Asian Stocks Rally as AI Optimism Fuels Chipmaker Surge 
Asian Currencies Rise as Yen Surges on Fed Rate Outlook 
Iran Vows Tougher Response as U.S. Sanctions Squeeze Economy 
ECB Set for September Rate Hike as Energy Prices Fuel Inflation 
Iran’s Hormuz Oil Pressure Fades as Gulf Crude Flows Continue 
Hungary Industrial Output Beats Forecasts With 4.7% July Growth 
Gold Holds Near $4,400 as Fed Hike Bets Rise 
Japan Foreign Reserves Plunge $79.6 Billion After Record Yen Intervention 
Hong Kong Eyes Offshore Yuan Expansion, Deeper China Market Links 
OPEC+ Expected to Hold October Oil Output Steady 
Asian Stocks Rally as Fed Rate Hike Fears Ease 
Chinese AI Stocks Rally After OpenAI Launches GPT-6 Astra 
Turkey Targets 5% Economic Growth by 2029 
China to Inject $45 Billion Into State Financial Institutions 
Singapore Straits Times Index Hits Record High as Banks, Property Stocks Rally 
Japan, US Target AI and Chips in $550 Billion Investment Push 
US Stock Futures Mixed as Strong Jobs Data Boosts Fed Rate Hike Bets 
Add as a preferred source on Google
China’s manufacturing sector continued to expand in May 2026, with private survey data indicating stronger-than-expected growth driven by resilient domestic consumption and steady export demand. The latest RatingDog Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) climbed to 51.8 in May, surpassing market forecasts of 51.4 and signaling ongoing expansion in the world’s second-largest economy.
Although the reading eased slightly from April’s 52.2, it remained above the critical 50-point threshold that separates growth from contraction. The result also marked the sixth consecutive month of expansion in China’s manufacturing industry, highlighting the sector’s continued recovery despite global economic uncertainties.
According to the survey, new orders increased during May, supported by healthy demand from both domestic and overseas markets. While export growth softened marginally compared with the previous month, international demand remained strong enough to contribute positively to overall factory activity.
Manufacturers also continued to face elevated production costs. Input prices stayed relatively high, largely due to ongoing energy-related pressures linked to conflict in the Middle East. Rising costs for raw materials and energy remained a challenge for businesses, even as demand conditions improved.
The private-sector PMI data contrasted with China’s official manufacturing PMI report released a day earlier. Government figures showed factory activity only narrowly remaining in expansion territory during May, suggesting a more modest pace of growth.
Differences between the two surveys stem largely from the companies included in each report. The official PMI primarily focuses on larger state-owned manufacturers, particularly in northern China, while the RatingDog survey tracks smaller and privately owned firms, many of which are located in the country’s southern manufacturing hubs.
Economists and investors typically analyze both PMI reports together to gain a broader view of China’s economic performance. The stronger-than-expected RatingDog reading suggests that private manufacturers continue to benefit from solid demand, offering a positive signal for the outlook of China’s manufacturing sector and overall economic growth in 2026.
