More Chinese cities relax property curbs

[BEIJING] More than half of China's cities have relaxed property controls and analysts say more are expected to follow, suggesting the central government is easing its grip on the sector as the cooling housing market poses a growing threat to the economy.

Foshan, a southern city in Guangdong Province, yesterday relaxed restrictions that limited the number of homes that residents can buy, the government said on its Weibo microblog.

With Foshan's move, at least 28 regional governments in small to mid-sized Chinese cities have openly or quietly relaxed home purchase restrictions this year, data from private property consultancies showed.