Industrial sector bucks trend in April

Industrial sector profits posted their first annual rise in China since September, in a sign that margin pressures may be easing at some firms, particularly in the price-sensitive energy sector.

Industrial sector profits in April rose 2.6 percent from a year earlier, the National Bureau of Statistics said on Wednesday, but were down 1.3 percent for the year to date, reflecting the extreme weakness of growth in the first quarter.

The statistics bureau said recent interest rates and fee cuts were boosting industrial profits. Analysts have been watching closely for any signs of a turnaround in the industrial sector.