China is expected to issue about 800 bln yuan in treasury debt this year, compared to last year's 704.2 bln yuan,  an official from the Ministry of Finance said. The unnamed official was cited as saying that the treasury debt will be used to cover the budget deficit and debt maturity payments. (Shanghai Securities News)

Foreign banks are racing into China to grab a piece of the fast-growing retail banking market, which should reap hefty rewards for those willing to wait, a senior executive at an international consulting firm said. While foreign players in China, which include Citigroup Inc. and HSBC Holdings, have just a handful of branches compared with their massive Chinese competitors, they have a major advantage: retail banking expertise. (SD-Agencies)