So too is Goldman Sachs, which said mainland stocks were a 'bright spot' among global equities and insisted that a near-term 'exit strategy' was premature.

In its latest China Economic Spotlight, HSBC economist Qu Hongbin defended his house still being bullish on the mainland's growth outlook, saying the infrastructure-led recovery could continue into next year, while there wouldn't be any credit tightening for at least another six months.

The report provided answers to the top 10 questions being asked about the mainland's future growth, explaining why it sees China Inc rolling on despite worries about a 'double dip' next year and 30 per cent year-on-year loan growth.

HSBC is not known for making bearish calls on China. The last time we could recall the bank going a bit wild was about 15 years ago, when former HSBC economist Joe Zhang Huaqiao (he later made his name covering mainland stocks for UBS) issued a report questioning the wisdom of the Chinese government investing in United States treasury bonds.

To be fair, the bank has put its words into action this year, preferring to go for a mega rights issue than selling part of its China assets, such as Bank of Communications or Ping An Insurance. HSBC knows where its heart lies.

Vowel phone war

You could forgive China Unicom for crying 'foul' yesterday - or perhaps that should be 'vowel'. Anyone who got a glimpse of China Mobile's new oPhone couldn't help but associate it with the iPhone, for which China Unicom has exclusive mainland distribution rights.

Two telecommunications veterans said the icons of the two gizmos are at least 80 per cent similar.

While the iPhone has its own proprietary platform, oPhone is powered by Google's Android system and more than 20 manufacturers, including Lenovo and Dell, will be producing the handsets.

Not to be outdone, China Telecom will be joining the alphabet soup with its gPhone to be launched later this year.

Also powered by Google, gPhone handests are expected to be produced by Korean companies LG and Samsung. Let's hope they can come up with a few more differences.

Sign of the times

The authorities in Shanghai recently launched a campaign to spot and correct badly phrased English on signs in public places.

'Chinglish' has long been a source of amusement to foreign visitors, but an embarrassment for the city authorities.

Now they are increasing efforts to improve Shanghai's image because millions of visitors are expected for the World Expo next year, just as Beijing did ahead of last year's summer Olympic Games.

Student volunteers have been tasked to check the English on signs throughout the city and report any mistranslations. The municipal government will then ask whoever is responsible to make corrections.

Ironically, the culprit for the Chinglish often turns out to be the software used in handheld Chinese translators or Chinese electronic dictionaries.

Here are some of the best examples:

'Tender fragrant grass. How hardhearted to trample them.'

'You are possibly in the supervision video. Please behave well and be a nice tourist.'

'No climbing, yes to life!'

Sino what?

It may get the green light from Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing, but not from former HKEx director David Webb (below). The corporate activist takes issue with listing candidate Sino Life, whose name bears a striking resemblance to insurer China Life but actually provides coffins, burial clothes and cremation services.

'Surely the name is misleading,' he wrote. 'It should be called Sino Death.'

It's not the first time Sino Life's image has been questioned. Last week, we wrote how the Growth Enterprise Market candidate had to change the cover of its listing prospectus as the pastoral scene of fields and woodland were deemed not to represent its business or assets.