China’s Factory Activity Sparks Hope Slump Is Bottoming Out

  • Manufacturing still in contraction, but PMI beat estimates
  • Services activity weakened, showing mixed picture for economy
WATCH: Xiangrong Yu, chief China economist at Citi, discusses China’s PMI data and what the figures mean for the economy.Source: Bloomberg
Lock
This article is for subscribers only.

China’s manufacturing contraction eased slightly in August and a gauge of new orders improved, providing some hope that the worst of the sector’s slump may be ending.

The official manufacturing purchasing managers’ index rose to 49.7, topping estimates and edging closer to the 50 level that would signal activity has stopped contracting.