In a sign the Chinese - and global - economies may be warming up, Chinese exports were up by 7.2% in July, compared to a year earlier.

Economists polled by Reuters and Bloomberg had expected a slight fall in exports. Meanwhile, Chinese imports in July fell by 1.4% on a year earlier.
In February, Chinese exports fell by more than 20% - the sharpest decline for three years.

But, since factories reopened and lockdowns ended, the figure has improved steadily.