China April exports unexpectedly contract, imports slide

CHINA’S exports unexpectedly fell 6.4% in April from a year earlier, while imports tumbled by a deeper-than-forecast 16.2% , fueling expectations that Beijing will quickly roll out more stimulus to avert a sharper economic slowdown.

The dismal trade performance raises the risk that second-quarter economic growth may dip below 7% for the first time since the depths of the global financial crisis, adding to official fears of job losses and growing levels of bad debt.