Asia shares pare losses as China economy rebounds

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan trimmed losses and were off 0.3%, having hit a string of record peaks in recent weeks.

SYDNEY: Asian shares pared early losses on Monday as data confirmed China's economy had bounced back last quarter as factory output jumped, helping partially offset recent disappointing news on U.S. consumer spending.

Chinese blue chips gained 0.8% after the economy was reported to have grown 6.5% in the fourth quarter, on a year earlier, topping forecasts of 6.1%.