China house prices up for a third month in a row

China house prices climbed in July 2015 for the third month in a row, according to new figures from the National Bureau of Statistics. The NBS data, analysed by Reuters, shows that prices edged up 0.3 per cent in July from June, slightly down on the previous month's 0.4 per cent rise.

Sales (encouraged by government measures to bolster the market) have helped to boost the recent increase in prices, after bottoming out in the first half of 2015. The uptick, though, arrives at a time of economic uncertainty, as China's stock market tumbled 30 per cent in recent weeks. The rise in prices has now spooked investors, reports The Telegraph, with fears of overheating once again arising.

Year-on-year, prices have still fallen 3.7 per cent, though, notes Reuters. The data shows that July was the first month in over a year that more cities saw house prices increase than decrease: 31 out of 70 cities enjoyed a rise in values.