China Merchants Bank
The Chinese banking sector does not lend itself to the same transparent overview that its bretheren do around the region. However, China Merchants Bank CMB is one of the new generation of banks -- outside the big four -- and as a result does not suffer from the same legacies. In 2000, it made profit of Rmb16.7 billion up from Rmb12.7 billion in 1999, a 37% increase. CMB specializes in trade finance and is in a good position to benefit from increased trade following China's accession to the World Trade Organization. It has a healthy parent in Hong Kong-listed China Merchants Group. Perhaps one...