China's business press carried the following stories on Wednesday. China.org.cn has not checked the stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

Big companies silent on environmental issue -- 21st Centurial Business Herald

A "Silent Majority Report" issued by the environmental group Greenpeace yesterday, found that 18 large domestic and foreign companies operating in China, including Shell, Nestle, Sinopec, Dongfeng?Motor and Hunan Nonferrous Metals, gloss over misconduct relating to environmental pollution.

The report said that, although some of the enterprises probed are more willing to disclose environmental information than others, none measure up to new regulations on publishing environmental information, which came into effect on May 1, 2008.

China steel exporters look to Asian market -- 21st Centurial Business Herald

During the first eight months of 2009, 66 percent of China's steel exports were to Asian markets and only 12 percent went to America and Europe, reflecting a more general shift towards developing countries in China's steel exports.

In response to concerns from American and European steel makers that Chinese steel overproduction will hit steel prices, an official of the China Iron and Steel Association (CISA) said that China's imports exceeded exports by13.24 million tons during the first eight months of 2009, and exports had declined to 13.24 million tons compared with 47 million tons in the same period of last year.

China's debt review--The Beijing News

China's external debt stood at US$360.5 billion (US$14 billion) at the end of June, down 3.76 percent from the figure at the end of last year, according to figures released by the State Administration of Foreign Exchange. But borrowing rose in the second quarter compared with the first quarter figure, signaling a possible recovery of foreign trade and FDI.

Rebate program helps sell home appliance -- Beijing Business Today

According to the figure released by Ministry of Commerce yesterday, home appliance sales, boosted by a government rebate program, rocketed to 3 billion yuan (US$441 million) during National Day holiday week compared with 1 billion yuan (US$147 million) the week before.

Similar to America's "Cash for Clunkers" program, the home appliance rebate program offers consumers cash rebates if they trade in their old home appliances.