• China’s manufacturing activity rebounded in March, snapping a five-month decline and adding to evidence that country’s industrial sector is building momentum for an economic recovery.
• The official manufacturing purchasing managers index expanded to 50.8, the highest reading in a year, in a boost for policy makers seeking to restore confidence in the world’s second-biggest economy. This follows the fastest industrial output in two years for January and February, and an increase in exports for the two-month period.
• A gauge of non-manufacturing activity climbed to 53 in March, compared with an estimate of 51.5. A reading above 50 suggests an expansion from the previous month, while a figure below that denotes contraction.