Official data released on Monday showed that China's industrial profits grew 4.2% year-on-year in August, marking the weakest growth this year. For the first eight months of 2026, profits at large industrial firms climbed 15.7%, a deceleration from the 17.6% rise in the January-July period. Economists anticipate Beijing will increase stimulus measures to stabilize corporate profitability amid sluggish demand and fierce competition.