China shows more signs of economic fatigue

Beijing

CHINA'S economy showed further signs of fatigue in November, with factory growth slowing more than expected and investment expansion hovering near a 13-year low, putting pressure on policymakers to unveil stronger stimulus measures.

A deluge of weak data this week has reinforced the view that annual economic growth may weaken further from 7.3 per cent in the third quarter - already the lowest since the great financial crisis and further straining the fragile global economy.

A surprise interest rate cut by China's central bank last month signalled policymakers' growing concern that the world's second-largest economy may be at risk of a sharper slowdown that could fuel job losses and debt defaults. "The data bodes ill for GDP growth in the fourth quarter, which is bound to slow further," said Dariusz Kowalczyk, senior economist at Credit Agricole C…