Top Stories of the Month: What’s Behind China’s Spending Slump

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# Macro #

Cover Story: China Moves to Raise Retirement Age to Bolster Workforce, Ease Pension Pressure

Nation needs more workers to offset falling birthrates and ballooning retiree population

Cover Story: Fixing China’s Trade Imbalance Needs a Home Remedy

The growing trade surplus underscores structural issues within China’s economy, which experts say can be fixed by intensified government efforts to boost domestic consumption

Analysis: What’s Behind China’s Spending Slump

Dwindling confidence among consumers, businesses, local governments and other organizations is weighing on a focal point of the country's efforts to revive its slowing economic growth

# Market #

Some high-frequency futures traders in China were set up as goods trading companies by big-name foreign firms to evade restrictions on overseas investment in the country’s commodities futures market. Photo: VCG

In Depth: China’s Tightening Rules Put Foreign High-Frequency Futures Traders in Limbo

Some firms that have operated for years in a gray area are now struggling to find a compliant way to continue running their businesses in China

Cover Story: Chinese Brokerages’ Dual Roles in Bond Market Sparks Concern for Conflicts of Interest That Raises Systemic Risk

Firms’ dependence on underwriting and trading debt securities surges amid regulatory gaps

# Industry #

Many of China’s securities firms have been stung for lax compliance recently, while new rules aim to restrict the sector’s capital-intensive businesses.

In Depth: China Amps Up Scrutiny of Freewheeling Securities Firms

Many companies have been stung for lax compliance, while new rules aim to restrict the sector’s capital-intensive businesses

In Depth: As Sales Surge, Electric Trucks Could Be Here for the Long Haul

Sales of the vehicles in China jumped 142% in the first five months of this year as pressure builds to clean up polluted regions

In Depth: New Rules Set to Give State-Owned Carmakers an EV Boost

Some have fallen behind in EVs, but changes to encourage their development risk squeezing out private firms

In Depth: Domestic Carriers Add Global Routes as Foreign Rivals Quit China Amid Sluggish Demand, Russia Ban

Chinese carriers are focusing on adding flights to the Middle East, to bolster trade links and connect to major hubs

In Depth: Chinese Shippers’ Diverging Fortunes

Ocean freight rates are surging as global capacity remains tight, while the local market has descended into a price war to secure orders in the face of weak domestic demand

# Company #

In Depth: PDD’s Bare-Knuckle Tactics Upend E-Commerce Landscape

As more merchants protest an opaque regime of fines, critics say the e-commerce company is dragging its rivals to a race to the bottom

Analysis: Tencent-Backed Black Myth: Wukong Gives China’s Gaming Industry a Shot in the Arm

Despite its chart-topping debut, long-term profitability remains uncertain for developer Game Science

In Depth: Pressure Builds on Trailblazing Chinese Bubble Tea Brand Mixue

Mixue has mounted an aggressive global expansion only to find local rivals nipping at its heels as markets have grown saturated and its IPO plans have faltered