Manufacturing sector conditions in China improved at the end of the third quarter, according to latest PMI® data. Rising new orders, including new export orders, drove faster production growth in September. As a result, companies raised their purchasing activity at a solid pace, which led to a further accumulation of inventories. Meanwhile, the rate of job shedding eased as pressure on capacity continued to build, while overall business confidence improved. Turning to prices, cost pressures intensified for manufacturers in September, but firms opted to cut their selling prices amid intense competition. The headline ... (full story)