It is reported that U.S. private equity firm Bain Capital is to buy a 18% stake in China's electronic retail giant Gome for USD400 million.

Beijing Municipal Business Commission has issued a circular which encourages retailers to set up online stores and virtual featured commercial streets, and to increase the number of categories of goods offered based on the offline stores.

Sanlian Commerce, a subsidiary of the Shandong-based electronics retailer Sanlian Group, has published a report stating the Shandong Supreme People's Court has rejected Sanlian Group's lawsuit against Gome about the share auction of Sanlian Commerce.

Zhang Jindong, the chairman of Suning, has told local media that the company plans to open four to five retail stores in Hong Kong in the second half of 2009 and this is one year earlier than its previous plan.

While most electronics companies are busily cutting staff, Chinese electronics retailer Gome has announced plans to hire 20,000 migrant workers for its four subsidiaries in China.

The British supermarket giant Tesco has signed a contract with Nanjing Wanda Plaza to open a new Tesco supermarket in Hexi New City, Nanjing, with an expected opening date of December 18, 2009.