• Technical matters for the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect scheme have been solved, Hong Kong's Financial Secretary, John Tsang Chun-wah, said, adding that he hoped it could start around the middle of this year. China Development Bank said it would provide 90 billion yuan ($14.53 billion) in loans to support major water power construction projects. 
• The China Insurance Regulatory Commission is exploring setting up a platform to regulate the country's agriculture insurance sector, the newspaper reported, citing the government body. China Minsheng Investment Co Ltd is exploring entering the insurance sector by investing in Dubon Insurance, a firm based in the country's north-east Jilin province, unnamed sources told the newspaper. 
• The State Council is poised to approve the merger of China's two nuclear giants soon, which will likely lead to consolidation in the sector and encourage overseas ventures, the newspaper reported, citing industry sources. 
• Issuance of debt securities fell 8.5 percent year-on-year in February, while money market transaction volumes rose 61.7 percent, the People's Bank of China said. Russia may need to extend the construction period for its east Siberian gas line to China, which was originally estimated to be completed in 2017, sources told the newspaper.