China’s manufacturing activity contracted for a third straight month in June, an official survey showed on Monday, fueling hopes for more stimulus to cushion the impact of ongoing trade disruptions. The official purchasing managers’ index (PMI) improved slightly to 49.7 in June from 49.5 in May but stayed below the 50-benchmark separating expansion from contraction. That figure was in line with analysts’ forecast of 49.7 in a Reuters poll. The non-manufacturing PMI, which includes services and construction, rose to 50.5 from 50.3 in May. Chinese manufacturers have been grappling with a deepening price war amid a ... (full story)