THE National Bureau of Statistics and China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing said that the Purchasing Managers' Index was at 50.6, revealing that China 's manufacturing expanded at a weaker pace in April, and thus, the slowdown in the world's second-largest economy has extended into the second quarter.

A private survey of China manufacturing by HSBC Holdings Plc and Markit Economics had a preliminary reading of 50.5 for April, down from the final level of 51.6 for March, a report showed last month. The final figure will be released tomorrow. Signs of slowing expansion are spreading across Asia.Japanese and South Korean industrial output was less than estimates in March and Taiwan 's first-quarter growth was half the forecast pace as weakness in global demand limits recoveries in Asian economies.

A gauge of new orders in China manufacturing fell to 51.7 from 52.3 in March, while an index of new export orders dropped to 48.6 from 50.9 and the reading on inventories of finished goods declined to 47.7 from 50.2, according to today's data, based on a survey of businesses. Chinese stocks fell to a four-month low before the three day Labor Day holiday that ends today on concern that a slowdown will drag on earnings. Growth risks include weakness in export demand, property-market overheating, a surge in so-called shadow banking and the damping of consumption by President Xi Jinping's campaign to rein in official spending.

The world's second biggest economy expanded 7.7 percent in the first quarter, less than analysts' forecasts and below the 7.9 percent pace in the final three months of last year. Growth in industrial companies' profits slowed in March, an April 27 report showed. The fourth quarter's growth rebound “was an old fashioned one led by fast implementation of fiscal programs and accelerated investment. Now the momentum has petered off as shown by recent slowing investment growth.