China's manufacturing eases in December

Manufacturing activity in the world's second largest economy slowed down in the last month of 2013 suggesting that the economic growth in the country eased in the last three months in the past year, a report published by the HSBC and Markit Economics showed on Thursday. The HSBC/Markit manufacturing sector purchasing managers' index slid from November's 50.8 to 50.5 in the following month.