Xiaomi instrumental in new Sichuan lender

Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi Corp is expanding its presence in the finance industry by joining other investors to set up a private bank in southwestern Sichuan province.

Sino-German robots muscle in

When discussing linking Germany's Industry 4.0 and the Made in China 2025 industrial strategies, one of the first things that springs to mind is the robot sector, seen as perhaps the most promising area for cooperation between the two sides.

Shanghai Insurance Exchange launched

The Shanghai Insurance Exchange was launched on Sunday, which, as China's first insurance asset trading platform, will boost transparency and efficiency in the world's third-largest insurance market.

Markets await MSCI decision on A shares

US index provider MSCI Inc is due to announce early on Wednesday whether it will include China's A shares in its Emerging Markets Index. Inclusion would bring funds of $20 billion to $30 billion into the A-share markets.

Helping firms streamline travel expenses

A shimmering satin dress, matching Chanel jewelry, a radiant smile on a lovely face... Elena Donio looks like a fashion icon at first glance. Only, she isn't - she is, in fact, president of Concur, a Bellevue, Washington-based firm that specializes in travel and expense management solutions, and is part of SAP, the software multinational.

On the move

Li Hejun resigns from Hanergy in shakeup

Fanning the flames of innovation

Shanghai has in recent months become a second home for Xie Fayan, a Xiamen-based maker who frequently enters the city to attend exhibitions and showcase Guguji, a small portable printer he created that can be used to print messages and social media content on mobile phones.

More than just a gaming tool

The Chinese virtual reality (VR) market is expanding at a fast pace but experts have called for the technology to be applied to a wider range of sectors besides just entertainment and gaming, saying this is necessary for steady development of the market.

The future of smart wristbands

Liu Shiyuan already wears three smart wristbands, and based on what she found out at the recent CES Asia 2016 Shanghai, it's likely she'll soon have to add a few more.

China's banks inch toward top of shipping finance

Chinese lenders are fast becoming global leaders in ship financing, while Western banks are reducing or exiting their shipping loan portfolios. That disengagement is due to increasingly strict capital requirement regulations being enforced as the world's shipping industry faces its worst downturn in three decades.

Theatre review: 'Lily James's Juliet saves the night'

Thank the Bard above for Lily James. You've heard of a damsel in distress. Well, James is the damsel riding to the rescue of a West End production in distress.

The Secret Life of the Human Pups talking points

1. A documentary about people dressing as puppies was every bit as weird as you'd expected: It sounds barking mad: a community of grown men squeezed into latex puppy outfits and munching doggie treats in their spare time.