China factory activity tops expectations in April — but growth slows as new orders soften

Workers producing garments at a textile factory that supplies clothes to fast fashion e-commerce company Shein in Guangzhou in southern China's Guangdong province. Jade Gao | Afp | Getty Images China's factory activity topped analysts' expectations, although growth slowed from the prior month when it hit a year-high, as new orders saw a slowdown. The official manufacturing purchasing managers' index reading of 50.3 was higher than the the 50.1 expected by Reuters-polled economists. …