BEIJING, May 22 (Xinhua) -- China's economic planning department on Thursday dismissed as a "groundless rumor" reports saying the country might liberalize the prices of refined oil and natural gas soon.

"Those reports and allegations that the government might liberalize oil and gas prices in advance, in June at the earliest, are groundless," an anonymous official with the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) told Xinhua.

Thursday's Shanghai Securities News also ruled out the possibility that China will end its grip on prices in the near future. ... Read full article