Betex, the London-listed bookmaker focussed on China, is anything but the sure-cert bet it once seemed. Indeed, investors now risk losing their shirts as the company has been delisted from London's Aim market...   more »

Thanks to the magic of code-share, European low-cost carrier Air Berlin,which started life ferrying German tourists to the Spanish holiday island of Mallorca, will next year be batting in the big league with direct flights to China...   more »

China is already the world's third largest luxury goods consumer and it won't be long before it becomes the largest. Imports of luxury consumer goods into China rose almost 28% in the first seven months of this year. Interestingly, foreign-funded trading companies dominate this business and the share taken by Chinese firms has fallen to less than 30%...   more »

Its going to be tough being seen among the crowds at next year's Olympics. And that goes for the sponsors too. Coca-Cola has found an original way to stand out by associating itself with the landmark Beijing National Stadium, popularly known as the Bird's Nest stadium because of its nest-shaped structure...   more »

China's consumer society is polarised between older Chinese who felt the effects of the Cultural Revolution, and younger consumers who are much more like their counterparts in the west. The latter are more "brand savvy" and using the internet to research products, and they are also less tolerant of poor service in stores..    more »

Possibly of limited use to western movie makers, given China's current restrictions on foreign films, but Online Testing eXchange, a US consumer research outfit, has expanded its movie tracking service to cover China...   more »

Forget economy hotels, as the real money in lodging in China is to be made in mid-range business hotels. So argues Hanting Hotels, which has just received $85m in first-round VC funding to expand its network of hotels in China...   more »

Starbucks has reportedly chosen to close its controversial coffee shop in Beijing's Forbidden City. Authorities told Starbucks that its only option to continue trading there was to relinquish control and share space in a new store with other drinks. The Seattle-based chain decided that was unacceptable. It is tempting to read a lot into this move but Starbucks has plenty of other stores in Beijing...    more »

Here's one western company that won't be engaging with China. Food for Health International, a US health food company, will label its products "China-Free" to ease concerns about contamination. I suspect Chinese officials will take a dim view of a foreign company trumpeting the supposed superiority of western products...   more »

NYSE-listed Xinhua Finance Media, the Chinese media company, has bought Convey Advertising Company. It is a shrewd move given XFMedia's focus on "high net worth" individuals as Convey owns billboard sites passed by millions of Chinese on their way to the prime shopping and gambling destinations of HK and Macau...   more »