The manufacturing sector in China continued to expand in November, although at a slower rate, the latest survey from Caixin showed on Thursday with a PMI score of 50.9.
That was just shy of forecasts for 51.0, and down from 51.2 - although it remains above the boom-or-bust line of 50 that separates expansion from contraction.
Individually, companies reported a softer expansion of total new orders, while new export work was broadly stable after a slight fall in October.
Meanwhile, cost-cutting initiatives underpinned a further fall in staff numbers.
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