BEIJING — China’s factory activity expanded in September as domestic and export orders picked up but the improvement was marginal and manufacturers continued to shed jobs, a private business survey showed on Friday.The Caixin/Markit manufacturing purchasing managers index (PMI) rose to 50.1, in line with analysts’ forecasts and slightly higher than August’s no-change mark of 50, which separates expansion of activity from contraction on a monthly basis.The reading has bounced around the neutral 50 level for the best part of five years, pointing to stubbornly sluggish demand.Output expanded in September, but at the slowest pace in three months, the survey showed.Overall new orders also continued to show modest growth, with new orders edging into expansionary territory after nine months of contraction.Despite easing to its slowest for nine months, the rate of job shedding remained marked overall.About 8% of companies surveyed reported lower headcounts, with a number of firms attributin...
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