Asia’s factories stay sluggish

Lower production: Steam rise from stacks at a plant in the Keihin Industrial Zone in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture. The Markit/Nikkei Japan Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index fell to a seasonally adjused 48.2 in April from 49.1 in March. – Bloomberg

Japan’s manufacturing activity takes further hit from earthquakes

SYDNEY: Japanese manufacturing activity shrank in April at the fastest pace in more than three years as deadly earthquakes disrupted production, while output in China and the rest of Asia remained lukewarm at best.