Asia shares inch up, China's factories show flicker of life

A woman is seen looking looks at an electronic stock board showing Japan's Nikkei 225 index at a securities firm in Tokyo. Asian shares were closing out a calamitous quarter with a tentative rally on Tuesday (March 31) as factory data from China held out the hope of a rebound in activity, even as much of the rest of the world shut down.- AP

SYDNEY: Asian shares were closing out a calamitous quarter with a tentative rally on Tuesday (March 31) as factory data from China held out the hope of a rebound 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.