FINWIRES · TerminalLIVE
FINWIRES

China Service Sector Expands Faster in April, RatingDog Says

By

China's service sector expanded faster in April as the country's service companies saw heightened activity and new business.

The RatingDog China General Services Business Activity Index accelerated to 52.6 in April from 52.1 in March, according to data released Wednesday.

The faster expansion came as new business grew, with new orders increasing for the 40th straight month, according to RatingDog.

Outstanding workloads also grew during the month, while average input prices also increased in line with rising fuel prices.

Service demand was strongest in the domestic markets, with new export business falling for the second straight month.

The Composite Output Index also grew to 53.1 in April from 51.5 in March, the second-fastest since May 2024, according to RatingDog.

Related Articles

Asia

Smartgroup Welcomes Australian Government Decision to Maintain Electric Car Discount for a Year, Shares Reach Two-Year Peak

Smartgroup (ASX:SIQ) welcomes a decision by the Australian government to maintain the electric car discount for another year, according to a Tuesday statement.It noted that the policy provides certainty for the charging industry, supporting further investment in Australia's charging infrastructure and helping build the network needed for broader electric vehicle adoption.Its shares jumped 7% in recent trading, reaching a two-year peak.

ASX:SIQ
Asia

Market Chatter: Qantas CEO Becoming 'More Optimistic' on Fuel Supply

Qantas Airways (ASX:QAN) Chief Executive Vanessa Hudson said the company is becoming "more optimistic" on fuel supply, Bloomberg News reported Tuesday.Speaking at the Macquarie Australia Conference, Hudson said the company has fuel commitments up to the middle of June, per the report.Hudson noted that the airline registered strong demand for domestic and international air travel despite high fuel prices.(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)

ASX:QAN
Asia

Sigma Healthcare Says Chemist Warehouse Brand to Enter UK Under Agreement With Pharmacy Group; Shares Rise 4%

Sigma Healthcare (ASX:SIG) said Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding with Greenlight Healthcare, under which the Chemist Warehouse brand will enter the UK market.The company said in a statement that it will acquire a 75% interest in a number of stores of the employee-owned pharmacy group, with 25% continuing to be held by GreenLight.Sigma will license the Chemist Warehouse brand and intellectual property, and provide retail support, while GreenLight will provide the dispensary and professional services requirements as well as back office support.The first phase of the joint venture will focus on rebranding and developing up to five stores initially, with the first site to be in Hoxton Street, northeast of the city of London. If the first phase proves to be successful, more stores could be developed in the second phase. The parties plan to identify existing GreenLight pharmacies and where appropriate develop or relocate these into Chemist Warehouse stores.Sigma Healthcare's shares rose nearly 4% in recent trading on Tuesday.

ASX:SIG