BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s factory sector shrank for an eighth straight month in June as export orders sentiment hit its weakest level since early 2009, according to a survey that indicates the country’s economic trough may extend well into the third quarter.

The HSBC Flash Purchasing Managers Index, the earliest monthly indicator of China’s industrial activity, fell to a seven-month low of 48.1 in June from a final reading of 48.4 in May.

BEIJING, June 21 (Reuters) – China’s factory sector
contracted for an eighth straight month in June, with export
orders and prices turning in their weakest showing since early
2009, a private-sector survey showed on Thursday.

The HSBC Flash Purchasing Managers Index, the earliest
monthly indicator of China’s industrial activity, fell to a
seven-month low of 48.1 in June from a final reading of 48.4 in
May.

BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s factory sector contracted for an eighth straight month in June, with export orders and prices turning in their weakest showing since early 2009, a private-sector survey showed on Thursday.

The HSBC Flash Purchasing Managers Index, the earliest monthly indicator of China’s industrial activity, fell to a seven-month low of 48.1 in June from a final reading of 48.4 in May.

BEIJING/SHANGHAI (Reuters) – Global food and dairy companies are making another round of big bets on China’s fast growing dairy sector, hoping to position themselves as safe alternatives even after a lethal baby formula scandal burned many of them the first time around.

They are lured by a projected 10 percent annual growth and by Chinese consumers’ willingness to pay a nice premium for foreign brands as they remain wary of local brands’ safety records.

BEIJING, June 11 (Reuters) – China’s bank lending in May
rose more than expected, suggesting fast-tracked infrastructure
projects were creating loan demand and that measures to counter
a sharpening economic slowdown may be taking affect.

New loans figures followed a flurry of May data at the
weekend, which reinforced the view China is heading for its
sixth quarter in a row of slowing growth and helping to explain
a surprise interest rate cut last week – Beijing’s boldest
action yet to underpin economic activity.

BEIJING (Reuters) – China said the euro zone finance ministers’ decision to lend Spain up to 100 billion euros ($125 billion) to shore up its teetering banks was a welcome short-term fix, but urged the bloc to take more decisive action to safeguard longer term stability.

A bailout for Spain’s banks, beset by bad debts since a property bubble burst, would make it the fourth country to seek assistance since Europe’s debt crisis began.

BEIJING, June 11 (Reuters) – China’s inflation, industrial
output and retail sales all flagged in May for a second straight
month of sluggish growth that galvanised policymakers last week
into taking their boldest action yet to combat a sharpening
slowdown.

A flurry of data over the weekend explained China’s surprise
cut in interest rates on Thursday – its first since the global
financial crisis – by showing the extent of the domestic
economy’s weakness. The rate cut followed a number of measures
designed to get money flowing back into the economy.

BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s inflation, industrial output and retail sales all flagged in May for a second straight month of sluggish growth that galvanized policymakers last week into taking their boldest action yet to combat a sharpening slowdown.

A flurry of data over the weekend explained China’s surprise cut in interest rates on Thursday – its first since the global financial crisis – by showing the extent of the domestic economy’s weakness. The rate cut followed a number of measures designed to get money flowing back into the economy.

BEIJING, June 11 (Reuters) – China’s inflation, industrial
output and retail sales all flagged in May for a second straight
month of sluggish growth that galvanised policymakers last week
into taking their boldest action yet to combat a sharpening
slowdown.

A flurry of data over the weekend explained China’s surprise
cut in interest rates on Thursday – its first since the global
financial crisis – by showing the extent of the domestic
economy’s weakness. The rate cut followed a number of measures
designed to get money flowing back into the economy.

BEIJING/SHANGHAI, June 6 (Reuters) – Fashion-conscious
Shanghainese Xing Chunhui spends her weekend window shopping,
pausing for meals or tea with friends, before going online to
see if she can get the same clothes cheaper.

Tracking her consumer behaviour and determining whether she
will do the same next weekend is a growth industry in China,
where public and private surveyors are battling to develop an
authoritative consumer confidence index.