March manufacturing activity drops again to 11-month low

China's manufacturing activity in March fell again to 11-month low at 49.2, according to HSBC's preliminary purchasing managers' index (PMI) released on Tuesday.

The HSBC flash manufacturing PMI for March dropped below the 50-point level that separates growth in activity from a contraction on a monthly basis, compared with a reading of 50.7 in February, HSBC said in the report.

A reading above 50 indicates expansion, while a reading below that represents contraction.