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As the old saying goes, "The rich get richer," but for fat cat developers, not without ample cash flow. So in China's booming property market, these big golden boys are turning to outside help to blimp themselves up a bit more. But if "greed is good," then it's also smart for companies listed overseas to return to the mainland for their extra injection of cash. At least that's what every Tom, Dick and Harry Chinese company seems to be doing these days, including overseas Chinese company returnee Ping An. But the blue chips may not be the best investment in the A share market, as QFII investors are noting. It could be the undervalued underdogs that turn invested pennies-or mao-into riches. Meanwhile, foreign companies continue to jump on the mainland bandwagon-Alliance Boots Plc is the latest to make the leap into the pharmaceutical sector.     

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China’s manufacturing activities keep slowing down.Thebig fourstate-owned commercial banks have reaped juicy profits,though capital adequacy remains a concern.In striking contrast,the steelmakers are struggling to make ends meet as costs inflation erodes profit margins.The consumer market booms as usual during the May Day holiday.The search engine Baidu benefits from torrid traffic growth and a diversified market strategy.     

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The financing vehicles of local governments remain a concern despite government efforts to control their mountains of debt.Mergers and ac-quisitions are on the rise in the real estate sector as deep-pocketed developers take over financially starved rivals.China snaps up long-term Japanese govern- ment debt as the country attempts to diversify its holdings of foreign exchange reserves.Growth in the non-manufacturing sector has slowed,due to a drop in the purchasing managers index in May.Ford Motor aims to expand in China, hoping to cash in on the country’s auto market boom.The international ac-counting firm PwC expects China to become the world’s top banking market by 2023.     

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The World Bank forecasts a rosy prospect for the Chinese economy,despite a moderate slowdown in growth.The real estate market continues to cool,with an increasing number of cities experiencing price declines.China’s state-owned enterprises face a bumpy road ahead,with their profits shrinking quickly.The shipping giant COSCO is swimming in red ink due to tepid demands and overcapacity.China is expected to replace the United States as the world’s top e-commerce market by 2015.     

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Capital Destination China has maintained its appeal to foreign investors thanks to a thriving economy and government policies to entice investors.     

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TO THE POINT: CPI growth rate hit a 22-month record high in August, ignit-ing fears of inflation. Foreign trade is recovering, with exports and imports on the rise. Uncertainties abound over the property market, as price increases slow and sales volume rebounds. China maintains its attractiveness to foreign investors as indicated by continuous FDI growth. Video website Tudou.com gears up for an initial public offering in a scramble to acquire more financing.     

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Figures for OctoberCPI and PPIThe consumer price index(CPI), a barometer of inflation, grew 4.4 percent in October, a 24-month high and 0.8 percentage points higher than in Septmber, according to the National Bureau of Statistics(NBS).     

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TO THE POINT: Lenovo Group, one of the world's largest computer producers, reported the biggest loss in its history, up to $226 million. But its executives claimed the PC maker is shifting into high gear and hopes for a domestic IPO in the near future. Coincidental^, the mainland secu- rities watchdog decided to reopen the IPO gate for companies after an eight-month hiatus due to the global credit crunch. Hainan Airlines successfully secured a 3-billion-yuan ($439 million) cash injection to boost its capita...     

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TO THE POINT: The Chinese economy maintained stable and relativelyfast growth in 2008 with eased inflation. Its GDP grew 9 percent last year,the first single-digit growth since 2002, and accounted for 20 percent of theglobal economy. Economists hope that the latest rescue measures adoptedby the Central Government could boost the country's economic performancein 2009. Inflation was brought under control as the consumer price index grewa satisfactory 1.2 percent in December year on year. The urban registered ...     

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The Chinese central bank raises the red flag of bad debt risks from credit cards as default payments increase. China Investment Corp., the sovereign wealth fund, makes a push into commodities needed to feed humming economic machines. By handing out heavy tax breaks and financing incentives, China aims to assist ailing small businesses. The German industrial titan Siemens A.G. remains committed to the Chinese market despite the economic slowdown. Chinese home appliance makers take heart from government stimu...     

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TO THE POINT:The government promulgated a series of industrial re- vitalization plans to keep the economy from slipping.The State Council approved a plan to revive the nation's shipbuilding industry.The January consumer price and producer price indexes indicated inflationary pressure had disappeared,but suggested possible deflation.Imports and exports bore the brunt of the global economic downturn in January,with the total trade value slipping by almost 30 percent year on year.For the first time, China over...     

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TO THE POINT: China's economy showed initial signs of recovery, although a full revival is still far away. An array of currency-swap packages is helping the renminbi to "go global." Car sales rallied in March in quick response to the government's stimulus measures. The insurance regulator widened the channels for domestic insurers to directly invest in stock and bond markets. The Export-Import Bank of China provided a credit line to withering shipbuilders.     

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TO THE POINT: The government vowed to improve farmers' living stan- dards and underlined several tasks to be fulfilled this year in this regard. A majority of domestic individual investors suffered losses of more than 70 percent on their investments in mainland stock markets last year. Steel manufacturers were also unlucky in 2008 and lost a total of $1.87 billion in November alone. Despite pressure from the gloomy economic situation, more than 200 enterprises in Shanghai promised no layoffs. Tainted milk p...     

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The China Banking Regulatory Commission has kickstarted a pilot program to bolster consumer finance companies. This marks a step forward in the economic shift toward consumptions. In June, China trimmed a record net $25.1 billion in holdings from U.S. Treasury securities on concerns over the value of U.S. dollar assets. Air China Ltd., one of the country's big three carriers, meanwhile, plans to raise its stake in Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. to nearly 30 percent. China's foreign direct investment inflows, a...     

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正OPINION Stock Market:Waiting for a RallyThe initiation of deepening reforms following the Third Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China in November 2013 and the U.S.Federal Reserve’s(Fed)exit from quantitative easing(QE)are almost certain to exert a significant influence on China’s stock market in 2014.     

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By ordering another hike in interest rates,China spares no effort to combat inflation.China’s oil giants are faring well,though rising crude prices are putting pressure on Sinopec,China’s top oil refiner.China reorganizes the dairy industry,forcing many unqualified producers out of the market.The manufacturing industry has staged a swift comeback,with the purchasing managers index rebounding in March.The U.S.chemicals guru The Dow Chemical Co.makes a push into the Chinese market by building a joint venture with Shandong-based Befar Group Co.Ltd.     

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Stock Market Nightmare A bearish mood dominated the Chinese stock markets in the first half of this year with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index dropping 26.82 percent by June 30.