CHINA will hold a ceremony on Nov 2 to welcome Oman's Sultan Haitham, who is on a state visit to China from Nov 1-2.

RatingDog's China manufacturing PMI was 52.0 in October, the 11th consecutive month in expansion. Output growth accelerated sharply, the fastest since April, while new orders expanded at a pace roughly unchanged from September, extending the expansion cycle toward 18 months. New export orders expanded for a fourth month but slowed to a three-month low. Input-price inflation eased versus September and fell below the year-to-date average; factory-gate prices fell again, the second decline in three months, amid intensified competition. Overall, manufacturing entered Q4 with steady expansion and strong output and order momentum, though renewed price cuts and weaker business confidence are risk factors to monitor.

Bank of Japan says underlying inflation has accelerated to about 2% and has gradually become entrenched around that level in recent years.