China’s Factory Slump Sparks New Stimulus Calls Despite US Truce

China’s factory activity slumped for the longest streak in more than nine years, prompting fresh calls for greater policy support even as the country reached a trade truce with the US.

The official manufacturing purchasing managers’ index fell more than expected to 49 in October, suggesting activity dropped the most in six months just before a leaders’ meeting stabilized ties this week. New orders shrank the most since 2023 as demand took a hit from trade barriers and weak sentiment at home.