BEIJING, China - China reported stronger April trade but analysts said export data were inflated and its shaky recovery might be weaker than it looks. Exports rose 14.7 per cent over a year earlier, up from March's 10 per cent growth, customs data showed Wednesday. Imports gained 16.8 per cent, up from the previous month's 14.1 per cent. That suggested the world's second-largest economy might be improving after an unexpected decline in growth to 7.7 per cent in the first three months of the year from the previous quarter's 7.9 per cent.

Canada's trade balance turned surprisingly positive in March as a prolonged rise in exports outpaced a spike in imports, a government agency said Thursday. The country's trade balance went from a revised deficit of Can$1.2 billion (US$1.2 billion) in February to a surplus of Can$24 million in March, Statistics Canada said. Analysts had predicted a Can$700 million deficit. Exports, which have been on an upward trend since July 2012, grew to Can$40.5 billion in March.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. trade deficit narrowed in March for a second month as the daily flow of imported crude oil dropped to the lowest level in 17 years. The deficit with China hit a three-year low. The overall trade deficit decreased to $38.8 billion, an 11 per cent drop from February's $43.6 billion, the Commerce Department reported Thursday.

BEIJING, China - An industry group says manufacturing growth in China slipped in April as exports continued to decline, raising questions about the strength of recovery in the world's second-biggest economy. The China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing said Wednesday that its purchasing managers' index for April declined to 50.6 points from 50.9 points in March. Numbers above 50 indicate an expansion, on a 100-point scale. Federation economist Zhang Lijun said export orders, prices and other indicators have been declining steadily.