Global factories kick off 2018 on strong note, but inflation missing

Hong Kong

ASIA'S factories got off to a strong start in 2018, with manufacturing activity in many countries gaining momentum and hitting multi-year highs as global demand for high-tech products remained strong.

Business surveys in Europe and the United States on Thursday showed solid factory activity, reinforcing expectations of another year of synchronised global growth that has propelled stock markets to record highs.