China's manufacturing PMI rises to 49.2 in November

China's manufacturing activity improved slightly in November, with the official purchasing managers' index (PMI) rising to 49.2, up 0.2 points from October, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics on Sunday.

The production index reached 50, while the new orders index rose to 49.2, indicating a mild pickup in market demand. High-tech manufacturing remained a bright spot, posting a PMI of 50.1 and continuing steady expansion.

By enterprise size, small firms saw the biggest rebound, climbing to 49.1, while medium-sized enterprises rose to 48.9. Large companies registered 49.3, slightly lower than last month.

Despite remaining below the 50-point threshold, the sector showed signs of stabilization, according to Huo Lihui, chief statistician of the Service Industry Survey Center at NBS. The business outlook index reached 53.1, suggesting that manufacturers are becoming more confident about future production and market conditions.

(Cover via VCG)