China to hunt foreign investors who leave debts

SHANGHAI, Dec 20 - China, hit by a slowdown in manufacturing from the global downturn, will pursue foreign investors who flee the country to escape failed business investments and debt, the Xinhua news agency said on Saturday.

China will ask foreign governments to help investigate and extradite the fugitives, especially in cases involving large sums of money, the official news agency said.

Government efforts to pursue runaway investors come at a time when shrinking global demand is dealing a heavy blow to export industries and manufacturers, forcing migrant workers to return to their rural homes after losing factory jobs.

Thousands of factories in the southern export hub of Guangdong have folded due to falling demand for China-made goods, rising production costs and the strong yuan currency.

China's commerce, foreign affairs, justice and public security ministries on Friday jointly issued a guideline for cross-border investigation and prosecution of fleeing investors.

More investors, especially from small- and labour-intensive industries, have avoided formal bankruptcy by leaving behind shutted factories, equipment and unpaid wages, Xinhua said.

Eighty seven companies funded by investors from South Korea left the eastern province of Shandong without properly liquidating assets last year, up from only 21 cases in 2003, Xinhua said, citing previous media reports.

In January, more than 10 Korean company officials abandoned the Yantai Shigang Fiber Co in Shandong and fled because of financial difficulties. They left without paying large debts and the wages of more than 3,000 employees.

China to reshuffle equities index components

SHANGHAI, Dec 15 - China Securities Index Co said on Monday that it would change some of the components of its equities indexes, effective from the first trading day of next year, to reflect changed market conditions.

Eighteen stocks will be added to the CSI300 Index <.CSI300> and 18 removed. The index, against which many Chinese equity funds are benchmarked, consists of the 300 local-currency A shares with the largest market capitalisation and liquidity.

Additions include television and mobile phone maker TCL Corp <000100.sz>, liquid crystal display producer BOE Technology Group <000725.sz>, China Railway Construction Corp <601186.ss>, and Zijin Mining Group <601899.ss>.

Deletions include chemical fibre and textile maker China Union Holdings <000036.sz>, Haima Investment Group <000572.sz>, Zhongchu Development <600787.ss>, and computer equipment trader Insigma Technology Co <600797.ss>.

Full details of revisions to all indexes are posted on the index company's website, www.csindex.com.cn .

Difficult Year Ahead for Developing Asia

HONG KONG, CHINA - Economic growth in developing Asia will slow to 5.8% in 2009, down from a likely 6.9% this year and 9% in 2007, as the impact of the global financial crisis spreads to emerging markets, says a new report from the Asian Development Bank.

Click here for full report

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ADB tweaks 2008 Asia growth forecast

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GDP Forecast (From World Bank)

Forecast Summary, 2008-2010
Annual percent change, unless indicated otherwise.

Regional detailed forecasts
Source:World Bank

Stock Market Performance During Recessions

Interesting graph to share from http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/
(Click graph below to enlarge)

Total official recessions for the last 80 years = 15 (from year 1926 to 2008)

The following chart from Fidelity gives a very clear breakdown of all 15 recessions, their duration, and severity as far as market damage during and after the recession ended