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Weak Chinese exports fuel growth fears
CHINA risks a fresh downturn in demand for goods from its massive factory sector, with official data yesterday showing weaker than expected exports and stalling headline import growth last month signaling that government spending is the crucial factor keeping the economy moving.
Annual growth in imports in April was just 0.3 per cent, far below forecasts of an 11 per cent increase, while exports managed growth of just 4.9 per cent versus expectations of 8.5 per cent.
Shipments to emerging economies experienced a drop alongside well-flagged European weakness.