China’s factory activity expanded in December as strong export demand fuelled a recovery in the world’s second-largest economy from the year’s coronavirus slump, although higher labour and transport costs slowed the pace of growth. The official manufacturing Purchasing Manager’s Index (PMI) fell to 51.9 in December from 52.1 in November, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed on Thursday. The index remained above the 50-point mark that separates growth from contraction but was slightly below the 52.0 level predicted in a Reuters’ poll of analysts. China’s vast in...