Asia factory output rises as firms stockpile buffers

TOKYO — Asia’s factory activity expanded steadily in May on stockpiling by some companies to get ahead of supply shocks from the Middle East conflict, private surveys showed on Monday, a sign that the war’s economic fallout was broadening across the region. The surveys came after the heads of the International Energy Agency, International Monetary Fund, World Bank and World Trade Organization warned the war in the Middle East was straining global energy supplies and hitting vul