HSBC 'Flash' China manufacturing PMI for February: 50.1

Apologies for the delay ... I had a problem accessing to post ... seems OK now though.

I got the result out on Twitter ... now finally to the site ...

Key points ...

Flash China Manufacturing PMI at 50.1 in February (49.7 in January)

  • Four-month high

Flash China Manufacturing Output Index at 50.8 in February (50.3 in January)

  • Five-month high

Commenting - Hongbin Qu, Chief Economist, China & CoHead of Asian Economic Research at HSBC:

  • "The HSBC China Manufacturing PMI improved slightly to 50.1 in the flash reading for February, up from 49.7 in January.
  • Domestic demand firmed while new export orders contracted for the first time since April 2014. Both input and output prices remain in contraction.
  • Today's data point to a marginal improvement in the Chinese manufacturing sector going into the Chinese New Year period in February.
  • However, domestic economic activity is likely to remain sluggish and external demand looks uncertain.
  • We believe more policy easing is still warranted at the current stage to support growth."

Note: 'New export orders' to lowest since June of 2013

  • to 47.2 (from 50.2 in January)