China's Feb flash PMI up but export orders down
Survey suggests factories face risks from weak foreign demand and deepening deflationary pressures
Beijing
ACTIVITY in China's mammoth factory sector edged up to a four-month high in February but export orders shrank at their fastest rate in 20 months, a private survey showed, painting a murky outlook that argues for more policy support.
The flash HSBC/Markit Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) inched up to 50.1 in February, a whisker above the 50-point level that separates growth in activity from a contraction on a monthly basis. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast a reading of 49.5, little changed from January's final PMI of 49.7.
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