China's government has acted for the first time this year to boost economic growth after a string

of disappointing data led to fears of a slowdown. The government said it will cut taxes on small firms and speed up the construction of railway lines. The measures had previously been included in China's economic work plan for 201 . !owever" they had not before put them together in a package aimed at boosting growth. #$e will find innovative ways including fiscal and financial methods to...steady economic growth"# the cabinet said in a statement on the government's website. %hares in &sian stock exchanges rose after the move was announced. Continue reading the main story

Market Data
'ast (pdated at 0)*01 +T Market index ,ikkei 22&%2 &ll 3rds !ang %eng %%+ Composite %%+ %+ -0 5%+ %ensex 8arketwatch ticker 6ata delayed by 1- mins ,eeded boost &fter its weekly meeting on $ednesday" the government announced the measures" including an 1/1 increase in the total number of railway lines being built compared to last year. 8ost of those tracks will be laid in central and western regions of the country. To finance the railway investment" the government will sell 1-0 billion yuan 9:2 .0bn; <1 .-bn= worth of government bonds. &s further stimulus" Chinese authorities said they will also extend tax provisions granted to small businesses into 2010. #$e must roll out policies that spur businesses' vitality" effectively increase demand and boost >obs"# the government said. 'ast month" during the annual ,ational ?eople's Congress" the Chinese government kept its annual growth target at ..-1. !owever" a string of disappointing economic data 7 including reports indicating a Current value 1-0.1.// - 1-..0 22--4.0) 20-/.44 1 41.)0 22 0./. Trend (p (p (p (p (p 6own Variation 12-.-0 0.40 )-.04 11.-) 1/.10 710 .02 % variation 0./ 1 0.1)1 0.101 0.-01 1.2)1 70. 01

slowdown in China's manufacturing activity 7 have led many analysts to believe growth may fall short of the government's target. Chinese ?remier 'i @eAiang has sought to reassure markets that the government remains prepared to act" and has previously emphasiBed that creating >obs 7 as opposed to a specific growth target 7 was the most important item on his agenda.