News Snapshot:
BEIJING: Manufacturing activity in China weakened in March as the country faced downward pressures, including a resurgence in Covid-19 infections that prompted wide lockdowns, as well as growing geopolitical uncertainties. Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed on Thursday that the purchasing managers' index (PMI) for the manufacturing sector eased to 49.5 last month from 50.2 in February. A reading above 50 indicates expansion; below that, a contraction. NBS senior statistician Zhao Qinghe cited the coronavirus outbreaks across the country and uncertainties overseas for the slowdown in factory operations and output. Fueled by rising prices of bulk commodities...
