Banking

China's bank loan demand is predicted to increase steadily, and the consumer price will continue to rebound in the fourth quarter, the central bank said in a report Friday.

The expected credit surge is due to hefty capital demand for a number of under-construction projects, and reheating of the real estate sector, according to the quarterly macroeconomic review issued by the People's Bank of China (PBOC).

Medium and long-term credit will increase "substantially", and the bill-financing, which facilitates short-term credits, will continue to fall after the central bank tightened rules to ensure the money flow into the real economy other than stock market speculation, said the report.

China Minsheng Banking Corp., the nation's first listed non-State lender, announced Tuesday that it posted a net profit of 10.2 billion yuan (1.49 billion U.S. dollars) in the first three quarters, up 18.11 percent year on year.

CHINA NATURAL RESOURCES, INC. (Nasdaq: CHNR), a company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands, today announced that Bayannaoer Feishang Copper Company Limited, the Company's indirect 60%-owned subsidiary based in the People's Republic of China, had entered into a series of agreements relating to a RMB250 million (approximately US$36.59 million) bank loan from The People's Bank of China, Shenzhen Branch. Feishang Copper is principally engaged in the smelting and refining of blister/anode copper and sulfuric acid for distribution in the PRC. The purpose of the bank loan is to finance the operation of Feishang Copper.

The principal amount of the loan is to be repaid in RMB50 million (approximately US$7.32 million) installments, during the period from October 1, 2010 through July 1, 2013, when the then outstanding principal amount of the Bank Loan is due and payable. Interest on the loan is payable quarterly, commencing September 21, 2009, at the base lending rate of The People's Bank of China from time-to-time in effect (currently 5.76% per annum). The bank loan is secured by all of the land, building and plant and machinery of Feishang Copper, and repayment of the loan has been guaranteed by Mr. Li Feilie (the Company's Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and principal beneficial owner), Feishang Copper and by Anhui Wuhu Port Storage and Transportation Co. Ltd., a related party through common control by Mr. Li Feilie. The primary borrower under the loan agreements is Shenzhen Feishang Enterprise Co. Ltd. ("Shenzhen Feishang"), a related party through common control by Mr. Li Feilie. Shenzhen Feishang has agreed to serve as primary borrower in order to meet the bank's lending policies, and will disburse the loan for use by Feishang Copper.

Mr. Feilie Li, the Company's Chairman, commented on the loan: "Following the PRC government's unveiling of a RMB4 trillion economic stimulus package in November 2008, it is generally expected that the prospects for the PRC copper market will soon be revived. This loan, which bears a relatively lower interest cost, signifies the bank's recognition of the Company's copper smelting business and relatively low debt position. We will continue our acquisitions strategy in coal and non-ferrous metal/ iron projects."
 

Two or three more overseas banks are expected to be locally incorporated in Shanghai this year, the city's banking regulator said over the weekend.

The unnamed banks from France and Japan are expected to set up their Chinese mainland headquarters in Shanghai to expand their China business, said Yan Qingmin, head of the Shanghai Bureau of the China Banking Regulatory Commission, on Saturday.

The city has aims to attract more institutions to boost the city's global financial center ambitions.

"Shanghai is ready to be a major financial hub with its concentration of banking, non-banking and market infrastructure facilities," Yan said.

Since last year, Shanghai is already home to 17 locally incorporated overseas banks on the mainland, including HSBC, Citi, Standard Chartered and DBS, compared to 22 across the Chinese mainland.

Shanghai also boasts gold, foreign exchange, stock and futures markets.

Local incorporation requires overseas banks to set up a legal subsidiary to fully tap the retail yuan-backed business on the mainland.

Yan also suggested the Shanghai Stock Exchange be listed in the mainland A-share market or Hong Kong to strengthen the bourse's governance.

"It's a strategic aim to get the Shanghai Stock Exchange listed," Yan said at a Shanghai Institute of International Finance forum.

The stock exchanges in Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia and the United States are listed on their own respective bourses.