China’s Purchasing Managers Index rises

China’s Purchasing Managers Index (PMI), a preliminary readout of the country’s manufacturing activity, rose to 51 percent in February of 2012, the highest level since October, a federation said Thursday.

The pick-up followed a 50.5-percent reading in January, 50.3 percent in December and 49 percent in November, according to the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing statistics.

A PMI reading of 50 percent demarcates expansion from contraction, Xinhua reported.