Asian shares came under pressure on Thursday as a disappointing survey on Chinese manufacturing stoked concerns about the regional giant and overshadowed better news from Japan. The HSBC/Markit Flash China Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) fell to 50.3 in August from July's 18-month high of 51.7, badly missing a Reuters forecast of 51.5. Investors reacted by selling the Australian dollar AUD=D4, often a used as a liquid proxy for bets on China, while shares in Shanghai dropped 0.5 percent .SSEC. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS skidded 0.6 percent, with indices in ... (full story)