Asia markets mixed as China’s factory activity slows

November 3, 2025 (MLN): Asia markets opened the week on a mixed note Monday, as investors digested fresh manufacturing data from China following a positive session on Wall Street last Friday.

China’s latest manufacturing data pointed to signs of slowing momentum. The private RatingDog Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for October slipped to 50.6, missing Reuters’ forecast of 50.9 and falling from 51.2 in September.

Meanwhile, the official PMI released by the National Bureau of Statistics on Friday showed a sharper contraction, declining to 49.0, the lowest level in six months.

Regional markets reacted cautiously to the data. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index rose 0.58%, while China’s CSI 300 index fell 0.45%. South Korea’s Kospi led gains across Asia with a strong 2.13% increase, touching a new intraday high, and the Kosdaq climbed 1.18%.

In South Asia, India’s Nifty 50 inched up 0.11%, whereas the Sensex slipped 0.34%. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 was little changed, as investors awaited the outcome of the Reserve Bank of Australia’s two-day policy meeting starting today.

Economists widely expect the RBA to keep rates on hold, despite hotter-than-expected third-quarter inflation figures.

Overnight in the U.S., all three major indexes finished higher, buoyed by tech stocks. The Nasdaq Composite climbed 0.61% to close at 23,724.96, while the S&P 500 added 0.26% to 6,840.20. The Dow Jones Industrial Average edged up slightly to 47,562.87.

With investors monitoring China’s manufacturing outlook and the Reserve Bank of Australia’s upcoming decision, regional markets are expected to remain volatile in the near term.

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