of China’s economy, click on the CHINA WATCH tab.
China’s economy grew 6.1 [...]