War for stomach shares – McDonald’s new franchise move heats up fast food market

McDonald’s launched its new franchise business model in Yunnan Province last week. The move has been seen as an ambitious strategy to localize and expand the successful chain store.

Why did Sina buy intoTudou?

The Internet market is a never-ending battle. How can a Web portal expect to stand out in 2012 or beyond?

Baijiu goes abroad – Will Diageo’s takeover turn the spirit into a global success?

In China, baijiu is the go-to drink when one is seeking a potent potable. But the strong spirit, known for its fragrant aftertaste, isn’t for most foreigners. On his state visit to China in 1972, US president Richard Nixon was advised to take a pass on the drink.

Businesses head UAE – Emirates top draw for China’s small- and medium-size firms

Faced with rising costs and cash shortages, many small and medium enterprises chose to tighten their belts and stay thrifty.

Tea absent at A-share market

American tea seller Teavana began trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the TEA symbol on July 28. Since then, China’s tea sellers and economists have been wondering when the nation’s top tea makers will follow the Atlanta company’s lead.

Behind brand awareness – Savvy consumers more concerned with quality and service

A niche brand known only to a few won’t bring market success. But at a time when consumers are becoming increasingly sophisticated in their tastes and expect better products, neither will brand awareness alone.

Secondhand craze – Sales of used luxury goods boom in China

Gao Xiao (pseudonym) had an annoying surprise recently: she found her lost diamond ring. The problem is she had bought another one already.

Rothschild targets China

Lord Jacob Rothschild, the chairman of RIT Capital Partners and the focus of the famous Chinese book Currency Wars, traveled to Beijing this week to promote the JRC private equity fund that will raise the yuan in China and allow Chinese investors to invest overseas.

Go west – Interior a magnet for foreign firms

The future is in the 2nd- and 3rd-tier cities – especially those located deep inland, analysts say. Faced with soaring labor costs and a shortage of skilled workers, an increasing number of companies from home and abroad are moving their factories west from the coast.

Standard Chartered to track yuan policy

Standard Chartered Bank has started keeping track of China’s monetary policies and market conditions with a new Monetary Conditions Index (MCI) opened this week in Beijing.