Grounds for more hope that the global economy can avoid a major slump may emerge in the coming week in business surveys showing gradual improvement across much of the advanced world. Purchasing manager indexes for both the US and the euro zone are anticipated by economists to tick higher. While several gauges will still suggest contraction, the upward direction of travel could add to a growing narrative that a soft landing is achievable. At the same time, the full effects of concerted policy tightening by central banks have yet to be felt. Global PMI Activity Bolstering such prospects are China’s reopening after ... (full story)