China's manufacturing activity weaker than expected in April; HSBC/Markit Purchasing Managers' Index came in at 48.1, lower than preliminary reading of 48.3 and below 50 level dividing growth and contraction

Cindy Allen

BEIJING , May 5, 2014 (Thomson Reuters Corp.) – China shares ended mixed on Monday, with weak manufacturing activity weighing on sentiment in a session that saw weakness in property while rail infrastructure shares gained.

The Shanghai Composite Index ended up 0.1 percent at 2,027.35 points. The CSI300 of the leading Shanghai and Shenzhen A-share listings lost 0.1 percent.

The HSBC/Markit purchasing managers' index (PMI) for April came in at 48.1 on Monday, lower than a preliminary reading of 48.3, though up slightly from an eight-month low of 48.0 in March.

The results dragged the indexes deeper into negative territory at midday, before they clawed back some ground in the afternoon.

Property stocks were down after private comments made by a top executive from the mainland's largest listed developer showing scant optimism for the health of the sector were leaked to the press over the holiday weekend.

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