81.   Worried that high inflation would rouse public anger, the government began imposing price controls, tightening credit and restricting investment in fixed assets last year.

82.   Fixed asset investment in July witnessed almost zero growth over the same month last year, it said.

83.   Growth in fixed asset investment and money supply were also well beyond initial predictions.

84.   But the bureau also sounded a warning note, saying the growth of the economy could be threatened by rising prices and investment in fixed assets, Xinhua added.

85.   Chinese authorities have urged local governments to strengthen control over approvals of real estate projects to prevent an inflationary surge in fixed asset investment, a report said Thursday.

86.   The reports quoted Beijing observers as saying the rate rise would prove instrumental in curbing inflation and controlling excessive investment in fixed assets.

87.   This must apply particularly to fixed assets, the rights of creditors and the rights of shareholders and other securities.

88.   It also noted a decline in fixed assets held by manufacturers.

89.   Major state enterprises moving to a modern corporate system will have priority in receiving working capital and fixed asset loans, Liu said.

90.   Many other banks spent them on funding branch expansion, acquiring fixed assets and even for lending through the interbank market.