China’s private manufacturing gauge eased slightly in June as factory production softened, while a rival index pointed to improving conditions, leaving a mixed picture for the sector.
China’s manufacturing activity expanded at a slightly slower pace in June, with the private RatingDog general manufacturing purchasing managers index edging down to 51.7 from 51.8 in May. The reading remained in expansion territory, but softer factory production weighed on the result. The outcome contrasted with a competing index that showed a pickup in manufacturing conditions, underscoring mixed signals about the sector’s near-term momentum at the end of the second quarter.