China is the second largest economy in the world and every significant brand's future is impacted by its growth (or collapse)—but who's got the time?! Here's the week's reads that will make you look like a keen China observer in case you find yourself immersed in a cultural conversation.

This week: Pepsi taps into The Voice of China... why Baijiu is not like tequila... Samsung outsells Apple... Boss fashion shows... MBA kindergartens... Chengdu does Fortune 500s... Internet Explorer and China's banks... 3D printing boom... new Ikeas... the Backstreet Boys and pandas... Lenovo... and more.Continue reading...

A once-in-a-decade occurrence in China, the overlap of Chinese National Day and the Mid-Autumn Lunar Festival, is giving Chinese consumers a rare eight-day period with no work or family obligations. As a result, Chinese tourists are traveling in China and flocking to other areas, including Hong Kong (now in mourning following a ferry crash that killed 38 holiday revelers) and Europe.

While less than three percent of the Chinese have a passport, that number is rising 20 percent each year, according to Reuters. That means the current travel period is likely to be dwarfed by long-term prospects for Chinese tourism. It's true that China's economy has slowed along with the domestic appetite for luxury, but a segment of the population is decidedly well-heeled, and they still love to travel and shop.

It's certainly not stopping brands from pushing ahead in China — Louis Vuitton recently opened a flagship in Shanghai, and Ralph Lauren just opened five stores in China in the past two weeks, as David Lauren, the brand's EVP of Advertising, Marketing & Corporate Communications, told the New York Times' Andrew Ross Sorkin in a discussion at the Interbrand/New York Stock Exchange 2012 Executive Marketing Summit on Tuesday.Continue reading...

Apple and Samsung trade jabs as their high-stakes patent trial begins in San Francisco.

Avon opens talks to settle bribery charges.

BMW warns about tougher market conditions.

Bud Light Premium helps AB InBev sell less beer for more.

Coach suffers from competition from Michael Kors and other handbag purveyors.

Ford brand loyalty validated by new ranking.

Gap fall kids campaign continues bright color theme.

Google buys Wildfire social marketing firm.

Heineken invites creatives to redefine draught beer experience.Continue reading...

"Sharpness is a state of mind," said Chow Yun-Fat (Master Li Mubai) in Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon. But sharpness might also might be a perfectly fitted Hugo Boss suit, like the one Chow is now sporting as the first ever Asian face of the brand.

Chinese consumers may still be trying to "find" Leonardo DiCaprio and his Oppo handset, but more and more, brands looking to reach the Chinese consumer — especially luxury ones — are opting for local celebrity.Continue reading...

PepsiCo expands into yogurt sales in the U.S. under Muller brand.

Marks & Spencer CEO's lack of fashion cred criticized as retailer overtaken by rival Next.

Valentino luxury brand in talks to be sold.

AT&T cuts ad spending.

Amazon sparks fears with "robo-pricing."

Billabong hits choppy waters.

Boeing expands new-orders lead over Airbus.Continue reading...

One celebrity image, one celebrity tweet, one celebrity moment, can completely make a brand’s sales suddenly skyrocket. Just ask J.Crew, which received more press for the surprise Beyonce appearance at its first New York Fashion Week runway show this morning than for the actual clothes.

That’s why, for 10 days each September, when the Toronto International Film Festival draws in a slew of serious movie lovers, movie-promoting bold-faced names, and a small army of brand ambassadors plotting to get their product into the right celeb’s hands.

Typically, celebs are given bags of goodies through the organization hosting the event in question, via stylists or "gifting suites" stocked with branded loot that celebs pick over at the Academy Awards (and just about every major entertainment awards show), but that's been proclaimed to be tacky.

Now TIFF-going celebs are getting the goods in their hotel rooms. Talk about room service!Continue reading...

The Federal Housing Finance Agency is suing 17 US and European banks and more than 130 individuals on charges of selling bonds backed by mortgages that should have never been packaged into securities. Institutions named including Bank of America, its Merrill Lynch unit, Barclays, Citigroup and Nomura.

Halliburton is suing BP for defamation and misrepresentation, while a key court ruling in the Gulf of Mexico litigation could encourage more lawsuits. Oil and gas production is curtailed in the Gulf, meanwhile, as New Orleans declares state of emergency ahead of storm.

Facebook tests comment translation button.

GM rehires Bob Lutz as an adviser.

Google acquires Zave Networks, a digital coupons platform, as it expands local deals offering.

Hugo Boss releases campaign featuring Orlando Bloom and Sienna Miller in support of African schools.Continue reading...

AT&T explained why it's shelling out $39 billion for T-Mobile to create America's biggest wireless carrier in a conference call this morning (WSJ.com has more) while Sprint is "left scrambling" and JPMorgan trumps Goldman Sachs with deal.

Japan food brands face consumer fears of contamination as Tepco nuclear plant situation continues. Sony and Nissan are also resuming operations, while YouTube promotes a video people-finder to aid search and rescue efforts. Swiss Re estimates Japan claims at $1.2 billion.

Berkshire Hathaway seeks more big acquisitions — but not technology. 

Boeing launches newest 747 on its maiden flight.

Diageo is reportedly weighing a $2 billion bid for Jose Cuervo.Continue reading...