HONG KONG -- Asian factories expanded faster in February but are facing increasing cost pressures, as weaker local currencies against the U.S. dollar push up the prices of materials in some countries, the latest Nikkei Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index showed.
Nine of 11 Asian economies surveyed by Nikkei -- not including mainland China -- saw expansion in manufacturing activities in February, supported by solid domestic demand in Southeast Asian countries and better-than-expected growth momentum in India. Only Malaysia and Singapore's figures failed to pick up.
