The latest Caixin China Composite PMI data (which covers both manufacturing and services) showed that Chinese business activity expanded modestly at the end of the third quarter. At 52.1 in September, the Composite Output Index was little-changed from August's reading of 52.0, to signal that the rate of activity growth remained lacklustre compared to that seen earlier in 2018.

Latest data indicated that an improved service sector performance was broadly offset by softer manufacturing growth. Notably, the seasonally adjusted Caixin China General Services Business Activity Index picked up from 51.5 in August to 53.1, to signal the strongest increase in activity for three months. In contrast, manufacturing production rose at a marginal pace that was the weakest since October 2017