Global manufacturing growth slowed to a near stall last month, suggesting expansion so far in 2013 has been only marginal at best, a business survey showed.

The JPMorgan Global Manufacturing PMI fell to 50.5 in April from 51.1 in March, holding above the 50 mark that signals growth for a fourth month.

Japan, South Korea, Indonesia and Vietnam were the only countries to report a faster improvement in operating conditions during April, JPMorgan said.

Over the past two days, manufacturing indexes for the United States, euro zone, including powerhouse Germany, and China have all declined. Britain's improved, but was still signalling a contraction in activity.

The global index combines survey data from economies including the United States, Japan, Germany, France, Britain, China and Russia.