China PMI offers tiny relief to Asia as stocks head for dire end to quarter

The lockdown of cities around the world and the shutdown of the aviation industry will cause a fall in demand the industry has never seen before.

SYDNEY/HONG KONG: Asian shares were set to close out a calamitous quarter by eking out a small rally on Tuesday as factory data from China held out the hope of a revival in activity, even as much of the rest of the world shut down.

China's official manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) bounced to 52.0 in March, up from a record-low 35.7 in February and topping forecasts of 45.0.