China to curb investment, loans: Official

Measures to curb excessive investment and loan growth and tackle the widening trade deficit will be focused on in the second half of the year, Bloomberg reported. The measures are needed to prevent accelerated economic growth leading to overheating, Ma Kai, minister of China's National Development and Reform Commission, said in a statement on the planning body's website. "The government will take further steps on policies related to land, finance, market entry, foreign trade and investment and consumption,'' Ma said, adding that the State Council, China's cabinet, will soon issue new suggestions on land use and management, including adjusting fees and taxes on land used for construction purposes. The government will also take steps to increase reserve requirement ratios at banks, he said.