China's April data show economic slack

[BEIJING] China's economic activity showed across- the-board weakness in April, with data from output to investment and consumption all missing market expectations, sparking new calls for Beijing to ease policies to shore up growth.

Months of lacklustre performance and growing signs of weakness in the housing market have led some analysts and investors to question whether more stimulus is needed lest economic expansion this year falls short of the official target of around 7.5 per cent.

China's central bank asked commercial banks on Monday to speed up the granting of home loans and to set mortgage rates at reasonable levels, sources told Reuters, underscoring concerns that any sharp deterioration in the property market could further strain the world's second largest economy.