Manufacturing PMI posts first increase since November New export orders PMI recovers after seasonal soft patch A gauge of activity at China’s manufacturers posted its first gain since November, as factories recovered from a seasonal dip at the start of the year and export demand shrugged off threats of a trade war. The manufacturing purchasing managers index rose to 51.5 in March versus the 50.6 estimate in Bloomberg’s survey and 50.3 last month. The non-manufacturing PMI, covering services and construction, stood at 54.6, the statistics bureau said Saturday, compared with 54.4 in February. Levels above 50 indicate improvement. Industrial activity is helping the world’s biggest exporter power through the uncertainty from President Donald Trump announcing fresh tariffs on $50 billion of Chinese imports and Beijing’s own retaliation against levies on metals. Overseas shipments surged in February on strong demand amid a synchronized global expansion. The world is still waiting […]