Japan39;s May factory activity expands, 1st time in a year
South Korea39;s activity expands at fastest pace in 2 years
Private China PMI rises at fastest pace in about 2 years
China39;s strong PMI contrasts with weak official reading

TOKYO, June 3 Reuters Asian factory activity expanded in May as manufacturers benefited from broadening global demand, private surveys showed on Monday, adding to hopes for sustained economic recovery in the region where China is showing early signs of a rebound.

Manufacturing activity expanded in Japan for the first time in a year and in South Korea at the fastest pace in two years, due in part to pickups in the automobile and semiconductor sectors, the surveys showed.

China39;s private Caixin survey also showed factory activity rising at the fastest pace in about two years in May on strong production and new orders, offering hope of a broadbased recovery in Asia and other parts of the world.

The robust readings point to recovery in the manufacturing sector underpinning Asian growth and cushioning the blow from any market volatility caused by uncertainty over U.S. monetary policy.

Some analysts, however, are cautious about the outlook.

The improvement in factory activity may be driven by hopes that China39;s production will increase ahead. But the problem is that demand in the country isn39;t improving much, said Toru Nishihama, chief emerging market economist at Japan39;s Daiichi Life Research Institute.

It39;s too early to…