Muifa, the strongest cyclone to hit the Yangtze Delta in a decade, was downgraded by forecasters on Thursday, despite fears of flooding in coastal areas north of Shanghai

News that officials in Guangzhou have allowed home price cuts of up to 20% in the city's highly regulated market sent shares of major construction companies soaring on Thursday.

China's next economic team may be dominated by Xi loyalists who lack the global savvy, academic polish and independent-mindedness of the current team, insiders and analysts say.

Rio said it would invest $1.3bn to develop the Pilbara mine and hold a 54% stake, while state-owned China Baowu will hold 46% and invest $700 million

Economy Minister Robert Habeck, of the Greens, said on Tuesday he was leaning towards not allowing the deal, which would give China a stake in critical German infrastructure.

The Bank of Japan conducted a rate check on Wednesday, in possible preparation for currency intervention, Nikkei reported. The yen has falled around 20% so far this year.

The storm, moving in a northwesterly direction in the East China Sea, is expected to make landfall later on Wednesday near Zhoushan port, forecasters said.

The US is considering sanctions against China to try to deter it from invading Taiwan, while Taipei has lobbied the European Union to do the same

Baring Private Equity Asia has closed its eighth pan-Asia fund at $11.2 billion, well over its initial target.

Taiwan's Globalwafers will start work in November on the first silicon wafer facility built in the US in more than two decades.

Typhoon Muifa intensified on Tuesday into one of the strongest typhoons this year – with wind speeds of over 200kmh – and is expected to cross the coast near Zhoushan overnight

A statement from the Duma said a top Beijing official assured them "China understands and supports Russia on issues that represent its vital interests, in particular the situation in Ukraine"