Manufacturing PMI unexpectedly falls
Nonmanufacturing PMI falls, as services and construction slow
Metals prices and offshore yuan drop on PMI weakness
Weak global economy, property crisis threaten growth analysts

BEIJING, Oct 31 Reuters China39;s manufacturing activity unexpectedly contracted in October, underlining the daunting task facing policymakers as they try to revitalise economic growth heading into the end of the year and 2024 amid multiple challenges at home and abroad.

Recent indicators pointed to encouraging signs of stabilising in the world39;s secondlargest economy, supported by a flurry of policy support measures, although a protracted property crisis and soft global demand remain major headwinds.

The official purchasing managers39; index PMI fell to 49.5 in October from 50.2, dipping back below the 50point level demarcating contraction from expansion, data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed on Tuesday. It missed a forecast of 50.2 and was worse than the most pessimistic prediction of 49.9 by Standard Chartered in a Reuters poll.

The nonmanufacturing PMI also fell to 50.6 last from 51.7 in September, indicating a slowdown in activity in the vast service sector and construction.

The weak PMI data may reflect some of the weakness in demand related to the housing slump and a slowdown in infrastructure spending, said Xu Tianchen, senior economist at the Economist Intelligence Unit.

Although there are signs of exports bottoming out, a…