China's all-important manufacturing sector remained in the doldrums during the month of September, according to two separate reports on Thursday.
The government's official gauge of factory activity improved with the manufacturing PMI rising to 49.8, up from August's three-year low of 49.7 but still marking two straight months of decline.
Meanwhile, a private survey by Caixin/Markit revealed PMI fell to a fresh six-and-a-half year low of 47.2, ticking down from August's reading of 47.3 but still better than an earlier flash estimate of 47. In other surveys released on Thursday, the official services PMI for September came in at 53.4, unchanged from August, while Caixin's final report showed the services index slumping to a 14-month low of 50.5.
After the data Aussie was pushed higher and is currently being traded around 0.7060 area. Pair is likely to find support around 0.70 handle and resistance above 0.71 level. Later today, in the US session,
Unemployment Claims and Manufacturing PMI figures are scheduled for a release.