China on Monday released its latest home price data, indicating that the property market of the world's second-largest economy is on stronger footing for recovery, supported by a raft of policy measures.
In the country's 70 large and medium-sized cities, the decline in the prices of commercial residential homes narrowed on a year-on-year basis in November, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed.
From January to November, the year-on-year decline in the sales area and sales volume of newly built commercial housing narrowed by 1.5 and 1.7 percentage points, respectively, compared to the period from January to October, the NBS said.
In November, both the sales area and sales amount for the month registered positive growth.
Among the 70 large and medium-sized cities across China, 17 saw an monthly increase in the sales prices of newly built commodity housing, 10 more than in the previous month; 10 cities saw an increase in the prices of pre-owned housing, two more than in the previous month.
With improved market expectations, the market is sustaining a sound recovery from the previous downturn, said NBS spokesperson Fu Linghui at a press conference on Monday.
"PMI surveys showed that in November, market expectations for the real estate industry increased by 1.1 percentage points (compared to the previous month). According to a survey from real estate market practitioners, in November, among some real estate development companies and intermediary agencies in 70 large and medium-sized cities, 68.5 percent and 57.1 percent of the surveyed professionals respectively anticipated that the prices of newly built commercial housing and pre-owned housing would either remain stable or increase in the next six months, indicating a stabilizing trend in market expectations," said Fu.
At a key meeting in late September, the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee said that efforts must be made to "stabilize the property market and reverse its downturn."
China's property market shows stronger signs of recovery: spokesman
The Iranian government is focusing on public concerns and maintaining stable supplies of essential goods amid recent protests, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a televised interview on Sunday.
In the city of Karaj, northwest of the capital Tehran, daily life has largely continued as normal. A video filmed by a local resident on Sunday shows food stores open and grocery shelves fully stocked.
"This is the block near my home, and there are some food stores here. Daily life continues here. Last night we did not see many protests in Karaj. Right now the city is very safe. This is a grocery store close to my home. All the food is available; nothing is in shortage. Here are noodles and different types of beans. Here are dairy products, cheese, and yogurt. I also checked other grocery stores and didn't see any shortages. Everything is available," said local resident Ali Reza.
Iranian officials have described recent disturbances as acts orchestrated by the "enemy," including some carried out by well-trained and armed "terrorists." The incidents have caused casualties among security personnel and civilians, as well as property damage.
The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani has directed authorities to severely punish the "terrorists."
Meanwhile, Iran's police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan said on Sunday that the police had raised alert levels and arrested several leaders of the troublemakers during the operations on Saturday.
President Pezeshkian noted in the interview that the normal demands of the Iranian people are reasonable and justified, but they must realize that triggering riots and carrying out terrorist acts are the enemy's attempts to undermine the country. He urged the public to remain vigilant.
Also on Sunday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned that Tehran would regard U.S. and Israeli bases and facilities in the Middle East as "legitimate targets" if Washington takes military action against Iran. His remarks followed media reports saying U.S. President Donald Trump is "seriously considering authorizing a strike" against Iran.
Iranian state media reported that at least 109 members of Iran's security forces have been killed in clashes since the protests began 14 days ago. Meanwhile, human rights groups based outside the country said the number of protesters killed has exceeded 200, though the figure could not be independently verified.
The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and sanctions imposed by the United States.
Iranian president says government focusing on ensuring supplies amid protests
