SINGAPORE'S APRIL FACTORY OUTPUT UP 3%, HURT BY PHARMACEUTICALS

Singapore's factory output grew just 3 percent in April from a year ago, far less than the 15 percent growth forecast. But analysts say it was more to do with a swing in the notoriously volatile biomedical sector than fundamentals. Big drugs companies like GlaxoSmithKline, Merck and Pfizer sometimes change product lines or close for cleaning, and this makes monthly output unpredictable.

Channel NewsAsia (http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporebusinessnews/view/210524/1/.html)