China’s Caixin manufacturing PMI, an index more focused on smaller export-oriented firms, rose in June to 51.2 from 50.7, a release Wednesday showed.

The signs of a turnaround follow another report from China earlier this week that showed an official gauge for China’s factory activity rose in June to 50.9 from 50.6 a month earlier. The non-manufacturing measure increased to 54.4.

Financial markets rallied in the second quarter, buoyed by optimism that re-openings globally would damp soaring unemployment and reinvigorate consumption. However, setbacks in controlling virus outbreaks in many countries, including the U.S., have curbed sentiment. Bloomberg Economics now expects a 4.7% contraction in the global economy this year, down from a previous estimate of a 4% contraction.

What Bloomberg’s Economists Say

“Asia’s June manufacturing purchasing managers’ indexes indicated most economies are recovering, though at varying speeds. China’s official PMI showed that the recovery accelerated, supported by external demand. Some economies such as Australia experienced an initial strong rebound as lockdowns were relaxed. Some others — notably Japan — remained deep in contraction.”

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Chang Shu, Chief Asia Economist

Analysis by Oxford Economics found that regional exports are headed for their worst outcome in years, even as the easing of lockdowns paves the way for a gradual recovery.

“The easing in global restrictions and improving Chinese demand are encouraging, but we expect regional exports to remain under pressure in the short-term, given the ongoing global recession,” Sian Fenner, an economist at Oxford Economics, wrote in a note before the PMI data.

In South Korea, a bellwether for global trade, exports continued to contract in June, but at a slower pace than in previous months. Shipments fell 10.9% from a year ago, an improvement from the 23.6% slump in May.

“Given the cyclical nature of South Korea’s export-oriented economy, it appears the chances of a slow recovery from the Covid-19 economic shock are rising,” said Joe Hayes, an economist at IHS Markit. “Without a sustained pickup in demand, manufacturing output levels will likely remain subdued.”