(AP photo)China’s manufacturing activity weakened in April as the coronavirus pandemic clobbered global consumer demand, hampering Beijing’s efforts to revive the world’s second-largest economy, two surveys showed today. China became the first major economy to reopen factories in March after the ruling Communist Party declared victory over the outbreak. The official survey’s sub-index for export orders plunged by 12.9 points to 33.5. Both surveys showed employment weakening. “There is still a lot of uncertainty in the coming months from weak global demand,” said Pang.-AP

Source: The Standard April 30, 2020 03:33 UTC