Amie Tsang

An Australian entrepreneur claimed Monday to be the creator of the online currency. But almost immediately, digital currency developers expressed doubt about the claim.

The Chinese middle class is swelling with young, affluent professionals who are more willing to spend money on brands and who are experienced travelers looking for a taste of other countries back home. And in China, most beer is still considered affordable.

Trading was halted for the day on China’s stock market for the second time this week, as stocks plummeted Thursday over concerns about the country’s currency and the health of the economy. Trading stopped after only 29 minutes and didn’t reopen, with the main index in Shanghai down 7.3 percent.