On Monday, S&P\'s Chinese manufacturing purchasing managers index for January slipped to 50.1 from December\'s 50.5 figure. Economists were forecasting the January index steady at 50.5. Today\'s 50.1 reading was a four month low, but just above the demarcation 50.0 figure marking growth and contraction.

<div class=\"default-font-wrapper\" style=\"line-height: 1;font-size: 12pt; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif;\">On Monday, S&P\'s Chinese manufacturing purchasing managers index for January slipped to 50.1 from December\'s 50.5 figure.  Economists were forecasting the January index steady at 50.5.  Today\'s 50.1 reading was a four month low, but just above the demarcation 50.0 figure marking growth and contraction.</div>