MNI DATA IMPACT: China Caixin April Mfg PMI Slows to 50.2

     BEIJING (MNI) - The Caixin China manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index

(PMI) decelerated 0.6 points to 50.2 in April, remaining in the expansion zone

at above 50 for the second consecutive month.

     New orders, which indicate future activity levels, have slowed from March

as has manufacturing output, Caixin said in a statement.

     The Caixin figure was in line with the downward trend of the official PMI,

reported by the National Bureau of Statistics the same day and which decelerated

to 50.1 from 50.5 in March.

     The Caixin PMI tracks small and medium sized manufacturers which are not

surveyed by the NBS.

     New export orders fell back into contraction territory after a small

decline, Caixin said. Many manufacturers surveyed said that weak external demand

had dampened export sales at the beginning of Q2.

     The manufacturing industry's confidence rose to its highest level in the

past year on expectations of improved global demand, new product launches and

plans to boost output. 

--MNI Beijing Bureau; +86 (10) 8532-5998; email: wanxia.lin@marketnews.com

--MNI Sydney Bureau; +61 405322399; email: lachlan.colquhoun.ext@marketnews.com

[TOPICS: MAQDS$,M$A$$$,M$Q$$$]