Homing in on a solution

More cities have eased or lifted curbs on housing purchases, but so far those moves aren't propping up the slack market, reports Zheng Yangpeng.

Weakness in the property market is prompting most cities to ease purchase restrictions and other curbs. But with negative sentiment among buyers so strong, analysts warned that local governments' moves will not help much - and might even backfire.

As of Wednesday, of the 46 cities that had imposed purchase curbs, 36 cities had publicly or quietly relaxed them, according to the 21st Century Business Herald. The remaining localities that are keeping a grip on the market include first-tier cities such as Beijing and Shanghai.