New yuan-denominated loans extended by China's domestic banks in 2010 almost hit 1.6 trillion yuan ($234.36 billion) in January, catching up with the amount of the same period last year, but economists did not expect interest rate increase in the near future. The Economic Information Daily reported today.

Sohu.com Inc, the Chinese Internet company that separately listed its online-games unit last year, said profit fell 43 percent, missing analysts' estimates, after the spinoff cut earnings from the subsidiary.

Chinese equities closed lower Monday on the latest manufacturing sector figures, led by iron and steel and brokerage large-cap shares.

China's manufacturing activity decreased slightly in January as industrial output growth slowed amid severe winter weather, but the outlook remained positive.

China's large textile businesses took in 133.15 billion yuan ($19.57 billion) in profits in the first 11 months of last year, according to figures released by the China Textile Industry Association.

Bright Dairy & Food Co Ltd, one of China's leading dairy producers, said Saturday that the company was back to profit in the past year after it slipped into the red in 2008 due to the melamine scandal.

China Pacific Insurance Group Co, the country's third largest insurer, said Jan 30 its net profit is estimated to grow at least 400 percent in 2009 from a year ago.

China Unicom, the country's second largest telecom operator, said Saturday its net profit might have dropped by more than 50 percent in 2009, as the one-time gain from the sale of a mobile business laid a higher comparison basis for 2008.

Ping An Insurance (Group) Co of China, the country's second-largest insurer, said in a statement to the Shanghai Stock Exchange Saturday that its net profit in 2009 would grow over 1500 percent over the 2008 level.

China's gold output rose 11.34 percent to a record of 313.98 tons in 2009, according to latest statistics from China Gold Association.