Makingheadlines

New gadgets to launch at Mobile World Congress

The Mobile World Congress 2017, the world’s largest gathering for the mobile industry, is set to be held from Monday to Thursday in Barcelona, Spain.

More than 2,200 companies will exhibit at the event, including Google, HTC, Huawei, Intel, Lenovo, LG, Microsoft, Nokia, Samsung and Sony, according to media reports. Mobile operators such as O2 and Vodafone will also be there, as well as a number of car companies such as Ford, MercedesBenz and Volkswagen.

Global technology companies are expected to showcase their latest smartphones, tablets and wearable gadgets at this event. For instance, big brands such as Sony, LG and Huawei will unveil their new flagship smartphones.

Purchasing managers’ indexes for February

China’s manufacturing purchasing managers’ index ( PMI) for February, an index of factory activity, will be released on Wednesday.

The official PMI was 51.3 in January, down 0.1 point from the previous month, the National Bureau of Statistics and the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing said.

The Caixin manufacturing PMI for February will also be announced on Wednesday. That index fell in January to 51 from 51.9 in December.

The Caixin survey focuses on small and medium- sized enterprises, while the official index targets larger companies.

A reading above 50 indicates an expansion, while one below points to a contraction.

Fed Beige Book on economic conditions

The Federal Reserve is expected to release the so- called “Beige Book,” a report on current economic conditions for each of the Fed’s districts, on Wednesday.

The report will be closely watched by investors as it provides an overall summary of all districts, as well as individual

district reports on local economic conditions by sector. Published every six weeks, the Beige Book is released before each Federal Open Market Committee meeting on Interest rates to offer information on changes in the economy since its last meeting.

Two sessions ready to start in Beijing

The annual sessions of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference ( CPPCC), China’s top political advisory body, and the National People’s congress ( NPC), the top legislature, are scheduled to start in Beijing on Friday and Sunday, respectively.

Routine tasks at the annual NPC meeting include reviewing the annual work report of the central government, which includes the official GDP forecast; hearing work reports by the NPC Standing Committee, the Supreme People’s Court and the Supreme People’s Procuratorate; and reviewing the annual plan for economic and social development and the central and local budgets. This year, an additional task is deliberating draft provisions of a new, unified Chinese Civil Code.

Members of the CPPCC National Committee gather to discuss important political, economic and social matters.