BEIJING China's banks made the most new loans on record in January - totaling 3.23 trillion yuan ($477 billion) - as policymakers try to jumpstart sluggish investment and prevent a sharper slowdown in the world's second-largest economy.
BEIJING China's exports unexpectedly returned to growth in January after a shock decline the previous month, while imports fell much less than expected, but analysts said the strength was likely due to seasonal factors and predicted renewed trade weakness ahead.
* Reserves rise $15.2 bln in January - the biggest gain in a year
BEIJING China will take steps to spur growth amid a trade war with the United States, but there is limited room for aggressive stimulus in an economy already laden with massive debts and a property market prone to credit-driven spikes, policy insiders said.
BEIJING China's economy cooled in the fourth quarter under pressure from faltering domestic demand and bruising U.S. tariffs, dragging 2018 growth to the lowest level in nearly three decades and pressuring Beijing to roll out more stimulus to avert a sharper slowdown. | Video
Peking/Berlin Der Zollstreit mit den USA schlägt zusehends auf Chinas Wirtschaftswachstum durch und macht milliardenschwere Konjunkturprogramme wahrscheinlicher.
* More policy easing, stimulus measures expected in form of construction spending, special loan programmes, tax cuts
* More policy easing, stimulus measures expected in form of construction spending, special loan programmes, tax cuts
BEIJING China's economic growth cooled slightly in the fourth quarter from a year earlier as expected, weighed down by weak investment and faltering consumer confidence as Washington piled on trade pressure, leaving 2018 growth the weakest in 28 years.
* China GDP up 6.4 pct y/y in Q4, vs Q3's 6.5 pct 2018 growth slows to 28-year low of 6.6 pct
Nigeria's president and the leading opposition candidate urged people to remain calm after a national election scheduled for Saturday was postponed by a week just five hours before polls were due to open.