China HSBC Final PMI for December at 49.6, up slightly from 49.5 preliminary reading, but down from 50.0 in November

The preliminary reading from HSBC/ Markit indicated a contraction in activity in December for the first time in seven months.. The data come as China's economic growth is slowing, with the central bank this month forecasting a 7.1 percent pace next year, down from expectations for around 7.4 percent this year. China's official PMI reading, which focuses more on...