China's manufacturing PMI at 49.4 in August

China's manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) was 49.4 in August, up 0.1 points from the previous month, data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed on Sunday. 

The sub-index for production stood at 50.8, up from 50.5 and remaining within the expansion zone for the fourth consecutive month. 

"This shows that manufacturing production has picked up pace," said Zhao Qinghe, a senior statistician with the NBS.

On the demand side, the sub-index for new orders came in at 49.5, up from 49.4 in the previous month.

Large enterprises continued their stable expansion. Their PMI reached 50.8, up 0.5 points, with both supply and demand expanding briskly and effectively underpinning the manufacturing sector. 

The manufacturing business-expectation index rose to 53.7 in August, up 1.1 points, indicating that overall market expectations are rising and confidence is improving. 

The composite PMI output index was 50.5 in August, up 0.3 points from July and remaining in expansion territory, showing that China's overall business activity is accelerating. 

The manufacturing production index and the non-manufacturing business-activity index that make up the composite PMI were 50.8 and 50.3 respectively.