Profile on China: China's Shanghai Index may not have made the medal round in our challenge (see the winners here), but with the 2008 Summer Game's set to begin today in Beijing, here is a look at China by the Numbers:

Economy:
The People’s Republic of China stands as the fourth largest economy in the world measured by nominal GDP.  As per IMF estimates, China’s GDP will increase by $1.3 trillion in 2008 from 2006 levels, a jump of 49.24%. 

• In dollar terms, China’s GDP is estimated to grow by 21.23% in 2008 from 2007 levels
• China’s top exports in 2007 included office equipment, accounting for $87.1 billion, telecommunication equipment at $68.5 billion, and apparel and clothing at $61.9 billion, according to The Economist
• The Chinese yuan has appreciated by 6.04% versus the greenback, with one dollar purchasing 6.8622 yuan.
• The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) changed its policy on the yuan’s peg to the dollar on July 21, 2005, utilizing a trade-weighted basket of currencies instead.  The current yuan central parity rate is set at 6.8555 to the dollar, with the PBOC allowing a trading band of 0.5% on either side, according to Thompson Reuters.  
• China’s current interest rate is set at 7.47% (compare global interest rates here)

Markets:
The Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE) is the largest exchange in Mainland China.  The SSE was founded on November 26, 1990, and began operating on December 19 of the same year. 

• The Shanghai Composite Index closed in positive territory 156 times of the total trading sessions in 2007, or 64.5% of the time
• So far this year, the Shanghai Composite Index closed up 67 times of the total trading sessions, or 45.3% of the time
• The Shanghai Composite Index is off by 55.5% from its record intraday high of 6124.044, hit on October 16, 2007
• From 12/06 to 12/07, the Shanghai Composite Index posted a gain of 96.7%
• Year-to-date, it is down 48.2%

Here are some of the Chinese ADRs with the best YTD performance:

Chinese ADRs amongst the worst YTD performers include:

Other big Chinese stocks include Baidu (BIDU) which is down 16.6% YTD,  CNOOC (CEO) which is down 17.7% YTD. and Ctrip.com (CTRP) which is down 21.7% YTD.

Chinese ETFs include: FXI, GXC, PGJ
Chinese Funds include:  TDF, CHN, JFC, CAF, GCH

Check in daily for more updates and country profiles.  bythenumbers.cnbc.com

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