China's exports grow for the 1st time since JuneJanuary 14, 2016 - 13:18 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The depreciation the yuan hasn’t helped China's collapsing stock markets, but it seems to have boosted exports. Trade by the world’s second biggest economy grew in December for the first time since June, RT reports. China’s exports exceeded expectations in the last month of 2015, rising 2.3 percent from a year ago in yuan-denominated terms. Last year, Beijing’s exports were down on cooling demand and plummeting commodities prices. Imports collapsed not as much as had been predicted. In yuan-dominated terms, they fell four percent, compared to the expected 7.9 percent. In yearly terms, Chinese exports fell 1.8 percent with imports collapsing 13.2 percent from 2014. In the first week of 2016, China's central bank depreciated the yuan against the dollar by more than 1.5 percent. It was the biggest drop in the yuan exchange rate since August 2015, when the devaluation of the yuan made global stock markets quake. The depreciation has raised fears that other Asian countries would also devalue their currencies to compete with Beijing’s exports. The People’s Bank of China has strengthened the yuan this week to calm volatility in equity markets. However, the Shanghai Stock Exchange Composite Index lost another 2.42 percent on Wednesday with overall an almost 17 percent drop this year. Related links: Top stories Yerevan has dismissed Turkey’s demand to shut down the Armenian nuclear power plant as “inappropriate”. Armenia will loan 2.9 billion drams to Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh), according to a draft government decision. The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan has “strongly condemned” Armenia’s decision. Kerobyan has said that for the first time in the history of Armenia, the volume of foreign direct investments amounted to about $1 billion. Partner news | Armenia, Turkey discuss restoration of historic bridge The meeting took place on May 17 in Ashgabat on the sidelines of an international conference of ministers of culture. EU welcomes Armenia-Azerbaijan “progress” The EU has welcomed “progress” made in the framework of the Armenia-Azerbaijan border delimitation process. Belarus opposition leader slams Lukashenko for Karabakh trip Belarusian opposition politician Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has harshly criticized the visit of Lukashenko to Karabakh. Mkhitaryan raises arrest of former Karabakh leaders in Azerbaijan Inter Milan star Henrikh Mkhitaryan has shared a news story about the extension of the arrest of former Karabakh leaders. |