Beijing, China (BBN)-Disappointing manufacturing data from the world’s second largest economy, China, weighed on the mainland share market.
The official purchasing managers’ index (PMI) fell below forecasts to 49.6 in November, down from the previous month’s reading of 49.8, reports BBC.
That marks the fourth month of shrinking factory activity in the vast sector.
The Shanghai Composite was down 0.5 per cent to 3,427.32 points in early trade.
A reading below the 50-mark on the PMI survey indicates contraction in the sector, while one above suggests growth.
The Asian giant is headed for its slowest growth in a quarter of a century this year as the government tries to move China from an export-driven economy to a consumption-based one.
REST OF ASIA UP
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index was up 1.2 per cent to 22,252.06 – following the trend in the rest of Asia.
Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 index was up 0.9 per cent to 19,918.96, despite government data that showed profit at Japanese companies rose 9 per cent in the third quarter, compared with 23.8 per cent in the prior one.
Sales also slowed compared with the previous quarter, up 0.1 per cent compared with 1.1 per cent.
Firms have been battling poor demand at home and abroad as the economy fell into a recession in the quarter.
In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 index was up 1.9 per cent to 5,262.60 – leading the region’s gains.
South Korea’s benchmark Kospi index rose 1.1 per cent to 2,013.31.
Sentiment was boosted by a steady recovery in consumption that led the country’s annual inflation in November to jump to its highest in a year – an annual rate of 1 per cent.
BBN/SK/AD