Editorial Summary

China's biggest listed brokerage Citic Securities (600030.SH) said it will continue to seek opportunities to partner with overseas investment banks, after the company announced the termination of its planned strategic cooperation with Bear Stearns. JPMorgan Chase & Co made an offer to acquire Bear Stearns for $236 million on Sunday. Shares of Citic Securities rose 3.3 percent to close at RMB57.99 on Wednesday.

China Merchants Bank (600036.SH; 3968.HK) booked RMB15.2 billion in net profit in 2007, up 124.4 percent year-on-year, according to a filing with the Shanghai Stock Exchange. Shares of the bank rose 3.83 percent to close at RMB29.29 on Wednesday in Shanghai.

China Life Insurance (China Life) (601628.SH; 2628.HK; NYSE: LFC) recorded approximately RMB59.7 billion in insurance product-related revenue during the first two months of 2008, according to a company filing with the Shanghai Stock Exchange. Shares of the insurer fell 0.19 percent to close at RMB32.05 on Wednesday in Shanghai.