Quotable

"China has become the third-largest country by the number of companies listed on NYSE Euronext, following the United States and Canada."

David Ethridge, senior vice-president and head of capital markets at NYSE Euronext Inc. About 15 to 20 companies from China are expected to go public in the US this year amid restored investor confidence in the country's companies.

The new listings from China will mainly be in the health, high-technology and retail sectors.

"As a result of lower GDP growth targets, domestic steel consumption will weaken this year. The companies don't have to keep production up under pressure from local governments' administrative intervention."

Li Xinchuang, head of the China Metallurgical Industry Planning and Research Institute. Most provinces have reduced their GDP growth targets.

"We need to tighten supervision of money market funds to better protect investors' interests and prevent systemic risks."

Zhang Xiaojun, spokesman for the China Securities Regulatory Commission, said the agency will draw up regulations governing online sales of financial instruments and mandating tighter risk controls for money market funds.

(China Daily Africa Weekly 03/07/2014 page20)