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China's industrial sector posted its weakest profit growth of 2026 in August, expanding just 4.2% year-over-year, signaling continued economic headwinds and fierce competition across key manufacturing industries. Economists expect Beijing to intensify stimulus efforts to stabilize corporate profitability as consolidation accelerates in sectors facing sluggish demand, underscoring mounting pressure on the world's second-largest economy to sustain growth momentum heading into the final quarter.