China39;s private PMI expands in January
Manufacturing activity expands in South Korea
Activity shrinks in Japan on auto output suspension
IMF revised up Asia39;s 2023 forecast but warns of divergence

TOKYO, Feb 1 Reuters Asia39;s factories delivered a largely patchy performance in January, surveys showed on Thursday, as soft Chinese demand left the region39;s economies on a shaky footing at the start of 2024.

China39;s privatesector CaixinSP Global manufacturing purchasing managers39; index PMI stayed at 50.8 in January, unchanged from December and exceeding the 50point mark that separates growth from contraction.

The reading contrasted with an official survey that showed manufacturing activity contracted for the fourth straight month. Deflationary pressures were also a lingering blight in the world39;s secondlargest economy, suggesting underlying weakness in demand.

Taken together, they point to a stillunderperforming economy and back market expectations for more policy support measures this year.

The picture was patchy for Asian economies with some bearing the brunt of soft Chinese demand better than others.

South Korea39;s factory activity expanded in January for the first time in 19 months on improved demand for goods in key markets such as the United States and China.

But activity shrank in Taiwan and Malaysia, and expanded at a slower pace in the Philippines, the surveys showed.

For countries like South Korea, the hit from weak Chinese demand was…