China retail play: Yum! Brands is set to report earnings on Feb 4. The management expects to report a profit growth of 15-20% in China in 2009. China stores to slow down to an increase of 8% in 2008, compared to a rise of 12% in 2007. For 2009, the company is forecasting same-store sales growth of 5% for China. In 2009, the company intends to build as many as 1,400 restaurants in international markets, of which 500 would be in China. As of now, the United States accounts for 41% of Yum’s operating profits. China accounts for 28% and the rest of the company’s operations around the world account for the remaining 31%. By 2013, China will account for 40% of Yum’s operating profit, while the United States and the rest of the world will each account for a 30% share, according to company projections.

China retail play: All Walmart stores in China will start an extensive sales promotion from tomorrow, Feb. 4, and the company has announced further discounts to be offered this year, reported Beijing Business Today.

China retail play: American Apparel opened new stores in China last spring, stocking them with T-shirts, shorts and hoodies made in in the U.S.

China retail play:

China retail play: In an interview with Reuters on Jan 13,, Martin Coles, president of Starbucks Coffee International, said that "We have seen an acceleration in our China business, international is the future engine for our company." He said it will take less than 10 years to open the next 350 stores in China, though he declined to offer a more specific growth forecast.

Broad plays on China: Claymore/AlphaShares China Small Cap Index ETF (HAO) is designed to measure and monitor the performance of the publicly traded mainland China-based, small-capitalization companies.

Broad plays on China: iShares FTSE/Xinhua China 25 Index Fund (FXI)The Index is designed to represent the performance of the largest companies in the Chinese equity market that are available to international investors.

Broad plays on China: NETS Hang Seng China Enterprises Index Fund (SNO) seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of publicly traded Chinese securities in Hong Kong as represented by the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index.