First expansion in 9 months

CHINA'S Purchasing Managers' Index has suggested the first expansion in the country's manufacturing sector in nine months.

The PMI rose for the fourth straight month last month to 52.4 percent, up 3.4 percentage points from February, the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing said yesterday.

It was the first time the PMI rebounded above 50 percent since July, when the index fell to 48.4 percent. A reading of above 50 suggests expansion, while one below 50 indicates contraction.

The PMI includes a package of indices that measure economic performance. The survey, jointly conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics, covers purchasing and supply managers of more than 700 manufacturers across China.