A private survey on China’s manufacturing activity will be released on Friday at 9.45 a.m. SIN/HK as market watchers keep their eyes on the world’s second-largest economy ahead of a key leadership meeting in October.

The Caixin/Markit manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index was expected to dip slightly to 50.9 in August from 51.1 in July, according to a Reuters poll.

A reading above 50 indicates expansion, while a reading below that signals contraction.

China reported Thursday that its official manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index for the month of August came in above expectations at 51.7 due to strong production and domestic demand.

Compared with the official PMI, the Caixin/Markit survey tends to focus more on small- and mid-sized manufacturers.

China’s manufacturing sector has been posting solid growth thanks to domestic infrastructure spending and a recovery in exports. That has mitigated some concerns about slowing growth and high debt levels that could derail the world’s second-largest economy.

Source: cnbc china
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