Asian shares tumble as weak China PMI revives demand concerns

Asian equities stumbled on Friday after a survey showed China's manufacturing activity crumbled to 15-month lows, rekindling concerns for the region's exports as the world's second-largest economy struggles to arrest a broad downturn. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS was down about 1 per cent in early trading, on course for a weekly loss of more than 2 per cent - one of the biggest slides this year. Japan's Nikkei stock index .N225 dipped about 0.7 per cent. The dollar was steady on the day at 123.90 yen JPY=. The euro was broadly flat on the day at $1.09805 EUR=, according to Reuters.