China's Oct export growth 5-mth high, trade surplus swells

BEIJING (REUTERS) - China's trade surplus ballooned to its biggest in 45 months in October as export growth darted to a five-month high above 11 percent, surpassing expectations and adding to other data that suggest a less urgent need for new economic stimulus measures.

The figures provided further signs for the country's top policymakers meeting in Beijing to anoint new leaders for the coming decade that a long slide in economic growth may be over.

Still, the trade figures do not point to a swift recovery either.

Analysts said exports may have been amplified by a weak year-earlier month and one-off orders from customers for Christmas.