China has adjusted domestic refined oil prices eight times this year, with five increases and three reductions. At present the 93-octane gasoline, which fuels most of Beijing's taxis and private cars, sells at 6.66 yuan per liter, a historical high.

China's State-owned enterprises (SOEs) gained 1.19 trillion yuan ($174 billion) in profits in the first 11 months this year, down 1.9 percent year-on-year, the Ministry of Finance said in a statement on its website Friday.

Premium of China's insurance companies hit 1.02 trillion yuan ($149.6 billion) in the first 11 months of this year, up 11.65 percent from a year earlier.

China's foreign direct investment (FDI) reached its highest total in 16 months during November, sustaining the rising trend since August, a clear signal that the nation's speedy economic recovery is attracting more foreign investors.

The Beijing traffic management bureau yesterday put the city's car population at an unprecedented 3.99 million as of last Sunday, predicting the number would break four million before the weekend.