China factory activity expands for first time since April

China factory activity expands for first time since April China factory activity expands for first time since April

HONG KONG — China’s manufacturing activity snapped a five-month contraction in October, as a string of fresh stimulus measures boosted production.

The country’s benchmark purchasing managers’ index came in at 50.1 for the month, the National Bureau of Statistics announced on Thursday. The reading rose from September’s 49.8 to a six-month high and beat the median forecast of 49.9 in a poll. The PMI crossed the 50-point mark that separates growth from contraction for the first time since April.