PRESS DIGEST - China - Feb 18

BEIJING/SHANGHAI, Feb 18 (Reuters) - Chinese newspapers available in Beijing and Shanghai carried the following stories on Wednesday. Reuters has not checked the stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

CHINA SECURITIES JOURNAL

-- Regulators are studying the possibility of China Development Bank [CHDB.UL] acquiring deposit-taking institutions to diversify its sources of funding, sources said.

-- More institutional investors opened A-share accounts in January, while sales of shares that emerged from lock-up periods fell significantly, according to the China Securities Depository and Clearing Corp.

SHANGHAI SECURITIES NEWS

-- Shanghai International Group and CICC, which control the Shanghai Financial Industry Fund, are looking for investors to take a 20 percent stake in the private equity fund, which aims eventually to raise up to 20 billion yuan ($2.93 billion). It is still in the first round of fund-raising, targeted at 8 billion yuan, said Ji Xiaohui, head of government-owned Shanghai International Group.

SECURITIES TIMES

-- Shanghai Zhenhua Port Machinery (600320.SS), the world's biggest port equipment maker, signed a contract with Brazil's Vale (VALE5.SA) worth $80 million to supply equipment for bulk commodities.

CHINA BUSINESS NEWS

-- Gree Electric Appliances Inc of Zhuhai (000651.SZ) plans to sign a contract with Japan's Daikin Industries Ltd (6367.T) to expand their cooperation, including equity ties. Gree produces up to 1 million air conditioners a year for Daikin. ($1=6.835 Yuan)