fbpx
Print this page
Wednesday, 04 February 2026 11:25

Birth woes

Written by  Milking It
Birth woes

OPINION: What does the birth rate in China have to do with stock trading? Just ask a2 Milk Company.

The company was forced to place itself in a temporary trading halt on the Australian stock market last month, with its share price falling 12%, following the release of Chinese data indicating a larger than expected drop in the number of new births.

a2 had previously indicated its forecast growth in China would be supported by an annual growth rate in new births of between 8.5-9 million.

However, the number of new births in China fell 17% last year to under 8m - the lowest in nearly 90 years.

More like this

Cold comfort

Cold comfort

One of the most galling aspects of the tariffs whacked on our farm exports to the US is the fact that, now more than ever, US farmers are being propped up by government welfare – a direct result of Trump’s hardline on its trading partners.

Strong wool eyes China

China looks set to play a key role in helping the New Zealand wool sector shift away from trading as a commodity supplier.

Popular Reads

Featured

Govt Commits $4m to Rural Wellbeing Initiatives

Govt Commits $4m to Rural Wellbeing Initiatives

While the District Field Days brought with it a welcome dose of sunshine, it also attracted a significant cohort of sitting members from the Beehive – as one might expect in an election year.

Shane Jordan Beats Brother to Win NZ Timbersports Title

While not all sibling rivalries come to blows, one headline event at the recent New Zealand Rural Games held in Palmerston North certainly did, when reigning World Champion Jack Jordan was denied the opportunity of defending his world title in Europe later this year, after being beaten by his big brother’s superior axle blows, at the Stihl Timbersports Nationals.

National

Machinery & Products