China’s official gauge for manufacturing activity climbed more than expected in March to mark its best performance in a year and snapping two months of declines, as export orders showed strong momentum. The Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index for March rose to 50.4, according to the National Bureau of Statistics on Tuesday, beating economists’ expectations for 50.1 in a Reuters poll. A reading below 50 indicates contraction, while levels above that threshold signal expansion. That expansion marked a notable rebound after two months of contraction, with the official figure standing at 49.3 and 49.0 in January and ... (full story)