Before China came to dominate the solar panel industry, Germany led the way, the Wall Street Journal reported. It was the world’s largest producer of solar panels, with several start-ups clustered in the former East Germany, until about a decade ago when China ramped up production and undercut just about everyone on price. Now as Germany and the rest of Europe try to reach ambitious goals to cut greenhouse gas emissions, the demand for solar panels has only increased. Some of the last remaining manufacturers in Germany’s solar industry are not ready to give up.

Foreign investment flows into China shrank 19.9% in January-February from a year earlier to 215.1 billion yuan ($30 billion), data from the commerce ministry showed on Friday, even as the government gears up to woo foreign firms, Reuters reported. China's cabinet on Tuesday unveiled new steps to arrest a slowdown in foreign investment, including expanding market access and relaxing some rules.

Chinese property developer Evergrande Group says it will withdraw the application for chapter 15 bankruptcy protection that it filed with a U.S. court last August, NHK World reported. The heavily indebted developer has been discussing with creditors how to repay its foreign-currency-denominated debts since it filed for chapter 15 protection. But the liquidation order made by a Hong Kong high court in January made it virtually impossible for the company to implement the debt-restructuring plan.

The Bank of Japan on Friday highlighted the need to enhance its research and analytical capabilities in the first medium-term strategic plan compiled under academic-turned governor Kazuo Ueda, who took office in April last year, Reuters reported. “The Bank will enhance its capabilities in policy-making, research and analysis in fulfilling its mission of achieving price and financial stability,” the BOJ said, outlining key principles of its business operations from fiscal 2024 through 2028.

Danish company Scandinavia Farms Invest has gone bankrupt after only a few years and at least half a billion danish crowns invested, ScandAsia reported. Scandinavian Farm Invest has been running a big pig farm between Beijing and Shanghai. It had been one of the most effective farms in the country before everything started to go wrong. It wasn’t just one drop that made the cup overflow, but many things that started to go wrong for pig production in China. Tricky market conditions included an increase in the price of the feed, while the price of pig meat has decreased.

Australia’s highly indebted households appear well-placed to continue riding out the pain of high interest rates and soaring living costs, with even the most vulnerable in a position to continue servicing mortgages, the Reserve Bank of Australia said Friday, the Wall Street Journal reported. In its latest report card on financial stability, the RBA said that while high inflation and interest rates have put pressure on household budgets over the past two years, nearly all borrowers continue to service their debts on schedule.