"All top 50 Chinese developers want a share of the Beijing market, which makes competition here intense. ... It is logical that Beijing's property market will enter the 'above 60,000 yuan era'."

Yan Yuejin, an analyst with E-house China R&D Institute, after five plots of land in the capital were sold at record prices within three days, underscoring how the property market remains red hot as developers shun smaller cities.

"Demand for iron ore from China's huge steel industry has been unprecedented and has helped buoy iron ore shipments."

Andrew Mackenzie, CEO of mining giant BHP Billiton Ltd, describing how the company has been a pivot in trade between China and Australia.

"China will step up its price reforms in 2015 and deregulate the prices of more than 50 items, including pharmaceuticals, medical services and power transmission and distribution tariffs."

Xu Kunlin, head of the National Development and Reform Commission's price department and anti-monopoly bureau, speaking of the nation's price reform plans this year.

( China Daily European Weekly 01/16/2015 page18)