MNI 5 THINGS: China August PMI Extends Rebound; Service PMI Up

     BEIJING (MNI) - Here are five key findings in China's official Purchasing

Managers Index (PMI):

     - PMI rose in August to 51.3 from 51.2 in July, stronger than MNI's

forecast of 51.0. The manufacturing gauge had for almost two years remained

above 50, which divides expansion and contraction. 

     - Production index was 53.3, picking up from 53.0 in July, reflecting a

steady expansion of the production, Zhao Qinghe, senior statistician at the

National Bureau of Statistics, said in a statement.

     - New orders index dropped by 0.1 percentage point from July to 52.2, the

lowest in six months. New exports order index continued to contract from last

month to 49.4, likely a result of the trade conflicts with the U.S.

     - Imports index fell to a contraction of 49.1 in August from 49.6 in the

previous month, the second time the index dropped into the contraction territory

in six months. A gradual impact of the trade spat needs to be closely watched,

said Zhang Liqun, senior economist of the stats bureau.

     - Services PMI increased to 54.2 in August from 54.0 in July. At above

54.0, it showed services is holding up against slowing growth and trade. The

expectations index, in line with the pace, rose to 61.4 from 60.2 last month,

offsetting losses made in previous three months.

--MNI Beijing Bureau; tel: +86 (10) 8532-5998; email: flora.guo@marketnews.com

--MNI Beijing Bureau; +86 10 8532 5998; email: william.bi@mni-news.com

[TOPICS: MDQCB$,M$A$$$,M$Q$$$,MT$$$$]