Sound bites

Editor's note: China reported on Wednesday that its GDP growth in the first quarter of the year was 7.4 percent year-on-year, which was slightly higher than most analysts' forecast of 7.2 to 7.3 percent but was still at its lowest point in five years. What does it mean for investors? What are the next moves that the macroeconomic authorities are likely to take in the second quarter? Will the market gain more confidence? China Daily interviewed several specialists on the Chinese economy for their opinions:

The first-quarter GDP growth is in line with our expectations but a bit rosier than the market consensus of 7.3 percent. A fine-tuning of policy probably can be expected in the second quarter; otherwise, the economy will see further downside risks in the following quarter. The government may quicken implementation of projects that have been approved in order to stabilize investments. It will also increase public spending. But more time is needed before the central bank can decide whether to cut the reserve requirement ratio or not. Even so, it would be a signal that would boost market confidence.

ZHU JIANFANG, chief economist with CITIC Securities