Preliminary PMI shows manufacturing activity flat in November

Chinese factory activity neither grew nor shrank this month, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing the preliminary purchasing managers index figure released on Thursday by HSBC and data provider Markit. The HSBC China Manufacturing PMI fell to 50.0 in November, compared with a final reading of 50.4 in October, with new export orders and employment also weakening — although new orders overall showed some improvement. A PMI reading above 50 indicates expansion from the previous month, while a reading below 50 indicates contraction.