BEIJING (Reuters) - China’s factory activity unexpectedly returned to growth in May as strict measures to contain the coronavirus outbreak were eased, but the improvement was marginal as export orders continued to shrink, a private business survey showed on Monday.

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan’s factory activity shrank at the fastest pace since March 2009 in May, a private sector survey showed on Monday, as manufacturers widely struggled with the demand blow from the coronavirus pandemic.

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - The dollar slipped on Monday as investors looked past unrest in the United States to the global economic recovery from the coronavirus and hoped for an easing in Sino-U.S. tensions.

SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea’s manufacturing activity shrank at the sharpest pace in more than a decade in May, as worldwide lockdowns continued to weigh on demand and production, dashing hopes of a near-term recovery from the coronavirus crisis.

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Asian share markets started on a cautious note and gold gained on Monday as images of riots in burning U.S. cities unnerved investors already tense over Washington’s power struggle with Beijing.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices fell due to concerns about riots in major U.S. cities that could staunch demand after trading higher on optimism that OPEC would extend or enhance production cuts at a meeting in June.