HSBC China flash PMI climbed to an 18-month high of 52 in July, from 50.7 the previous month. This beat expectations for a rise to 51. New orders and export orders climbed at a faster rate. “Economic activity continues to improve in July, suggesting that the cumulative impact of mini-stimulus measures introduced earlier is still filtering through,” Hongbin Qu, HSBC China economist said in a press release.