Briefly

Securities firms report robust growth in Q1

Chinese securities firms recorded robust growth in the first quarter (Q1) of 2020, according to the Securities Association of China. China's 133 listed brokerages saw their Q1 operating revenues and net profits reach 98.33 billion yuan ($13.9 billion) and 38.87 billion yuan, respectively, said the association. Its statistics also showed that 118 brokerages reported profit growth in the first three months. By the end of March, the total assets of the 133 brokerages had reached 7.89 trillion yuan with net assets standing at 2.09 trillion yuan. Their net capital totaled 1.67 trillion yuan, according to the association.

Bonds issued to aid ecological protection

The Agricultural Development Bank of China, the nation's third-largest issuer of bonds, has launched a 2 billion yuan ($282.08 million) bond issue to support ecological protection. The bonds will mature in three years, with the interest rate standing at 1.649 percent. The bonds aim to fund key areas of ecological civilization construction. By the end of the first quarter, the policy bank's outstanding loans for green development totaled 659 billion yuan. They involve sectors including ecological environment, energy conservation, green upgrades of infrastructure, and clean industry.

Air post route links Zhengzhou and Tokyo

A regular air mail route has been launched between Zhengzhou, capital of Central China's Henan province, and Tokyo, according to China Post Group Co's Henan branch. The mail route will operate every Wednesday and Thursday. International mail from Henan to Tokyo does not need to be sent to Beijing or Shanghai for trans-shipment. This shortens the transportation time for the mail by one to two days. Zhengzhou has so far opened direct post routes to 47 cities in 36 countries and regions.

Xinhua