US FIRMS IN CHINA REMAIN OPTOMISTIC DESPITE BUSINESS DECLINE

BEIJING - The American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in Shanghai reports that 91% of companies in a survey are optimistic about their Chinese operations, despite business dropping for the second year in a row in 2012. Of the 420 companies surveyed, 73% of US companies in China said they were profitable last year, declining from 78% in 2011 and 79% the year before. Around 75% of companies did say, however, that they were planning to increase investments in China this year.