Exclusive: China Inc's mounting stress: funding woes, shrinking profit growth and a trade war

By Adam Jourdan and Gaurav Dogra SHANGHAI/BENGALURU (Reuters) - China Inc's profit growth has fallen sharply while debt levels have recorded a rare drop, a Reuters analysis of earnings data shows - signs of strain brought on by Beijing's crackdown on leverage as well as a trade war with the United States. Easy access to funds had long fuelled growth for mainland Chinese firms but a concerted campaign by authorities to rid the financial system of excessive liquidity and rein in irrational corporate expansion is taking its toll. A rapid bruising of consumer confidence amid trade tension with the United States has added pain, creating a major challenge for Beijing as it looks to keep the economy on track after it expanded at its weakest pace since 2009 in the third quarter

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