Asia's factory pain eases as China's activity jumps

A woman works in a textile factory in Hai'an in eastern China's Jiangsu Province. China's manufacturing activity edged up in July and export orders strengthened despite weak US and European demand, a survey showed in fresh signs the world's second-largest economy is gradually recovering from the Covid-19. - AP

TOKYO, Aug 3 (Reuters): Asia's factory pain continued to ease in July with contraction slowing in big export-reliant nations, adding to hopes the region is steadily emerging from the devastating hit of the coronavirus pandemic.

Manufacturing activity in China expanded at the fastest pace in nearly a decade as domestic demand improved, a private sector survey showed on Monday, suggesting the world's second-largest economy will help cushion the pandemic's blow to world growth.