Beijing
ACTIVITY in China's industrial sector contracted in December for the first time in seven months, the latest in a string of weak economic indicators that will intensify calls for more stimulus measures to head off a hard landing. The flash HSBC/Markit manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) fell to 49.5 in December from November's final reading of 50.0 and below the 50.0 forecast by analysts.
The new orders sub-index fell to 49.6, the first contraction since April. "The manufacturing...