Xinhua Finance/MNI China Business Survey: Down Again

SHANGHAI, April 24 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Xinhua Finance (TSE Mothers:
9399) and Market News International (MNI), a part of the news service line of
Xinhua Finance, today announced the April Xinhua Finance/MNI China Business
Sentiment Survey. After rebounding in March from the one-off effects of big
spring snowstorms, Chinese business sentiment has plunged again as companies
are caught between still-rising input costs and government measures to control
inflation, results of the survey suggest.
The headline overall sentiment index for April hit an all-time low of
55.81, down from 65.69 in March and 83.96 a year ago. The index showing
sentiment for business conditions in three months also plunged to a record
low, hitting 60.08 in April after 71.53 in March and 87.69 a year ago.
The index for current financial conditions was at its lowest ever in
April, at 54.37 from 61.25 in March and 73.51 in the same month a year ago.
Companies appear to expect current conditions to continue for some time, with
the index for financial conditions in three months also hitting a record low
of 59.52 in April from 66.67 in March and 80.97 a year ago.
The monthly survey was conducted April 7-22.
Since its inception in January, 2005, the survey has accurately tracked
and predicted overall Chinese economic conditions, providing important
intelligence ahead of government data. The survey has been especially
important in indicating turnarounds in the economy, such as last summer's
slowdown or the pickup in activity seen since last fall.
To receive a full version of the survey, or to find out more about Xinhua
Finance and Market News International, please contact us via
mni@xinhuafinance.com
Notes to Editors:
About Xinhua Finance Limited
Xinhua Finance Limited ("XFL") is China's premier financial information
and media service provider and is listed on the Mothers Board of the Tokyo
Stock Exchange (symbol: 9399) (OTC ADRs: XHFNY). Bridging China's financial
markets and the world, Xinhua Finance's proprietary content platform,
comprising Indices, Ratings, Financial News, and Investor Relations, serves
financial institutions, corporations and re-distributors worldwide. Through
its subsidiary Xinhua Finance Media Limited (NASDAQ: XFML), XFL leverages its
content across multiple distribution channels in China including television,
radio, newspaper, magazine and outdoor media. Founded in November 1999, XFL is
headquartered in Shanghai, with offices and news bureaus spanning 11 countries
worldwide.
For more information, please visit www.xinhuafinance.com .
About Market News International
Market News International (MNI), a Xinhua Finance company
( www.xinhuafinance.com ), is a financial news and information company
dedicated to the global fixed income and foreign exchange markets. MNI joined
the Xinhua Finance family in March 2004, bringing its niche expertise and
extensive distribution network. Headquartered in New York, MNI has news
bureaus and offices throughout the US, Europe and Asia.
With more than twenty years of history, MNI is a fully accredited news
agency providing focused, timely, relevant and critical intelligence for
market professionals. Its press credentials are accepted by all operations of
the U.S. Government, including the White House, the Federal Reserve, both
houses of Congress, all major agencies and cabinet departments, all similar
government operations in the G-7 countries, as well as by supranational
organizations such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
For more information, please contact:

Xinhua Finance
Hong Kong/Shanghai
Ms. Joy Tsang
Tel: +852-3196-3983
+852-9486-4364
+86-21-6113-5999
Email: joy.tsang@xinhuafinance.com

Mr. Scott Zhang
Tel: +86-21-6113-5996
Email: scott.zhang@xinhuafinance.com

SOURCE Xinhua Finance Limited

Ms. Joy Tsang, +852-3196-3983, or +852-9486-4364, or +86-21-6113-5999, or
joy.tsang@xinhuafinance.com, or Mr. Scott Zhang, +86-21-6113-5996, or
scott.zhang@xinhuafinance.com