Chinese manufacturing's modest rise

Manufacturing conditions in China have improved for five consecutive months. The HSBC China manufacturing purchasing managers' index rose to 51.6 in March, up from 50.4 in February, which signals a "modest improvement", economists say. Production and purchasing both increased in March. Production increased for the fifth month in a row, the second-fastest rate in two years, while purchasing rose for the sixth consecutive month. A figure of more than 50 indicates rising growth. Economists said it was a "decent bounce" but it still disappointed market expectations for a more convincing improvement to 51.2.