Fixed-asset investment up 27.7%

China's fixed-asset investments grew 27.7% in July from one year earlier, faster than the expected 25.4% rise, but slower than June's 28.8% gain, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing the National Bureau of Statistics. The January-July urban fixed-asset investment was up 27.2% year on year to US$427.26bn, despite government measures to cool the economy. Separately, the World Bank raised its expectation for China's 2005 growth to 9% from April's 8.3% forecast.