KUALA LUMPUR (May 4): The Malaysian manufacturing sector came under heavy pressure during April as measures implemented to tackle the spread of Covid-19 caused firms to either suspend production or operate well below full capacity.

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - The dollar inched higher, stock markets struggled for traction and oil fell on Monday as a U.S.-China spat over the origin of the coronavirus put the brakes on optimism about an economic re-start as countries around the world ease restrictions.

Stocks in Asia Pacific traded lower on Monday morning, with major markets regionally closed for holidays.

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Oil prices fell in early trade on Monday, paring last week’s gains, on worries the global oil glut may persist as U.S.-China trade tension could hold back an economic recovery even as coronavirus pandemic lockdowns start to ease.

BEIJING, April 30 (Reuters) - China’s factory activity unexpectedly shrank in April, a private-sector survey showed on Thursday, as the coronavirus pandemic shattered global demand, causing a substantial drop in export orders and more layoffs.

Short supply of rain guard gear in plantations has cast a shadow over the prospects of natural rubber (NR) production, amidst a spate of summer showers in south India. Along with the lockdown woes and pandemic worries, this crucial handicap may do its share in whittling down Rubber Board’s NR production for next year by at least 10%.