The Caixin services PMI index, which.....>

CHINA DATA: The Caixin services PMI index, which gauges the activities of

China's smaller services companies, dropped to 51.1 in Feb from 53.6 in Jan,

hitting a four-month low, said survey publishers Caixin.

--The new orders sub-index decelerated to the lowest level since Nov last year.

Many companies surveyed are concerned over sluggish demand, with the business

confidence index at a three-month low, Caixin said.

--New export orders grew for the 5th consecutive month, though the rate has

slowed to a five-month low, reflecting weak external demand, Caixin said.

--The decline were in line with the official services PMI released last week,

which fell to 54.3 from 54.7 in Jan.