BEIJING—A gauge of China’s factory activity weakened sharply, suggesting that any turnaround in the world’s second-largest economy after months of slower growth has yet to take root. The fall-off in manufacturing activity in April follows a strong showing in March that, along with an uptick in home sales, buoyed growth in the first quarter and brightened the outlook for the Chinese economy. Many economists expected a slight easing of factory activity in April.

Source: Wall Street Journal April 30, 2019 05:28 UTC