China Tries to Lift Stocks to Keep Investors Buying

China's government has its work cut out enticing investors this year to buy stock it holds in listed state companies, after yuan-denominated Class A shares, which only locals can buy, fell more than a fifth in 2001.

The government needs to resume selling its $241 billion stock holdings to raise funds for pension and welfare payments in a nation with 200 million retirees and more than 5 million people out of work.