Pandemic slows country’s services activity

BENGALURU: Activity in India’s dominant services industry expanded for the sixth consecutive month in March, supported by strong domestic demand, but some momentum was lost as authorities imposed fresh restrictions following a surge in coronavirus cases, a survey showed.

Optimistic GDP figures seen in second quarter

BEIJING: China is expected to maintain a neutral monetary policy in the second quarter, as stronger investment will lead to a solid economic recovery, while there should be additional risk-control efforts, economists said.

Builders and vaccines power UAE business growth

DUBAI: Business conditions in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) improved at the fastest pace in 20 months, taking a sharp turn for the better with the vaccine rollout and an upswing in construction work.

Upbeat figures suggest lasting GDP growth

BEIJING: China’s rosy foreign trade performance will sustain its gross domestic product (GDP) growth momentum in the first quarter of this year, consolidating the country’s fundamentals for steady and sound economic growth in the post-pandemic era, according to observers and business leaders.

Japan’s service sector contracts

TOKYO: Japan’s service sector activity extended declines in March as businesses struggled to fully shake off the impact of the coronavirus pandemic but the pace of the downturn is the slowest since January last year.

Ringgit rises against major currencies on seasonal demand for crude oil

Ringgit revisits 4.13 on firmer oil prices, easing US bond yields

KUALA LUMPUR: The ringgit rebounded against the US dollar to 4.13 at the opening today, fuelled by firmer crude oil prices amid the ease of the safe-haven greenback and US bond yields.

Manufacturing PMI up to 49.9 in March

KUALA LUMPUR: The headline IHS Markit Malaysia Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), a composite single-figure indicator of manufacturing performance, rose to 49.9 in March from 47.7 in February.

IHS Markit Malaysia’s March manufacturing PMI rises to 49.9

KUALA LUMPUR: The headline IHS Markit Malaysia Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) – a composite single-figure indicator of manufacturing performance – rose to 49.9 in March from 47.7 in February.

India’s steady recovery thrown in doubt

Spike in virus cases, localised lockdowns could hit demand